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
1. White China
Ultravox Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With a soft unnerving ease
And all you've built around
May just tumble to the ground
We stand or fall
With your future in another's hands
We stand or fall
When white turns to red
In the not too distant days
Will force and misery
Be the life you have to lead?
We stand or fall
With your children in anothers world
We stand or fall
When your town is not your own
Chorus:
White China
White China
When crimson takes a hold
When the lights go down on all you've ever known
When all you'll ever do
Is worked out for you
We stand or fall
When the thoughts you have are not your own
We stand or fall
When the freedom slips away
(Repeat chorus 3 times)
In Ultravox's song "White China," the lyrics describe a dystopian future where everything once familiar has been transformed and turned upside down. The opening lines "When pale turns to pink, with a soft unnerving ease" suggest that something is changing gradually yet not so subtly. As the color changes from pale to pink it seems to represent a shift in power, almost like the transition from day to night. The lyrics go on to express a sense of insecurity and uncertainty, with the suggestion that "all you've built around may just tumble to the ground." This could represent the fragility of the world we inhabit, and the fact that it could all disappear in a moment's notice.
The chorus itself, with the repetition of the phrase "White China," seems to reflect the fragility of life and how everything can be shattered so easily. The later lines "When all you'll ever do is worked out for you" hint at a sense of futility and resignation, where everything is already predetermined and you have no control over your life. This is reinforced with the lines "When the thoughts you have are not your own" and "When the freedom slips away," which evoke a sense of erasure of individual identity and agency.
Line by Line Meaning
When pale turns to pink
When a situation that seems stable and safe starts to show signs of change and uncertainty.
With a soft unnerving ease
The change feels unsettling and unpredictable, happening gradually and subtly.
And all you've built around
All the things you have worked hard to create and establish in your life.
May just tumble to the ground
Could suddenly collapse and be destroyed by the changing circumstances.
We stand or fall
We'll either come out alright or fail dramatically.
With your future in another's hands
Depends on how another person, group, or entity behaves or makes decisions.
When your life is not your own
You don't have control over your life, losing all autonomy and decision-making power.
When white turns to red
When a peaceful life turns into a violent one.
In the not too distant days
Soon or in the near future.
Will force and misery
Situations where people are coerced or manipulated and suffer greatly.
Be the life you have to lead?
Is that going to be the life you're forced to live?
With your children in another's world
When your children are subject to the decisions and conditions of another group or culture outside of your control.
When your town is not your own
When your community is dominated by people or forces that don't share your values, traditions, or interests.
(Chorus)
Repeating the song's title as a refrain.
When crimson takes a hold
When the situation becomes even worse, and possibly filled with bloodshed or extreme violence.
When the lights go down on all you've ever known
When everything you've depended on for security, identity or comfort disappears, leaving you utterly alone and vulnerable.
When all you'll ever do
Your future prospects don't offer hope or excitement.
Is worked out for you
Your life will be pre-determined by someone else's calculations or interests, leaving no room for free will or ambition.
When the thoughts you have are not your own
When you're obliged to think and act according to someone else's agenda or ideology.
When the freedom slips away
When your ability to choose your own path or express your own views is taken from you.
(Repeat chorus 3 times)
Repeating the same message three times to reinforce the idea that this process is happening, and it's not a passing phase.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRISTOPHER THOMAS ALLEN, MIDGE URE, WARREN REGINALD CANN, WILLIAM CURRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Philip Kassabian
on The Frozen Ones
A great Ultravox song.
Philip Kassabian
on Dancing With Tears in My Eyes
A great and emotional song.