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
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Ultravox Lyrics
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Devenir gris
One man on a lonely platform
One case sitting by his side
Two eyes staring cold and silent
Show fear as he turns to hide
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Un homme dans une gare isolée
Une valise a ses cotés
Des yeux fixes et froids
Montre de la peur lorsqu'il
Se tourne pour se cacher
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Sent la pluie comme un été Anglais
Entends les notes d'une chanson lointaine
Sortant de derriere d'un poster
Espérant que la vie ne fut aussi longue
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Feel the rain like an English summer
Hear the notes from a distant song
Stepping out from a back shop poster
Wishing life wouldn't be so long
Devenir gris
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Devenir gris
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Devenir gris
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Devenir gris
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
The opening lines of Ultravox's song 'Fade to Grey' give us a sense of introspection, melancholy, and impending sadness. The repeated phrase 'devenir gris' (to become grey) reflects a sense of fading hope, dreams, and life. The following stanza creates an image of a solitary figure sitting in a station with a suitcase, evoking a sense of loneliness and abandonment. The lyrics continue to paint a picture of a person unable to face reality and trying to escape from it. The two lines 'feel the rain like an English summer, hear the notes from a distant song' create an atmosphere of longing and nostalgia for something that has been lost.
The lyrics 'stepping out from a back shop poster, wishing life wouldn't be so long' suggest a desire to escape the mundane and the ordinary. The final repetition of 'devenir gris' underscores a sense of melancholy and resignation. The lyrics throughout 'Fade to Grey' convey a bleak and desolate mood, capturing a sense of loss and despair.
Line by Line Meaning
Devenir gris
Becoming gray
Devenir gris
Becoming gray
One man on a lonely platform
A solitary man stands on a platform by himself
One case sitting by his side
A single piece of luggage is nearby him
Two eyes staring cold and silent
His eyes are cold and expressionless
Show fear as he turns to hide
He displays fear as he tries to hide
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
We are becoming gray (fade to gray)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
We are becoming gray (fade to gray)
Un homme dans une gare isolée
A man in an isolated train station
Une valise a ses cotés
A suitcase is next to him
Des yeux fixes et froids
His cold and expressionless eyes
Montre de la peur lorsqu'il
Se tourne pour se cacher
Shows fear as he turns to hide
Sent la pluie comme un été Anglais
Feels the rain like an English summer
Entends les notes d'une chanson lointaine
Hears the notes of a distant song
Sortant de derriere d'un poster
Coming out from behind a poster
Espérant que la vie ne fut aussi longue
Hoping life wouldn't be so long
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
We are becoming gray (fade to gray)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
We are becoming gray (fade to gray)
Feel the rain like an English summer
The rain feels like an English summer
Hear the notes from a distant song
Hears faint notes from a faraway song
Stepping out from a back shop poster
Emerging from a poster at the back of a shop
Wishing life wouldn't be so long
Longing for life to be shorter
Devenir gris
Becoming gray
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
We are becoming gray (fade to gray)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
We are becoming gray (fade to gray)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
We are becoming gray (fade to gray)
Devenir gris
Becoming gray
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
We are becoming gray (fade to gray)
Devenir gris
Becoming gray
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
We are becoming gray (fade to gray)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
We are becoming gray (fade to gray)
Devenir gris
Becoming gray
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
We are becoming gray (fade to gray)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
We are becoming gray (fade to gray)
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRIS PAYNE, BILLY CURRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@boboften9952
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Lyrics
One man on a lonely platform
One case sitting by his side
Two eyes staring cold and silent
Shows fear as he turns to hide
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Feel the rain like an English summer
Hear the notes from a distant song
Stepping out from a back drop poster
Wishing life wouldn't be so long
(Devenir gris)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
(Devenir gris)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
(Devenir gris)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
(Devenir gris)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey)
Songwriters: Ure James / Payne Christopher John / Currie William
Fade to Grey lyrics © Mood Music Ltd., Hot Food Music Ltd.
@teresaroberts5907
This is beautiful, the vocals and music. I would love to see Midge perform live, the extra guitars bring a new dimension to the song.
@sandrahamand4622
I am 71 yrs old & didn’t realise what a powerful voice James has....love this song..
Midge URE. “You are a legend” your voice has gotten better over the years :) you certainly can make that guitar sing!! X
@markpeters9916
Midge Ure, one of the most underated performers and song writers
@Voxac100b
Brilliant performer and artist
@markrae1317
No he isn't! Nobody doesn't rate him. Buy a dictionary. Look up "underrated".
@mickyday2008
Definitely not underrated
@davethecrow
@@markrae1317 he was good in gary numan
@markrae1317
@@davethecrow In what sense?
@williamashford2057
Midge ure is a very underrated guitarist.
@johnstairs
Spot on me thinks his spell with Thin Lizzy helped him also.