ABC

Bio

ABC (often spelled with three stars) is a New Wave band from Sheffield, England fronted by singer-songwriter Martin Fry. One of the biggest acts of the new romantic boom for a time, they're best known for their critically and commercially acclaimed 1982 debut album 'The Lexicon of Love'. They charted ten U.K. and five U.S. Top 40 singles between 1981 and 1990. Their latest album, 'The Lexicon of Love II', was released in May 2016. Martin Fry had some underground success as a music journalist with the fanzine 'Modern Drugs', interviewing various British pop and rock groups, before he decided to join a band himself. ABC has its roots in the group Vice Versa, a Sheffield electronic music outfit formed in 1977 by Stephen Singleton and Mark White. They founded their own label, 'Neutron Records', and released an EP. Fry started off with the act as a synthesizer player. By 1980, the band had evolved into ABC, with Fry becoming the lead vocalist. The group's first single, "Tears Are Not Enough", made the U.K. Top 20 in 1981. Soon afterwards, David Robinson left the band and was replaced by drummer David Palmer. In 1982, the band released their debut album, 'The Lexicon of Love', which reached number one in the U.K. Albums Chart. Produced by Trevor Horn, it often featured in UK critics' lists of favourite albums: it ranked 42nd in The Observer Music Monthly's "Top 100 British Albums" (June 2004) and 40th in Q magazine's "100 Greatest British Albums" (June 2000). The band had three Top 10 hits during 1982: the singles "Poison Arrow", "The Look Of Love (Part 1)" and "All of My Heart" and shot high-concept music videos. ABC found it difficult to follow up their debut. The second album, Beauty Stab, was released in November 1983. It performed poorly in comparison to its predecessor. Gary Langan, who had engineered The Lexicon of Love, produced the effort. The first single, "That Was Then but This Is Now", briefly appeared in the UK Top 20, followed by a Top 40 showing for "S.O.S.". The band eschewed remixes for the project, and the 12" single for "That Was Then but This Is Now" featured the disclaimer "This record is exactly the same as the 7" version. The choice is yours." Stephen Singleton retired from the band in 1984. Now a duo of Fry and White, augmented by two non-performing band members, Fiona Russell-Powell (known as Eden) and David Yarritu, ABC's chart fortunes in the UK dwindled further with the 1985 album How To Be A Zillionaire. Keith LeBlanc from Tackhead programmed much of the beatbox work for the album. The group did score its first US Top 10 hit with "Be Near Me" (which also made the UK Top 30). The album also featured the singles "(How to Be a) Millionaire", "Vanity Kills" and "Ocean Blue". ABC was one of the first bands to do video scratching" for several videos from the How to Be a... Zillionaire album, including the video for "Be Near Me". Following a hiatus. while Fry was treated for Hodgkin's disease, ABC returned with Alphabet City. Best known for "When Smokey Sings", a tribute to Smokey Robinson, the album also spawned "The Night You Murdered Love" and "King Without a Crown" as singles. All three tracks would make the CD version of the group's first anthology. In 1989, the duo issued Up, their fifth and final PolyGram studio album. This time experimenting with house music, ABC scored a minor UK hit with the single "One Better World". They then released another single, "The Real Thing". During this period the group worked on a couple of outside productions aimed at the house music scene. One was Paul Rutherford's (Frankie Goes to Hollywood) solo album and first single release; the other was for Lizzie Tear on the group's own Neutron label. In 