Graham Crabb and Adam Mole celebrate 40 years of Pop Will Eat Itself as project ‘PWEI.40’ – with a mammoth new release, an unlikely cast of collaborators and four exclusive live appearances.
“So, me ’n Crabbi had this idea… collaboration.”
One year on from that conversation, ‘PWEI.40’ resurfaces from the vaults clutching four decades of sonic noise pollution, hell-bent on revisiting, restructuring, regurgitating and generally bastardising its own back catalogue.
Forty years of designer chaos, radical innovation and a continuing determination to push boundaries, seek new places and further our own brand.
LIFE BEGINS @ ‘PWEI.40’
Tracks subjected to the treatment include “1000 X No”, “Get the Girl”, “Kill the Baddies”, “There Is a Psychopath in My Soup”, “Mother”, “Dance of the Mad”, “I’m Sniffin’ with You Hoo”, “88 Seconds & Still Counting” and “Bulletproof”.
Along for the joyride are Stephen Mallinder (Cabaret Voltaire), Brian Tatler (Diamond Head/Saxon), Meryl Streek, Karl Willetts (Bolt Thrower/Memoriam), Rachel Mayfield, Fluke and Clams Baker (Warmduscher).
There’s a reimagining of Wasted Youth’s “I Wish I Was a Girl”, alongside Ken Scott and Rocco Barker, plus two brand-new PWEI tracks — something we originally intended to avoid, until we got carried away.
“I Don’t Wanna Dance” features Vita from THR0B, discovered at Bearded Theory and subsequently pestered into collaboration. “Night Shift Riot” features blistering guitar from Mark Gemini Thwaite (The Wonder Stuff/Peter Murphy).
But wait. There’s more.
A bonus vinyl collection of lost treasures and unearthed gems features recordings never before officially released on a physical PWEI product, accompanied by extensive sleeve notes from Adam Mole and Paul Snell.
A special 7-inch single sees “Ich Bin Ein Ausländer” reimagined by original PWEI member Clint Mansell and Los Angeles experimental hip-hop outfit clipping., featuring Sara Taylor (Youth Code) and Sharon Udoh.
And the love affair continues with Ian Anderson and The Designers Republic, providing another iconic sleeve design nearly four decades after four starry-eyed grebos from the Black Country first wandered into Sheffield’s FON Studios wondering how to get into all this technology shit.
Now Crabb and Mole take ‘PWEI.40’ on the road for four exclusive live appearances.
Forty years on, still dismantling the machinery, making a racket and occasionally wondering who’s responsible. Expect the unexpected.
PWEI.40 — LIVE DATES 2026
13 November — Shiiine On Festival, Minehead
26 November — 93 Feet East, London (+ guest So Good)
27 November — Network, Sheffield (+ guest So Good)
5 December — Stourbridge Town Hall, Stourbridge
+ very special guests Jonn and Rat as Neds Acoustic Dustbin
+ An exclusive viewing on the big screen of the lost tour film ‘Amalgamation’.
Vintage PWEI live and backstage footage from the Aston Villa Leisure Centre filmed over two sold out nights 12th and 13th March 1994.
+ expect special guests to make appearances!
+ PWEI.40 will be joined by the legend that is Cal Artist – who will be painting LIVE on stage during their set – what could possibly go wrong 🙂
LIFE BEGINS AT PWEI.40 – MAIN ALBUM TRACK LISTING
SIDE ONE
Sticky – ft. Karl Willetts (ex BoltThrower/Memoriam)
Night Shift Riot – ft. Mark Gemini Thwaite (The Wonder Stuff/Peter Murphy)
1000 X No – ft. Stephen Mallinder (Cabaret Voltaire)
Just Gotta Say It
Mother – ft. Rachel Mayfield
Car Chase – ft. Brian Tatler (Diamond Head/Saxon)
Car Crash – ft. Brian Tatler (Diamond Head/Saxon)
Dance of the Mad Bastards – Reworked by Fluke
SIDE TWO
Psychopath in My Soup – ft. Karl Willetts (ex BoltThrower/Memoriam)
Ruff Justice – ft. Clams Baker (Warmduscher)
Don’t Wanna Dance – ft. Vita (Throb)
Poppies Go Boom! – ft. Mark Gemini Thwaite (The Wonder Stuff/Peter Murphy)
I Wish I Was A Girl – ft. Ken Scott and Rocco Barker (Wasted Youth)
Bite the Bullet – Reworked by Meryl Streek
BONUS RELEASES
Lost Treasures & Unearthed Gems — Bonus vinyl collection of 12 previously unreleased PWEI recordings, with sleeve notes by Adam Mole and Paul Snell – Available only in the Limited Edition Gatefold
Ich Bin Ein Ausländer — Special 7″ vinyl featuring interpretations by Clint Mansell and clipping.
Deluxe CD – 2 additional previously unreleased PWEI recordings
FORMATS
LIMITED EDITION GATEFOLD DOUBLE VINYL
PWEI.40 REWORKS REINVENTED & RECONSTRUCTED ON HOT PINK VINYL
+ PLUS EXCLUSIVE CANARY YELLOW VINYL BONUS ALBUM OF PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED LOST TREASURES AND UNEARTHED GEMS
+ PLUS AN EXCLUSIVE PWEI.40 BIN STICKER
LIMITED EDITION DELUXE VINYL
PWEI.40 REWORKS REINVENTED & RECONSTRUCTED ON NEON MAGENTA VINYL
+ PLUS EXCLUSIVE BONUS 7” VINYL UNAVAILABLE ELSEWHERE ICH BIN EIN AUSLANDER REWORKED BY CLINT MANSELL & CLIPPING’S AUSLÄNDER VERSION
DELUXE CD
PWEI.40 REWORKS REINVENTED & RECONSTRUCTED IN BOOK PACK
+ 2 BONUS PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED LOST TREASURES AND UNEARTHED GEMS (DIFFERENT TO THE VINYL 12)
For more information:
