On this episode of Radar, I spoke with Jon King, co-founder and lead singer of Gang of Four, about his new memoir, To Hell with Poverty! A Class Act: Inside the Gang of Four. The book offers an account of his journey from a working-class upbringing in South London to international success with the band.
We discuss Jon’s early days in the slums of London, his passion for reading, art, and the political and social themes that influenced their music. King discusses what brought him to make music and the broader cultural landscape that shaped their work.
This conversation coincides with Gang of Four’s “The Long Goodbye” tour, marking the band’s final performances. The current lineup includes King, original drummer Hugo Burnham, bassist Gail Greenwood, and guitarist Ted Leo.
Radar features discussions with artists and industry leaders who are creators and devotees of music and is produced by Dylan Hundley and The Vinyl District. Dylan Hundley is an artist and performer, and the co-creator and lead singer of Lulu Lewis and all things at Darling Black. She co-curates and hosts Salon Lulu which is a New York based multidisciplinary performance series. She is also a cast member of the iconic New York film Metropolitan.