1990, the band released a greatest hits compilation album, Absolutely. This covered all of ABC's albums up until 1990, and featured all of their singles. The compilation made the UK Top 10. A video package featuring promos was also released. One new song, "The Look Of Love (1990 Remix)", was released to promote the package. The group then moved to the EMI label (and MCA in North America), where they recorded the 1991 LP Abracadabra. "Love Conquers All", the first single, barely placed in the UK chart, though Italian production team Black Box provided remixes of "Say It" which appeared in the US dance chart. Fry resurrected the band's name in 1997 for the album Skyscraping, an homage to several of his musical heroes, including David Bowie, Roxy Music, and the Sex Pistols. A collaboration with Glenn Gregory of Heaven 17 and Keith Lowndes, the album again was met with critical approval rather than broad commercial success. However, three singles were released, "Rolling Sevens", "Skyscraping", and "Stranger Things", complete with extra B-sides. In 1999, ABC released their first live album, The Lexicon of Live. The album covered most of their major hits. Although Fry was the only member left, he had a backing band and adorned the album cover in his trademark gold lamé suit. Look of Love: The Very Best of ABC was released in 2001. Although essentially a reissue of greatest hits package Absolutely (from 1990), the album featured two new songs by Fry titled "Peace and Tranquility" and "Blame". A companion DVD, along with a bonus disc of remixes, was also released. In 2004, the VH1 show Bands Reunited attempted to get the line-up of Fry, Palmer, Singleton and White together for a reunion concert. Fry and Palmer appeared and played together (with help from Nick Beggs of Kajagoogoo) for the first time in over twenty years. Singleton and White opted not to participate. Following a tour of the United States in May and June 2006, Fry and Palmer, together with keyboardist Chuck Kentis, put together a new ABC album, Traffic. It was released on 28 April 2008. Gary Langan, who worked on The Lexicon of Love and Beauty Stab, mixed and produced the album. The first single, "The Very First Time", debuted on BBC Radio 2 in January, was added to the station's "A" playlist for the week beginning 29 March, and was released as a download track on 1 April. ABC performed two songs from Traffic during the 2008 Regeneration Tour of the US; "Ride" and "The Very First Time". On 1 September 2007, ABC performed a set with other 1980s acts at Retrofest at Culzean Castle in Ayrshire, Scotland. This appearance included a rendition of "Addicted to Love", with Tony Hadley of Spandau Ballet and Peter Cox of Go West. In the summer of 2008, ABC toured the US as part of the 2008 Regeneration Tour, which also featured The Human League, Belinda Carlisle, A Flock of Seagulls, and Naked Eyes. In April 2009, ABC performed the Lexicon Of Love album live at the Royal Albert Hall, accompanied by the BBC Concert Orchestra. Anne Dudley of Art of Noise, who arranged and played keyboards on the original record, conducted the performance. A music review in the 13 April 2009 edition of The Independent newspaper, described the performance as a "glorious night that has placed one of the Eighties' most perfectly constructed albums back near the top of the pop pantheon". In 2009 ABC toured the US as the headliner of the 2009 'Regeneration Tour', which also featured Terri Nunn of Berlin, Wang Chung, and the Cutting Crew. Another Artist: ABC also known as Grupa ABC was a Polish band playing funk, r&b and blues. It was formed in 1969 in Warsaw and disbanded in 1973. . User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

