Ultravox

Bio

Ultravox (formerly Ultravox!) have been one of the primary exponents of the British new wave synthpop music movement since the late 70s. The band is particularly associated with the New Romantic scene, although it both pre- and post-dated the peak of that movement by several years. Known for popular hits such as "Dancing With Tears In My Eyes" and "Vienna" among many others, the band has drawn inspiration variously from dark, moody post-punk, the artier side of glam rock, and latterly straightforward synthpop. Their latest album is 2012's 'Brilliant', featuring the 80s line-up of Midge Ure, Billy Currie, Chris Cross, and Warren Cann. The band was formed in 1973 in London, United Kingdom on the initiative of vocalist, songwriter and keyboardist John Foxx (born Dennis Leigh). Originally known as Tiger Lily, the first lineup included Foxx plus Chris Cross (bass guitar), Billy Currie (keyboards/violins), Stevie Shears (guitar) and Warren Cann (percussion). The group released one single in 1974, a cover of "Ain't Misbehaving," before changing their name to Ultravox!, the exclamation point being a reference to the krautrock band Neu! that was produced by Conny Plank (who later produced some Ultravox albums). On the strength of their live act, they signed to Island Records in 1976, releasing their eponymous debut album in February 1977. In common with many other bands which would go on to form Britain's punk and New Wave movements, Ultravox drew inspiration from the art-school side of glam rock, from bands such as Roxy Music and the New York Dolls, as well as from David Bowie and Brian Eno's early pop-fueled albums. Their eponymous debut album was self-produced by the band, yet Brian Eno (whose next job after these sessions was working with Bowie on 'Low') co-produced two songs and Steve Lillywhite also contributed. Sales were disappointing, and neither 'Ultravox!' nor the associated single "Dangerous Rhythm" managed to enter the U.K. charts. Ultravox returned later in 1977 with the punkier 'Ha!-Ha!-Ha!'. Although sales of both the album and its lead single "ROckwrok" (which, despite a chorus featuring the lines "Come on, let's tangle in the dark/Fuck like a dog, bite like a shark", was played on BBC Radio 1) were still unimpressive, they had a growing fan-base. Steve Shears was sacked, later deciding to form the new band Faith Global. Although most of 'Ha!-Ha!-Ha!' was dominated by guitars and electric violin, the final track, "Hiroshima Mon Amour," was a prototypical synth pop song which gave a hint to the band's new direction. It remains a critical and fan favourite of the group's early incarnation, and it was even performed by the group on the 'Old Grey Whistle Test'. In 1978, the group quietly dropped the exclamation mark, becoming simply "Ultravox". Their third album, 1978's Systems of Romance, was recorded under the ear of Conny Plank at his studio in rural Germany and featured new guitarist Robin Simon. It also failed commercially and Island dropped the band. After a US tour in 1979, John Foxx left to pursue a solo career whilst Robin Simon left to join the band Magazine. Musically, the album was a distinct development from the band's previous work and provided a blueprint for Ultravox's subsequent work, bringing synthesisers to the forefront of the group's sound. Island released a compilation of highlights from the group's first three albums in 1979, Three Into One, which was until the mid-1990s the most widespread of Ultravox's early releases. Midge Ure, an already accomplished musician, was asked to join the band. He had achieved minor success with semi-glam outfit Slik and Glen Matlock's more punk-inspired The Rich Kids, although in 1979 he was temporarily playing with hard rock band Thin Lizzy. Midge Ure and Billy Currie had met in the Visage project, a studio project fronted by Steve Strange. Midge therefore replaced John Foxx for their next album, which would become their most successful to date, taking the already influential Ultravox sound and giving it a commercial appeal it had previously lacked. Recorded in London and mixed by Conny Plank and the band once more in Germany, Vienna was released on the new label Chrysalis Records in 1980, achieving a substantial hit with the title track (inspired by Carol Reed's The Third Man), which was accompanied with a distinctive video. It topped out at number two (Joe Dolce's "Shaddap You Face" infamously kept it from the top spot) on the UK Top 40 in 1981. The album reached number five, and was soon followed by Rage in Eden (1981), the band returning to Conny Plank's studio for what turned out to be a difficult recording session. Ultravox teamed up with legendary producer George Martin for 1982's Quartet, which became their most successful album in the USA. After touring with their 1984 Lament, and appearing at Live Aid, Warren Cann was fired and pursued a career in acting in the USA. The remaining members, along with Big Country's Mark Brzezicki, resurfaced with U-Vox in 1986 before going their separate ways the following year. Billy Currie and singer/guitarist Tony Fenelle reformed the band in 1992 to record Revelation, and Sam Blue lent his voice to their final release, Ingenuity (1996). The band's international legion of followers yearned for some sort of reconcilliation. Both Billy Currie and Midge Ure pursued solo careers after the band were put officially on ice by Currie in 1996, Ure continuing to peform solo versions of Ultravox hits live. Fans were therefore delighted when an announcement came in November 2008 that the 'classic' Cann/Cross/Currie/Ure line-up were to reform and play a fourteen-date UK tour entitled Return To Eden in April 2009. With Vienna and Rage In Eden being remastered and re-released and plans for a greatest hits compilation to accompany the tour, Ultravox are now set for a return to prominence. After their successful 'Return to Eden Tour', Ultravox signed a deal with Universal Records and talk of new studio albums heated up. On February 21st 2011, a new EP, Moments from Eden, came out. The band's latest album is 2012's 'Brilliant', featuring the 80s line-up of Midge Ure, Billy Currie, Chris Cross, and Warren Cann. Picking up a strong fan response, their recent touring has brought them to big crowds alongside rockers Simple Minds. Website: http://www.ultravox.org.uk . User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

