The Wire shares new video for ‘Read & Burn 03+’ Record Store Day release

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• Quick Facts
• A Unique Track in Wire’s History
• Read & Burn 03+ and the Final Classic Lineup
• Why Record Store Day Matters for Wire
  • Sources

The Wire released a video for “23 Years Too Late” in March 2026, directed by Malcolm Boyle and featuring archive footage and photos ahead of their Record Store Day release of the expanded reissue Read & Burn 03+, which arrived on April 18, 2026.

A Unique Track in Wire’s History

“23 Years Too Late” holds a special place in The Wire‘s catalog. The track originated as a highly transformed cover of the 1970s Wire single “Dot Dash,” performed under the name “Dip Flash” at Iain Sinclair’s London Orbital event at the Barbican on October 25, 2002. The event celebrated London’s M25 motorway. During the ensuing 2002 tour, the band discovered they were visiting cities that had been on the routing of a cancelled 1979 tour—making them, as someone pointed out, “23 Years Too Late.” That concept stuck and became the track’s title and thematic anchor.

The song features Graham Lewis’s diary text from the 2002 European tour, paired with a distinctive motorik beat, double-speed chorus, and live drums. Colin Newman explained that the track’s uniqueness stems from “the combination of its genesis, its subject matter, and the fact that it has a special place in the affection of both band and core fans.” At nearly ten minutes long, it’s unusual for Wire’s catalog, yet the band has created other extended pieces like “Crazy About Love” and “Harpooned.”

Read & Burn 03+ and the Final Classic Lineup

Read & Burn 03+ marks a significant milestone: it’s the last non-historic release from Wire’s original lineup of Colin Newman, Graham Lewis, Bruce Gilbert, and Robert Grey. The original Read & Burn 03 arrived in November 2007, following the first two entries in the Read & Burn series from 2002 and 2003. The 2026 expanded edition brings the original four tracks—”23 Years Too Late,” “Our Time,” “No Warning Given,” and “Desert Diving”—plus three additional pieces: alternate mixes and “Dip Flash,” the song’s predecessor.

The vinyl version includes an alternate intro to “23 Years Too Late,” one of several prepared for the original 2008 release. The CD and digital versions feature the original intro plus a “24 Years Later Edit” at 3:17, serving as an introduction to the expanded reissue. “Desert Diving” itself has a storied history: it originated as a live version of the Chairs Missing track “Heartbeat,” performed at the Garage in London during Wire’s 2000 concert series.

Why Record Store Day Matters for Wire

Wire’s curator approach to Read & Burn 03+ embodies what Record Store Day traditionally celebrates: deep cuts, overlooked catalog moments, and collector’s editions with timeless appeal. The band, already three decades into their creative journey by 2007, had carved out a unique space for creative freedom and playful deconstruction of their own sound. Read & Burn 03 saw them reconnect with their minimalist 1977 pop-noise roots and the short, sharp guitar immediacy of their earliest work—qualities that ran parallel with punk despite the band’s willful disconnection from that scene. Yet despite this embrace of earlier aesthetics, Wire maintained a futuristic edge, updating their foundational style into the present moment.

The video, featuring material from the upcoming documentary “Wire – People in a Film,” reinforces the band’s deep archival approach. By pairing archive footage with “23 Years Too Late,” the visual presentation honors the track’s complex genesis while celebrating the band’s enduring influence on post-punk and art rock.

Sources

• The Spill Magazine — Wire’s Record Store Day 2026 announcement, video details, and track history
• Punknews.org — Reissue confirmation, first vinyl release status, and tracklist
• Record Store Day official site — Release date and format details