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
When The Time Comes
Ultravox Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So you think that down's
The only way out
A sad excuse for lovers
With your head held high
And your heart still full of doubt
It's just like you to scorn
The only one who'll mourn
Chorus:
When the time comes I'll cry
On the day you cut the thread
When my heart tears I'll cry
So you gave up giving
And you sit and smile
When the awkward silence falls
Deny the life you're living
Just a fleeting love
That you only half recall
It's just like you to make
A passion turned to hate
The day he doesn't love you
(Chorus)
Still we're here together
Feeling helpless as our heaven turns to hell
The taker and the giver
Washed in anger
When we think how far we fell
It's just like you to take
The step than makes the break
The day he doesn't love you
When the time comes I'll cry
When the time comes I'll cry
When the time comes I'll cry
When the time comes I'll cry
"When The Time Comes" by Ultravox is a song about the end of a dysfunctional relationship where both parties are holding onto doubt, denial, and resentment. The opening lines express the viewpoint of one partner who feels that their significant other has given up on the relationship and is only focused on getting out of it. The lyrics suggest that the partner who is leaving once held a disdainful view of the other and failed to appreciate their love. The singer predicts that he will be the one mourning the end of the relationship when his lover ultimately walks out.
The chorus of the song expresses the pain and heartache that the singer will feel when the relationship ends. He is conscious of the fact that his heart will be torn and he will cry when his lover cuts the thread between them. The lyrics express the sorrow that he feels but also that he is resigned to the inevitable loss.
The final verse expresses a sense of helplessness and despair, as the couple watches their relationship disintegrate. The singer almost seems to accept that the relationship is turning into a disaster, but he is still unable to control the situation. He is angry at his lover for being the one to take the step that breaks them apart.
Line by Line Meaning
So you think it's over
The singer addresses someone who thinks that their relationship is doomed.
So you think that down's the only way out
The person in question believes that breaking up and being sad is the only solution.
A sad excuse for lovers
The singer suggests that letting go so easily is a poor excuse for people who claim to love each other.
With your head held high and your heart still full of doubt
The person in question tries to appear confident, but still has reservations about the relationship.
It's just like you to scorn the only one who'll mourn
The artist accuses the person in question of rejecting the one who will be hurt the most by the breakup.
The day he doesn't love you
The singer acknowledges that the person in question is waiting for the day when their partner stops loving them.
When the time comes I'll cry
The singer will experience great sadness when their partner decides to end the relationship.
On the day you cut the thread
The person in question will be the one to end the relationship.
So you gave up giving and you sit and smile
The person in question has stopped trying and appears happy despite their relationship falling apart.
When the awkward silence falls deny the life you're living
When things get uncomfortable or difficult, the person in question tries to avoid their problems.
Just a fleeting love that you only half recall
The relationship was never truly fulfilling or long-lasting for the person in question.
It's just like you to make a passion turned to hate
The artist accuses the person in question of ruining what used to be a loving relationship.
Still we're here together feeling helpless as our heaven turns to hell
The couple is still technically together, but their relationship is in shambles and they are powerless to fix it.
The taker and the giver washed in anger when we think how far we fell
The couple blames each other for causing their relationship to crumble, and they are both angry and bitter about it.
It's just like you to take the step than makes the break
The singer refers to the person in question as having a habit of taking the final step that ends the relationship.
When the time comes I'll cry
The singer will be overcome with emotion when their partner ends the relationship.
When the time comes I'll cry
The singer emphasizes their feelings of sadness and grief when their partner leaves them.
When the time comes I'll cry
The repetition of this line emphasizes the depth of the singer's emotions and their certainty that they will be devastated when their partner leaves.
When the time comes I'll cry
The singer reiterates their belief that they will suffer greatly when their partner decides to end their relationship.
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.