What Happens Next, the title of Gang of Four’s thrilling and unsettling ninth album, is the successor to 2011’s acclaimed Content.
Founding guitarist and songwriter Andy Gill has constructed a new Gang of Four for What Happens Next: John “Gaoler” Sterry on vocals, Thomas McNiece on bass and Jonny Finnegan on drums. Gill’s first album without singer Jon King, it is aware of Gang of Four’s past, but not beholden to it.
Gang of Four initially existed, with various personnel changes, between 1977 and 1983. Emerging with debut album Entertainment! (voted in Pitchfork’s top ten albums of the 70s), Gang of Four’s recordings and incendiary live performances have been hugely influential, and have left their mark on R.E.M., Nirvana and Massive Attack; Franz Ferdinand and LCD Soundystem. Sterry is joined on vocal duties by Alison Mosshart (The Kills, The Dead Weather), Gail Ann Dorsey, Robbie Furze of the Big Pink and Japanese guitar hero Hotei, plus German musician and actor Herbert Grönemeyer. What Happens Next marks Gang of Four’s boldest, most self-interrogating album since their debut Entertainment!.