Patient longtime readers might remember a short series of entries I posted starting in 2015 wherein I was trying to divine the precise location of a photograph by storied Dutch shutterbug Anton Corbijn of one of my favorite bands, Gang of Four. That’s the photo in question above.
I had a few theories in mind, most of them placing Messrs. King, Allen, Gill and Burnham in the East Village/Alphabet City area, but none of them really synched up. There was always one or two details that failed to match – like the placement of a particular window or the direction of a set of fire-escape stairs. I eventually figured I’d never figure it out and gave up in early 2016.
Eight years later, I have found my answer.
While scrolling through the photos of the Facebook page, Dirty Old 1970’s New York City, I stumbled upon the photo below by one Robert Mulero.
Everything matches up, including the ground-floor canopy and the tell-tale “BAR” sign.
According to Mr. Mulera, this location puts the original line-up of Gang of Four much further south than I’d posited.
The location depicted is South Street at Peck Slip.
Go figure.
Here, meanwhile, is Gang of Four playing at Hurrah on the Upper West Side in 1980.
Rest in peace, Andy Gill.
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