Similar artists

Heaven 17, Thompson Twins, Spandau Ballet, Howard Jones, The Human League

Genres

80s,new wave,new romantic,pop,synth pop,synthpop,dance-pop,classic pop and rock,sophisti-pop,dance rock,new romantic,new wave,new wave pop,sophisti-pop,synthpop,

Likes

200 0

Infos

On Tour: No

country: GB

City: Sheffield

Begin Date: 1980

Last Update:

Artist next concerts

by

Song Kick

The Human League and ABC at Victoria Park (May 22, 2026)

Liverpool - Victoria Park

22/May

2026

The Human League and ABC at Millennium Square (July 10, 2026)

Leeds - Millennium Square

10/Jul

2026

Videography

No biography registered

Artist discography

by

Last FM

Tax Free Bounces

Tax Free Bounces

Jun/2020

Napisz Proszę

Dec/2019

Giant Steps - Single

Giant Steps - Single

Oct/2019

Yenko (Radio Edit) - Single

Yenko (Radio Edit) - Single

Oct/2019

Giant Steps

Oct/2019

Yenko (Radio Edit)

Yenko (Radio Edit)

Oct/2019

Eldorado - Single

Eldorado - Single

Oct/2019

Work It (feat. Larrekingen) - Single

Work It (feat. Larrekingen) - Single

Sep/2019

First Impression - Single

First Impression - Single

Sep/2019

Worthless Nipples - Single

Worthless Nipples - Single

Jun/2019

Széllel száll

Jun/2019

Connected Lifeforms - Single

Connected Lifeforms - Single

May/2019

Asere (feat. Osmani Garcia) - Single

Asere (feat. Osmani Garcia) - Single

Apr/2019

Te Vagy Az Az 1 - Single

Te Vagy Az Az 1 - Single

Apr/2019

Te Vagy Az Az 1

Te Vagy Az Az 1

Mar/2019

Flintstones

Feb/2019

Flintstones [Explicit]

Flintstones [Explicit]

Feb/2019

Sadar Dari Sesal

Sadar Dari Sesal

Aug/2018

Wild Land - Single

Wild Land - Single

May/2018

Wild Land

May/2018

Saint Heuse

Mar/2022

Memory

Mar/2022

L'altra metà del mare (feat. Abbacy) - EP

L'altra metà del mare (feat. Abbacy) - EP

Feb/2022

Twisters - Single

Twisters - Single

Feb/2022

Twisters

Feb/2022

Commend - Single

Commend - Single

Jan/2022

Devil - Single

Jan/2022

Fürst - Single

Jan/2022

Devil

Jan/2022

Fürst

Jan/2022

Spirit

Jan/2022

La Experta - Single

La Experta - Single

Dec/2021

La Experta

Dec/2021

Depression - Single

Depression - Single

Dec/2021

The Legacy of Death (1999)

The Legacy of Death (1999)

Oct/2021

On Me (Party Of The Year)

On Me (Party Of The Year)

Oct/2021

Beauty Stab = ビューティ・スタッブ

Beauty Stab = ビューティ・スタッブ

Sep/2021

Tha Take Over

Sep/2021

My Bloody Valentine (1989)

My Bloody Valentine (1989)

Jun/2021

Message To My Momma - Single

Message To My Momma - Single

Jun/2021

The Look Of Love (Re-Recorded - Sped Up)

The Look Of Love (Re-Recorded - Sped Up)

Apr/2023

The Look Of Love (Re-Recorded - Sped Up) - Single

The Look Of Love (Re-Recorded - Sped Up) - Single

Apr/2023

Supertramp (1976)

Supertramp (1976)

Apr/2023

Virus

Feb/2023

LOYALTY

Jan/2023

LOYALTY (Instrumental Version) - Single

LOYALTY (Instrumental Version) - Single

Jan/2023

Alphabet City (Expanded Edition)

Alphabet City (Expanded Edition)

Jan/2023

Building (1990)

Building (1990)

Jan/2023

Building (1990) - Single

Building (1990) - Single

Jan/2023

TEXT 04

Dec/2022

This Is England (1988)

This Is England (1988)

