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
8. A Friend I Call Desire
Ultravox Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Desire
Desire
Desire
You live for love, I long for it
You give for love, I take from it
This friend of mine, desire
Emotion driving all the time
A burning need for things not mine
Desire
Desire
Desire
You reach for love, I walk from it
You fight for love, I run from it
My enemy, desire
Caressing me, desire
The torch I carried burnt my hand
I can't control what I can't stand
Desire
Desire
Desire
You live for love, I lie for it
You give for love, I shy from it
And the pain, and the lust
And the want, and the hurt
And the lies, and the fear
And the urge, and the feel
And the touch, and it's all
A friend I call desire
You live for love, I lie for it
You live for love, I die for it
And the pain, and the lies
And the touch, and it's all
A friend I call desire
Ultravox’s “A Friend I Call Desire” is a song about the compelling nature of desire and the different ways it can manifest in people's lives. Lyrically, the song explores the contrasts between two people's attitudes towards love and desire.
The singer is envious of their friend who seems to have a much more optimistic and positive view of relationships, while the singer's own experiences have left them wary and hesitant to fully invest themselves in love. The repetition of the word “desire” emphasizes the intensity of the feelings at play.
The song's chorus is particularly striking, with the singer acknowledging that desire can be both a friend and an enemy. They recognize the appeal of giving in to their urges, but are hesitant to fully embrace them for fear of getting hurt. This internal struggle is reflected in the music itself, which builds to a frenzied climax before coming to an abrupt end.
Overall, “A Friend I Call Desire” is a powerful meditation on the complexities of human emotion, and the ways in which desire can both enrich and harm our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Desire
Repeatedly stating the theme of the song - desire
You live for love, I long for it
You actively pursue love, while I yearn for it
You give for love, I take from it
You give love freely, while I selfishly take from it
This friend of mine, desire
Personifying desire as a friend
This lover's crime, desire
Describing desire as a criminal act in love
Emotion driving all the time
Describing how emotions constantly drive desire
A burning need for things not mine
Expressing the intense desire for things that cannot be obtained
You reach for love, I walk from it
You actively pursue love, while I avoid it
You fight for love, I run from it
You battle for love, while I flee from it
My enemy, desire
Referring to desire as an enemy
Caressing me, desire
Describing how desire can be both gentle and consuming
The torch I carried burnt my hand
Describing how pursuing desire can have painful consequences
I can't control what I can't stand
Feeling powerless to control desire, even though it is uncomfortable
You live for love, I lie for it
You seek love passionately, while I am dishonest in my pursuit of it
You give for love, I shy from it
You offer love freely, while I am hesitant to accept it
And the pain, and the lust
Listing the negative feelings associated with desire
And the want, and the hurt
Listing the desire and pain that come with love
And the lies, and the fear
Listing the dishonesty and fear that are often associated with love
And the urge, and the feel
Listing the passion and desire that drive us towards love
And the touch, and it's all
Describing the physical sensation of love being all-consuming
You live for love, I lie for it
You seek love passionately, while I am dishonest in my pursuit of it
You live for love, I die for it
You seek love passionately, while I am consumed by my longing for it
And the pain, and the lies
Listing the negative emotions associated with love and dishonesty
And the touch, and it's all
Describing how the physical sensation of love can overpower everything else
A friend I call desire
Personifying desire as a friend once again
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.