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Gang of Four are one of the most radical, and radically important, rock groups of the last 30 years. Their music, starting with 1978’s Damaged Goods EP, offered a danceable solution to the problem of where four-piece guitar bands could go next after punk. They also provided the perfect answer to the question: how to be polemical without being po-faced, ponderous, banal or doctrinaire?

Four young men in their early twenties who convened in the late ‘70s in Leeds, they were the first white rock group to come up with the idea that using contemporary funk and reggae rhythms might be an interesting way forward for rock’n’roll, a way out of punk’s cul de sac. Gang of Four were like Dr Feelgood jamming with Parliament-Funkadelic produced by Lee Perry as a Radio 4 newsreader intoned balefully in the background.

More than anything, Gang of Four are about visceral, high energy, maximum impact rock’n’roll. They make you dance and they made you sweat just as they made you think. That exclamation mark at the end of the title of their 1979 debut album Entertainment! – incidentally, one of the greatest debut albums ever made; in fact, one of the greatest long-playing records, period – was no accident or sleight of design. Nor were they rentagobs or rabble-rousers. They managed to inveigle complex ideas into powerful songs that were provocative yet simply thrilling. The music on that debut long-player was born out of a specific time in history, the result of a series of very specific circumstances and conditions – social, economic, emotional, political, musical – and yet it remains as true, as resonant, as relevant, as universally applicable three decades on as it was the day it was released.

Recently the band has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity, initially due to emergence of new post-punk influenced bands such as The Rapture and Radio 4 and then the rise of Franz Ferdinand and Bloc Party, which led to the renewed patronage of the NME. And over the last few years, Gang of Four have played exhilarating live shows around the world that have been as visionary, relevant and exciting as ever.

Their classic songs have connected with a new generation of fans, many of whom have discovered the band through finding the source that has inspired many of the best current guitar outfits. In 2005 Gang of Four re-recorded a selection of their favourite tunes on Return the Gift, featuring Mark Heaney on drums while Hugo Burnham played live shows with the band until mid 2006 , when he left to focus on his successful academic career in the USA. Mark then took over as drummer for live appearances and has played across Europe with the band ever since. In April 2008 Dave Allen left to be replaced by Thomas McNiece.

Gang Of Four, contends Jon, are as challenging and questioning in 2010 as they were in 1978. “What I’ve been thrilled by over the last four years is that our music still seems to makes sense to our audiences, however old they are, and these days they’re mostly under 30. They tell us that our music means something, that it makes them want to go start a band. That amazes me. I would never have imagined when we started off that we would have this impact after such a long time. We are a noisy, great rock’n’roll band. And that exclamation mark still applies: we should call ourselves Gang Of Four !”

More than anything, Jon is excited by the new material that he and Andy have been writing. “What we’re trying to do is keep it totally stripped down, where everyone in the band makes an equally intense contribution: guitar, bass, drums and vocals.” He’s as energised as ever by his old schoolfriend’s guitar playing. “I love what Andy does on guitar – it’s completely unique. How many original guitarists have there ever been, not just now? He’s one of the few living signature rock guitarists: you can recognise an Andy Gill riff at a distance and you can recognise who’s been listening to him.”

2008 saw the new line up release the EP Second Life and in September 2009 the band celebrated the 30 year anniversary of “Entertainment” which saw them perform on Later with Jools Holland and a UK tour climaxing with a great show at London’s The Forum.

Over the last 5 years the band has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity, initially due to emergence of new post-punk Gang of Four influenced bands such as The Rapture and Radio 4 and particularly by the rise of Franz Ferdinand and Bloc Party, which led to the renewed patronage of the NME and introduced the band to a whole new generation on music lovers. Gill and King were joined in 2005 by Mark Heaney on drums after recording drums on the “Return the Gift” album and bass player Thomas McNeice joined as a permanent member in 2007. The band released the EP ‘Second Life’ in 2008 and in September 2009 celebrated the 30 year anniversary of “Entertainment” performing several songs from the album on BBCs Later with Jools Holland and with a UK tour featuring the album climaxing with an acclaimed show at London’s Forum. The band has been working on a new album throughout 2009 which is due for release in September 2010.