Similar artists

John Foxx, Midge Ure, Visage, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, The Human League

Genres

new wave,80s,synthpop,new romantic,synth pop,uk,synth-pop,art rock,rock and indie,england,punk,british,pop rock,post-punk,london,english,new romantic,new wave,new wave pop,synthpop,zolo,

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On Tour: No

country: GB

city: London

Begin Date: 1976

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Videography

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Artist discography

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Extended

Jul/2018

Lament (2009 Remaster)

Lament (2009 Remaster)

Nov/2016

Monument (Live) (2009 Remaster)

Monument (Live) (2009 Remaster)

Oct/2016

The Albums 1980-2012

The Albums 1980-2012

Oct/2013

The Albums 1980 - 2012

The Albums 1980 - 2012

Oct/2013

2012 Tour

Oct/2012

Live (Single Edit) - 4 Track E.P.

Live (Single Edit) - 4 Track E.P.

Sep/2012

Live EP

Sep/2012

Brilliant (Blank & Jones Remixes)

Brilliant (Blank & Jones Remixes)

Jul/2012

Brilliant

May/2012

Essential

Sep/2011

Moments from Eden

Moments from Eden

Mar/2011

so80s presents Ultravox (curated by Blank & Jones)

so80s presents Ultravox (curated by Blank & Jones)

Feb/2011

Return To Eden

Apr/2010

Return to Eden (Live) [Deluxe Version]

Return to Eden (Live) [Deluxe Version]

Apr/2010

Return to Eden - Live At The Roundhouse [Highlights]

Return to Eden - Live At The Roundhouse [Highlights]

Apr/2010

BBC in Concert (14 January 1981)

BBC in Concert (14 January 1981)

Dec/2009

BBC In Concert: Ultravox (14th January 1981, Recorded Live At Paris Theatre)

BBC In Concert: Ultravox (14th January 1981, Recorded Live At Paris Theatre)

Dec/2009

The Very Best Of

The Very Best Of

Apr/2009

The Very Best of Ultravox

The Very Best of Ultravox

Apr/2009

Quartet [Deluxe Edition]

Quartet [Deluxe Edition]

Jul/2023

Rage in Eden [Steven Wilson Stereo Mix]

Rage in Eden [Steven Wilson Stereo Mix]

Nov/2022

Rage In Eden (Deluxe Edition)

Rage In Eden (Deluxe Edition)

Sep/2022

Rage in Eden [Deluxe Edition]

Rage in Eden [Deluxe Edition]

Sep/2022

The Thin Wall (Steven Wilson Single Mix)

The Thin Wall (Steven Wilson Single Mix)

Sep/2022

Dancing with Tears in My Eyes (2009 Remaster)

