Wire Meets Suzanne Sommers

In the US in 1987 promoting 'The Ideal Copy,' Wire appeared on 'The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers' and performed "Drill." Suzanne Sommers of 'Three's Company' and Thighmaster fame was filling in for Joan that night. After the song, the members of Wire have a brief chat with Suzanne.

[@AnthonyMonaghan]

Bless her...she handled that like a champ.

[@dubvulture99]

Yes! I was beginning to think I had hallucinated this performance. Absolutely epic!

[@foobert]

As was I. THANK YOU UPLOADER.

[@occasionalfeelgood23]

Absolutely, same here. I remember watching this when I was a kid and even then Wire performing for Suzanne Sommers seemed like an absurd dream.

[@hellowhirled]

every time I think I'm handling a situation poorly, I watch Suzanne try to process "Drill" and I feel better about myself

[@jelt110]

buddah himself could not have said it better. Nuclear pearls before swine.

[@plev10]

"One of the hottest British rock bands ... hitting the top of the charts..." You said it Suzie! Helluva catchy number there boys!

[@johnantonescu5096]

The humdrum mood of Bruce just adds the cherry on top to this. Man, I love British musicians reactions with Americans

[@erranttraveller]

R.I.P. Suzanne

[@johncgaiser]

i bought this album the next day

[@foobert]

As one should. PS Good on you.

[@jakeskyler9037]

Truth is stranger than fiction that this actually happened. "There were no guys in my neighborhood", Bruce says.

[@marlonstpeters2505]

i remember watching this , since being in love since pink flag and i thought, omg lol

[@dylanlarson435]

Genius response to your mom interviewing you and her being the ultimate dumb dumb

[@monsgregemark1373]

The most god-awful racket. I love it.

[@notondisplay]

I... just... huh!! wow. Never expected to stumble across Suzanne Somers when doing a yt search for "Wire Drill"

[@bunkx351]

of course the song DRILL is not actually on the IDEAL COPY, it was on the earlier 12" SNAKEDRILL.

[@w.k.8665]

A great moment in television.

[@cartertheunstoppablefaxmac902]

DUGGA DUGGA DUGGA

[@dylanlarson435]

This is really great and more appreciated now I think

[@ThadEnouf]

How did I not know about this wonderful culture clash until today? "You're sort of a far-out group, you know?"

[@colmoynihan724]

Wire were meant to do two songs for this segment, then they were told it had to be cut to one. So instead of doing the more 'ear-friendly' 'Kidney Bingos' from their Ideal Copy album, they plumped for the (less) ear friendly 'Drill'. Fair play to them too. A deliberate ploy to confound Sommers and the audience. The giggly Sommers was totally out of her depth. Even the much older Tonight host Joan Rivers mustered more nous a few months before when Husker Du finally cracked a spot on her show. She engaged confidently and professionally. Always in control.

[@thomascampbell2996]

"Kidney Bingos" is from A Bell Is a Cup (1988), so presumably hadn't been released yet.

[@LeeMcFadden-ut7on]

"Kidney Bingos" had been played live as far back as 1985, but the alternate track they were asked to play on "The Late Show" was "Ahead".

[@NikFarr]

Vocals aside, it's pretty clear to me that Thom Yorke took his whole stage persona from Colin Newman. (This is not intended as a slight on Yorke.)

[@NikFarr]

LOL just caught Robert Gotobed as the "agricultural consultant" when he went on to become a farmer. Wire were so much funnier than anyone ever gave them credit for being

[@christhompson9378]

Big influence on sonic youth too i think. Discovered them way too late in life. Brilliant

[@karanahluwalia6659]

bits and bobs bits and bobs

[@wm.columbus8629]

This is bananas.

[@circycle]

Amazing!!!!

[@deadringer28]

Absolutely incredible that that this was shown on TV and that "Chrissy" introduced them. I love the 70s and 80s ❤

[@seanconlon2408]

"You're sort of a far out kind of group, you know?" "Uh, I doubt it"

[@turbid]

"...and I'm gonna sing too so don't come back."

[@charlesknowlton7198]

I think Bruce's animal magnetism threw her.

[@christophervaldez8746]

The Saints were musical guests on this same program around this time.....

[@carne_verde]

Yep, i remember The Saints getting somewhat of a brief introduction to US mainstream media w/ "All Fools Day" in 1987 as well - hell, MTV even spotlighted & broadcasted Celibate Rifles during their "Roman Beach Party" US tour w/ some in studio shows

[@MrSfein1]

Very interesting/entertaining...thanks

[@selfempower3960]

Didnae give a flying one did they??? BEAUTY

[@DEVOn.A.Skertic]

Variety Arts Center. 1987.

[@davelanciani-dimaensionx]

I remember actually watching this live when it first aired, and thinking, "What the ... ?" If you thought Devo were weird, watch this.

[@stereo999]

Didn't Sommers take over the show after Rivers quit?

[@perryamberson]

She was one of several rotating guest hosts after Rivers left. I'm not sure what month this aired, but I believe it was probably after Joan's departure in May 1987.

[@stereo999]

Summer of 87 for this vid sounds about right

[@wovenwolf8320]

The sound is awful. This is an amazing song to see live..as well.

[@perryamberson]

I suspect they were playing louder than the audio engineers were expecting.

[@davejackson6681]

my favorite bit is all their (clearly rented) cliched big American rock guitars

[@iwvks]

Colin already had this guitar as early as 1979, you can see it in the On the Box video

[@mookie2637]

Graham's hair.....

[@dannyfenris7708]

Truly horrible, wot?

[@hellowhirled]

more punk than the sex pistols

[@Multi_Purpose_Weirdo]

If this is not an exercise, could it be a...?

[@plunderpunk2]

Are my eyes tripping or is she a snack?