Athlete – Wires on 7 inch single. Near mint, ltd. UK #4 hit inspired by a family health scare, from Tourist. Ships from Germany.
About Wires
A near mint, limited edition 7 inch pressing of Athlete's biggest UK hit, the lead single from their platinum selling second album Tourist.
Wires is a song by English rock band Athlete, released on 17 January 2005 as the lead single from their second album Tourist. Written by frontman Joel Pott about a frightening family health scare, the song peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart and was later certified Silver by the BPI. This listing is a near mint, limited edition 7 inch vinyl single from a Berlin based eBay seller.
- Who are Athlete
- The story behind Wires
- Chart performance and legacy
- Pressing details and buying advice
Fast Facts
- Artist Athlete are an English rock band formed in London, known for blending soft rock with electronic and indie influences.
- Release Wires came out on 17 January 2005 via Parlophone, the lead single from the album Tourist.
- Chart performance Peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart and was certified Silver by the BPI for over 200,000 sales.
- Backstory Written by frontman Joel Pott about his newborn daughter’s hospitalisation and recovery.
- This copy Near mint sleeve condition, limited edition 7 inch single, shipped from Berlin, Germany.
Athlete – Wires (7" Single, Ltd, Near Mint)
Limited edition 7 inch vinyl single, Parlophone
Near mint sleeve condition 7 inch vinyl single of Wires, sold by a Berlin based eBay seller with 100% positive feedback.
Pressing Specifications
Who Are Athlete?
Athlete are an English rock band formed in London in the late 1990s, initially building a following through their eclectic 2003 debut album Vehicles & Animals. The band settled into a warmer, more accessible sound on their second album, Tourist, released on 31 January 2005 via Parlophone, which went on to reach number one on the UK Albums Chart and achieve platinum certification.
About Wires
Wires was written by frontman Joel Pott about a deeply personal experience: his daughter became seriously unwell shortly after birth and was rushed into intensive care. The song reflects on that frightening period and pays tribute to the hospital worker who played a significant role in her recovery. Released as the lead single from Tourist on 17 January 2005, Wires became the band's most successful single, reaching number four on the UK Singles Chart and later achieving Silver certification. The song has gone on to have a long afterlife well beyond its original release, featuring in television shows including The Vampire Diaries and The Bill, being used in charity appeal adverts for Great Ormond Street Hospital, and re-entering the charts in 2012 after a televised performance on The X Factor.
- Near mint sleeve condition
- Limited edition 7 inch pressing of the band’s biggest hit
- BPI Silver certified single that reached number four in the UK
- A song with genuine emotional weight and a long cultural afterlife
- Used copy, not sealed
- Short format as a single rather than a full album
- Fixed shipping cost from Germany
What is Wires by Athlete about?
It was written by frontman Joel Pott about his daughter’s serious illness shortly after birth and her time in intensive care.
Is this vinyl copy new or used?
The listing describes the sleeve as near mint (NM or M-), a used but very well kept copy.
How well did this single chart?
Wires peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart in 2005 and was later certified Silver by the BPI.
What album is this single from?
It is the lead single from Athlete’s second album, Tourist, released in January 2005.
Does this listing ship outside Germany?
The seller is based in Berlin and lists a fixed shipping cost; check the current listing for up to date international shipping options and rates.
Where To Buy This Pressing
The Verdict
- Athlete's biggest UK hit, with a genuinely heartfelt personal backstory
- Near mint, limited edition 7 inch vinyl single
- Best suited to fans of 2000s British soft rock and chart-topping singles
Wires remains Athlete’s most enduring and emotionally resonant single, and this listing offers a near mint pressing from a highly rated German seller.