Interscope Records
Wire - Read & Burn 03 (RSD 2026 EXCLUSIVE)
Released at the end of the initial period of Wire's 3rd act - after Send and before the band's post-Bruce Gilbert re-invention - Read & Burn 03 never quite got the attention it deserved. However the opening track 23 Years Too Late, with it's tour narrative text and motorik rhythm stands as one of the band's finest achievements of any era in the view of both core fans & the band (a rare point of agreement!) The original EP, 3rd in the Read & Burn series and the one not compiled on to the Send album, was the last non-historic release by the original Wire line up of Colin Newman, Graham Lewis, Bruce Gilbert & Robert Grey and has never been properly released on vinyl. The 2026 version brings the original 4 tracks and adds 3 more. While some of the tracks originated as part of the 2021-2022 sessions that gave forth Send, others have a more storied history. 23 Years Too Late actually started life as a highly transformed cover of the 70's Wire single Dot Dash - performed under the name Dip Flash as part of Iain Sinclair's London Orbital, a night at the Barbican London on 25th October 2022, celebrating London's M25 motorway (AKA The Orbital). The never previously released piece in it's original form is included as an additional track. Meanwhile Desert Diving actually started life as a version of the Chairs Missing track Heartbeat as performed live at the Garage, London during Wire's series of concerts there in May 2000. The original version of Our Time and an alternate mix of Desert Diving are the other additional tracks.
UPC/ISBN: 5063176102416
Release Date: 04/18/2026
Product Information
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This policy outlines our standard for new release and shipped comics, and the industry-standard guidelines we follow.
OUR STANDARD
Books without a stated grade will be offered as Near Mint 9.4 or better. We do not guarantee 9.8 condition on any book unless specifically noted.
We use industry-standard grading guidelines from:
- Â CBCS Comic Grading Scale
- Â Overstreet Comic Grading Standards
- CGC grading standards
If you're new to comic grading, the resources above are a great place to start.
WHY WE DON'T GUARANTEE 9.8
Modern comic printing is an imperfect process. Books are printed in massive
runs, bound at high speed, and shipped in bulk to retailers. Even brand
new books off the truck will exhibit minor production characteristics,
and that's normal, and consistent with industry standards across every
retailer.
A 9.8 grade represents near-perfection, and the reality is that not every printed book qualifies for that grade no matter where you buy it from.
We can absolutely commit to NM 9.4 or better. We cannot commit to 9.8 on every book, because that's not how comics are made.
WHAT QUALIFIES AS NM 9.4
Per industry standards, a book may exhibit the following minor characteristics and still grade as Near Mint 9.4, as long as there's no accumulation of defects:
Bindery characteristics:
- Minor to moderate corner tears
- White edges along the spine (common on most modern printings)
- Covers slightly offset from interior pages (common on cardstock covers)
Printing characteristics:
- Slight color rub on back covers
- Small paper wrinkles present from the paper roll prior to printing
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Spine characteristics:
- 2-3 small color-breaking spine ticks
- Minor non-color-breaking spine dings
These are normal modern production characteristics, not damage from handling or shipping. They are present on books across the industry, regardless
of retailer.
OUR RETURN & EXCHANGE POLICY
We do not accept returns or exchanges on books that meet our NM 9.4 or better standard.
We will replace or refund:
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For premium variants (1:25, 1:50, 1:100, 1:250, 1:500 incentive covers, signed editions, exclusive variants), we apply enhanced QC during pull and packing. If a premium variant arrives outside our standard, contact us within 7 days of delivery and we will work with you on a replacement.
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