Dec/2022

Virus - Single

Oct/2022

The Cure and the Forest of Relapse

The Cure and the Forest of Relapse

Sep/2022

The Cure and the Forest of Relapse - Single

The Cure and the Forest of Relapse - Single

Sep/2022

BLXCKiE's JUNGLE

BLXCKiE's JUNGLE

Sep/2022

BLXCKiE's JUNGLE - EP

BLXCKiE's JUNGLE - EP

Sep/2022

The Cure, the Girl, the Illness and the Mysterious Garden of Despair

The Cure, the Girl, the Illness and the Mysterious Garden of Despair

Aug/2022

The Cure, The Girl, The Illness and the Mysterious Garden of Despair - EP

The Cure, The Girl, The Illness and the Mysterious Garden of Despair - EP

Aug/2022

SHORT VERSION OF THROUGH HELL

SHORT VERSION OF THROUGH HELL

Jul/2022

SHORT VERSION of THROUGH HELL (Radio Edit) - Single

SHORT VERSION of THROUGH HELL (Radio Edit) - Single

Jul/2022

Lexicon of Love 40th Anniversary Live At Sheffield City Hall

Lexicon of Love 40th Anniversary Live At Sheffield City Hall

May/2023

The Look Of Love 40th Anniversary Live At Sheffield City Hall

The Look Of Love 40th Anniversary Live At Sheffield City Hall

May/2023

The Lexicon Of Love Live

The Lexicon Of Love Live

May/2023

Simple Minds : New Silver Dream

Simple Minds : New Silver Dream

Jun/2024

Lost in the rhythm heartbeats - Single

Lost in the rhythm heartbeats - Single

May/2024

Juguetito (feat. Wavy G) - Single

Juguetito (feat. Wavy G) - Single

May/2024

Juguetito (feat. Lil None & Wavy G) - Single

Juguetito (feat. Lil None & Wavy G) - Single

May/2024

Manzil

Apr/2024

Awaiting the Chaos - EP

Awaiting the Chaos - EP

Mar/2024

Awaiting the Chaos

Awaiting the Chaos

Mar/2024

The Best on ABC

The Best on ABC

Feb/2024

Hateless (1991)

Hateless (1991)

Jan/2024

Punk Nation (1977)

Punk Nation (1977)

Nov/2023

Punk Nation (1977) - Single

Punk Nation (1977) - Single

Nov/2023

California Dream (1978)

California Dream (1978)

Oct/2023

California Dream (1978) - EP

California Dream (1978) - EP

Oct/2023

The Lexicon Of Love (Steven Wilson Stereo and Instrumental Mixes)

The Lexicon Of Love (Steven Wilson Stereo and Instrumental Mixes)

Aug/2023

The Lexicon Of Love (40th Anniversary Edition)

The Lexicon Of Love (40th Anniversary Edition)

Aug/2023

The Look Of Love / All Of My Heart

The Look Of Love / All Of My Heart

Aug/2023

All Of My Heart - Single

All Of My Heart - Single

Jul/2023

All Of My Heart EP

All Of My Heart EP

Jul/2023

The Look Of Love - Single

The Look Of Love - Single

Jul/2023

The Look of Love EP

The Look of Love EP

Jul/2023

October War

Jul/2024

Simple Minds : New Silver Dream - EP

Simple Minds : New Silver Dream - EP

Jun/2024

Oman

Jan/2025

Oman - Single

Jan/2025

Ocean Diamond - Single

Ocean Diamond - Single

Jan/2025

Ocean Diamond

Jan/2025

Eye of the Abyss - Single

Eye of the Abyss - Single

Dec/2024

Eye of the Abyss

Eye of the Abyss

Dec/2024

Midnight Pancakes - Single

Midnight Pancakes - Single

Oct/2024

Unicorn Dreams - Single

Unicorn Dreams - Single

Oct/2024

Clouds of Wonder - Single

Clouds of Wonder - Single

Oct/2024

A Lexicon Of Life

A Lexicon Of Life

Oct/2024

The Best on Abc (Volume 2 - Silver Years)

The Best on Abc (Volume 2 - Silver Years)

Apr/2025

ABC Gabbana 'Freestyle' (feat. Boy M) - Single

ABC Gabbana 'Freestyle' (feat. Boy M) - Single

Apr/2025

Love Life Serenades ...Intimate Piano And Guitar Ballads

Love Life Serenades ...Intimate Piano And Guitar Ballads

Sep/2024

Objetivo [Explicit]

Objetivo [Explicit]

Jun/2025

Enter The Shadows Radio

24 hours radio and chat:
darkwave * goth * ethereal * dreampop * synth * minimal * cold * EBM * perky * shoegaze * etc * plus daily special radio shows!

production

Parthner links

CoursesTube Cinema Gótico Blog Pequenos Classicos Pedidos Concert And Vinyl - Reviews

Newsletter

Contact us

Contact
Location: São Paulo, Brazil
Donate : PayPal

Follow us :

Chat 0