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
Face To Face
Ultravox Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The system's gone
It's taking over, over, over
Right before our eyes
It's all over
Hear them cry
It's all over
It's all over
Nothing but time, time, time is all we had
Face to face
Room to room
It's taking over
The streets are bare
There's nothing there
It's all gone now, gone now, gone now
Right before our eyes
It's all over
Hear them cry
It's all over
See them die
It's all over
Nothing but time, time, time is all I had
Face to face
Room to room
It's taking over
It's all over
Hear them cry
It's all over
Hear them die
It's all over
Nothing but time, time, time is all we had
Face to face
Room to room
We're taking over, oh!
The lyrics to "Face to Face" by Ultravox speak about the collapse of society and the end of the world as we know it. The first two lines, "There's nothing left, the system's gone" suggest that society has crumbled, leaving nothing behind. This is further emphasized in the lines "The streets are bare, there's nothing there, it's all gone now, gone now, gone now, right before our eyes." The repetition of "gone now" emphasizes the sudden and irreversible nature of this destruction.
The chorus of the song, "It's all over, hear them cry, it's all over, see them die, it's all over" speaks about the devastation that has been wrought upon society. The harsh sounds of the synthesizer and the pounding rhythm echo the chaos and destruction that have taken place. The repetition of "nothing but time, time, time is all we had" speaks about the transitory nature of life and how everything, no matter how permanent it seems can be destroyed in an instant.
Overall, "Face to Face" speaks about the end of human civilization and the inevitability of change. Its lyrics are bleak, yet powerful, echoing the feelings of disillusionment and despair that many people feel about the current state of society.
Line by Line Meaning
There's nothing left
All hope has been lost
The system's gone
The established order has been entirely eradicated
It's taking over, over, over
A powerful force is swiftly gaining control
Right before our eyes
We are witnessing this force's dominance in real time
It's all over
All has been lost and there is no more hope
Hear them cry
The emotional agony of others is palpable
It's all over
The end has truly come
Hear them sigh
Others are expressing deep disappointment
Nothing but time, time, time is all we had
We have only the fleeting passage of time, and nothing else
Face to face
In close proximity and unavoidable
Room to room
Every enclosed space is impacted
It's taking over
The powerful force is consuming everything
The streets are bare
There is no sign of human presence
There's nothing there
Everything that used to exist has disappeared
It's all gone now, gone now, gone now
The past is irretrievably lost
See them die
The sight of death is inescapable
Nothing but time, time, time is all I had
The artist reflects on the realization that they had so little time
We're taking over, oh!
The force that has conquered is now being personified
Contributed by Callie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
R. ROOKSBY
I had this on clear vinyl when I was a kid... (still sounds great) p.s. Yes, I hear Neu! too.
Martin Eve
still one of my favourites and as far as I know it was never recording in the studio... oh... it was recorded at St. Albans City Hall... I know as I was there!
579enact
This is one of my very favourite (M.Ure - era) Ultravox tracks, and I'm also amazed that they never recorded it in the studio... but having listened to Neu for the first time recently, I think I can understand why - the intro is obviously inspired by (or rather, lifted almost verbatim from) a song on Neu's 3rd album, and so I suppose UV must have been wary that they would be accused of plagiarism, even though I think it's OK to take a bit of someone else's song and build it into something different, and make it your own, as UV did here. I suppose Conny Plank must have told them "look guys, you can't release this unless you change the intro, or my mates will sue you!"
I like the way the drama builds up through the song, culminating in this devastating crashdown, and then the gentle ending rises up from the ashes. Shame, it would have made a much better follow-up single to "Vienna" than "All Stood Still".
Rusty Egan
From The Blitz Club DJ sets I played Neu! E-Music
Christopher Adderley
@Rusty Egan Thanks for one of the best nights out that I have ever had the privilege of experiencing. Cambridge Corn Exchange 2019. You supported, then appeared with Midge on stage for a truly magical gig. I didn't realize how good a drummer you are! All the best Rusty, and thanks for the memories 🧡
Anthony
What is neu music 👽😎😊
Phil Rogers
I heard this live at the Top Rank in Brighton. That bass drum that starts at around 4:12 was so powerful that you could feel your internal organs vibrating! A very weird sensation. It was shortly after Ultravox released Vienna so they were still playing smaller venues. They were supported by the excellent Nottingham band, Fatal Charm.
Stephen Watt
Brilliant track and I am amazed that this didn't appear anywhere else apart from the Passing Strangers B-Side (to my knowledge anyway) Great track!! :) Great Drumming from Warren!!
Glyn Davies
Memories! Great track, should have been recorded. GD
Clint Tynan
I understand that this was a song they never got around to finishing. I have this on the reverse of Passing Strangers 12" vinyl - plus Kings Lead Hat - and I wish I was at that goddam concert! Let's face it, Vienna and Rage were still good without this one, though I would love to have heard a studio version...