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
Remembering
Ultravox Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I see the pictures play
Of people been and gone
Living in moments from the past
Over much too fast
Still longing to belong
Just remembering
Closing my eyes, I walked a while
A never ending mile
In avenues I've crossed
Talking to people stood alone
In streets that I had known
To friends I've loved and lost
Just remembering
Remembering
If I could gather all the moments so precious to stay with me
What would I be, what would I see?
Just remembering
Remembering
Just remembering (if I could gather all the moments so precious to stay with me)
Oo, remembering (if I could gather all the moments so precious to stay with me)
Just remembering (if I could gather all the moments so precious to stay with me)
Oh, remembering (if I could gather all the moments so precious to stay with me)
The lyrics to Ultravox's song Remembering depict a longing for the past and a desire to hold onto cherished memories. The singer speaks of closing his eyes and slipping away into a place where he can see the "pictures play" of people who have come and gone, living in moments from the past that were over much too quickly. Despite the passing of time, he still yearns to belong in those moments again. As the song progresses, he speaks of walking a never-ending mile and talking to people who are now gone, yet who still live on in his memories.
The chorus of the song, "Just remembering," serves to emphasize the idea that memories are all that remain of those who have passed on, and that it is important to hold onto those memories as tightly as possible. The lyrics are melancholic in nature and convey a sense of nostalgia and loss, but also a recognition of the importance of cherishing what we have while we have it.
Overall, the lyrics to Remembering are a poignant reminder that time is fleeting and that our memories are the only things we truly have to hold onto. The song encourages us to honor those memories and to cherish the moments we have with loved ones, as we never know when those moments may be gone forever.
Line by Line Meaning
Closing my eyes I slip away
By closing my eyes, I wander off into a different space.
I see the pictures play
In my imagined world, I observe cherished memories unfold.
Of people been and gone
I recall people who have departed this world.
Living in moments from the past
I relive the fleeting joys of bygone days.
Over much too fast
These moments went by too soon.
Still longing to belong
Even now, I yearn for that sense of belonging.
Just remembering
I'm only recollecting.
Closing my eyes, I walked a while
Once again, I closed my eyes and began my imaginative stroll.
A never-ending mile
This particular journey feels like it has no end.
In avenues I've crossed
I revisit familiar places that I have walked before.
Talking to people stood alone
I engage in conversations with solitary figures.
In streets that I had known
I recognize the streets of my youth.
To friends I've loved and lost
I reminisce about dear friends who are no longer with me.
If I could gather all the moments so precious to stay with me
I lament the fact that these moments cannot be captured and preserved.
What would I be, what would I see?
I wonder what I would be like if I could keep these memories, and what I would see in the world.
Oo, remembering (if I could gather all the moments so precious to stay with me)
I reflect on these memories and how they will continue to influence me.
Oh, remembering (if I could gather all the moments so precious to stay with me)
These remembrances are so vivid and indelible, even if they can't be fully preserved.
Contributed by Jason R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Philip Kassabian
on The Frozen Ones
A great Ultravox song.
Philip Kassabian
on Dancing With Tears in My Eyes
A great and emotional song.