Dancing with Tears in My Eyes (2009 Remaster)

Jul/2022

Hymn (2009 Remaster)

Hymn (2009 Remaster)

Jul/2022

Love's Great Adventure (2009 Remaster)

Love's Great Adventure (2009 Remaster)

Jul/2022

We Came to Dance (2009 Remaster)

We Came to Dance (2009 Remaster)

Jul/2022

Visions in Blue (2009 Remaster)

Visions in Blue (2009 Remaster)

Jul/2022

Reap the Wild Wind (2009 Remaster)

Reap the Wild Wind (2009 Remaster)

Jul/2022

Dancing with Tears in My Eyes (US Extended Re-Mix) (2018 Remaster)

Dancing with Tears in My Eyes (US Extended Re-Mix) (2018 Remaster)

Jul/2022

One Small Day (2009 Remaster)

One Small Day (2009 Remaster)

Jul/2022

Vienna [Deluxe Edition]: 40th Anniversary

Vienna [Deluxe Edition]: 40th Anniversary

Jun/2022

Ultravox - Tour 2012 (Live At Hammersmith Apollo)

Ultravox - Tour 2012 (Live At Hammersmith Apollo)

Jun/2021

Ultravox - Tour 2012 [Live At Hammersmith Apollo]

Ultravox - Tour 2012 [Live At Hammersmith Apollo]

Jun/2021

Ultravox - Tour 2012

Ultravox - Tour 2012

Jun/2021

Ultravox at Live Aid (Live at Wembley Stadium, 13th July 1985)

Ultravox at Live Aid (Live at Wembley Stadium, 13th July 1985)

Apr/2021

Ultravox at Live Aid

Ultravox at Live Aid

Apr/2021

Ultravox at Live Aid (Live at Live Aid, Wembley Stadium, 13th July 1984)

Ultravox at Live Aid (Live at Live Aid, Wembley Stadium, 13th July 1984)

Apr/2021

Reap the Wild Wind - Single

Reap the Wild Wind - Single

Jul/2023

Reap The Wild Wind (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix)

Reap The Wild Wind (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix)

Jul/2023

Vienna (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix)

Vienna (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix)

Jun/2021

Quartet [Steven Wilson Stereo Mix]

Quartet [Steven Wilson Stereo Mix]

Nov/2023

Vienna (St. Albans 1980)

Vienna (St. Albans 1980)

Jun/2023

Live in Concert 1981 (At The Paris Theatre London Radio Broadcast)

Live in Concert 1981 (At The Paris Theatre London Radio Broadcast)

Feb/2024

Lament (Deluxe Edition)

Lament (Deluxe Edition)

Sep/2024

White China (feat. Steven Wilson) [Steven Wilson 12'' Re - Mix Edit] - Single

White China (feat. Steven Wilson) [Steven Wilson 12'' Re - Mix Edit] - Single

Jul/2024

White China (Steven Wilson 12'' Re-Mix Edit)

White China (Steven Wilson 12'' Re-Mix Edit)

Jul/2024

Lament [Steven Wilson 12" Re-Mixes]

Lament [Steven Wilson 12" Re-Mixes]

Apr/2024

Lament (2024 Steven Wilson Mix)

Lament (2024 Steven Wilson Mix)

Sep/2024

Dancing with Tears in My Eyes (Piano Version)

Dancing with Tears in My Eyes (Piano Version)

Aug/2024

Dancing with Tears in My Eyes (Piano Version) - Single

Dancing with Tears in My Eyes (Piano Version) - Single

Aug/2024

Hymn (NCXSN Remix) - Single

Hymn (NCXSN Remix) - Single

Feb/2024

Lament (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix)

Lament (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix)

Nov/2024

Lament (Extended Re-Mixes)

Lament (Extended Re-Mixes)

Oct/2024

White China (Steven Wilson Re-Mix Edit)

White China (Steven Wilson Re-Mix Edit)

Sep/2024

Lament [7" Re-Mixes]

Lament [7" Re-Mixes]

Aug/2024

Remixes #2

Jan/2024

One: Steven Wilson Extended Remixes

One: Steven Wilson Extended Remixes

Nov/2023

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