Ultravox
Ultravox (formerly Ultravox!) have been one of the primary exponents of the… Read Full Bio ↴Ultravox (formerly Ultravox!) have been one of the primary exponents of the British new wave synthpop music movement since the late 70s. The band is particularly associated with the New Romantic scene, although it both pre- and post-dated the peak of that movement by several years. Known for popular hits such as "Dancing With Tears In My Eyes" and "Vienna" among many others, the band has drawn inspiration variously from dark, moody post-punk, the artier side of glam rock, and latterly straightforward synthpop. Their latest album is 2012's 'Brilliant', featuring the 80s line-up of Midge Ure, Billy Currie, Chris Cross, and Warren Cann.
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
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
1. White China When pale turns to pink With a soft unnerving ease And all…
3. Dancing With Tears In My Dancing with tears in my eyes Weeping for the memory of…
8. A Friend I Call Desire Desire Desire Desire Desire You live for love, I long for i…
A Way Out A Way Through Perfecting what's mine From now and all time Devoted to ev…
Accent On Youth What is this phase that I am going through O these…
All Fall Down When I was boy There's a dream that I had That…
All In One Day Strange how the change came all in a day Counting down…
All Stood Still The lights went out (The last fuse blew). The clocks all…
Alles Klar Doro Angels Never Die Alles Ist Gut Alles ist gut Es wir…
Artificial Life All the boys are wearing their utility drag The girls slip…
Blue Light Thought I'd take the slide I thought I'd be alright But when…
Breathe Vienna We walked in the cold air Freezing breath on a …
Brilliant Somewhere sure, somewhere safe inside A world where you res…
Building One last smile As we turn away in wrong directions Feeling…
Call of the Wild Outside wild winds are calling Broken leaves are falling Ou…
Change I am the road I walk alone Exposed and turned to…
Contact What's wrong, who's right? Sad machines won't talk to me to…
Cross Fade Where are you, you're waving, the windows were ablaze We're…
Cut and Run [Chorus:] See the man on the 'phone, With a gun…
Dancing With Teard in My Eyes Dancing with tears in my eyes Weeping for the memory of…
Dangerous Rhythm [Chorus] Dangerous rhythm Dangerous rhythm Dangerous rhythm …
Dear God Dear God, is there somebody out there Is there someone to…
death in the afternoon We turned the dial, we heard the news and laughed,…
Dislocation Running down an empty street Perhaps it was a railway statio…
Distance You make to much of the way I am Like my…
Distant Smile Sometimes I find I drift away Behind a distant smile Light y…
Dream On Hold my breath and pray for something better Close my eyes…
Dreams When I was a boy, there's a dream that I…
Face To Face There's nothing left The system's gone It's taking over, o…
Fade To Grey Devenir gris Devenir gris One man on a lonely platform …
Fall And I could never give in And I could never feel…
Fear in the Western World Your picture of yourself is a media myth Underneath this flo…
Flow If I could feel some kind of feeling Send a message…
Follow Your Heart Follow, follow Follow, follow your heart There must be som…
Frozen Ones Marching across our own screens Our faces form all our needs…
Future Picture Forever Time rolled by and I held out my hand and…
Give It All Back So the victim ever comes And the lies won't give at…
Heart Of The Country I was young and not deceived then I believed in the…
Hello Hello, hello, hello Welcome to this world you made Hello, …
Herr X I found the perfect picture, of a perfect stranger. It looke…
Hiroshima Mon Amour Somehow we drifted off too far Communicate like distant sta…
Hymn Give us this day all that you showed me The…
I Am Alive I, I'm moving through time Being human by design Life Unfulf…
I Can't Stay Long I can feel the turning of the tides Pulling away the…
I Can’t Stay Long I can feel the turning of the tides Pulling away the…
I Never Wanted To Begin Shadows cut across as stolen promises were broke We wound o…
I Remember We turned the dial, we heard the news and laughed,…
I Want to Be a Machine I found the bones of all your ghosts Locked in the…
Ideals The cryings over The crying is done We are believing someo…
If I Was If I was (if I was) a better man (a…
Ingenuity Reach for the stars (Kudos is lost) The space race…
Just for a Moment Talking in the window as the light fades I heard my…
King's Lead Hat Oh yeah! Oh - it's automatic (narcotic) let's ride Four …
Lament And just as my eyes start seeing After all the pain The…
Lie Couldn't you let it lie? With a smile and subterfuge You…
Life at Rainbow's End Streets I knew were raining, changing Addresses were rearra…
Live Oh Oh Oh-oo Time will find a way A way to make your wo…
Love Standing on my own It didn't mean that much to me I…
Love's Great Adventure Standing on my own It didn't mean that much to me I…
Man Of Two Worlds Taking shelter by the standing stones Miles from all that mo…
Man Who Dies Every Day Someone stood beside me for a moments in the rain A…
Maximum Acceleration I thought you knew me by now Let the lights go…
Mine for Life [Chorus] A life as a stranger, Hands through a wire, Forbidd…
Modern Love Modern lovers, we Shine suspended while Tricking time and …
Moon Madness One more day in a vacuum drags me down One bright…
Mr X I found the perfect picture, of a perfect stranger. It looke…
My Sex My sex Waits for me Like a mongrel waits Downwind on a tight…
New Europeans In a quiet street washed by the rain, the room…
No Regrets I know you're leaving but it's too long overdue For far…
No Turning Back You think you're so safe and secure with your kind But…
One It's hard to believe the time has come For this one For…
One Small Day If the stack is high against you And the hammer's coming…
Overlook Ah Overlook Ah, ah Overlook Ha, ah, ah, ah…
Passing Stranger We were so young, we were too vain. Dance in the…
Passing Strangers We were so young, we were too vain. Dance in the…
Passionate Reply Suddenly you'll find Yourself waiting for a long time Your b…
Paths & Angles Visions of men never known Never seen, never heard, never sh…
Paths and Angels Visions of men never known Never seen, never heard, never s…
Perfecting the art Moments like this I wish that you were mine And I find…
Private Lives All the boys are wearing blue tonight. We'll thrive, we'll d…
Quiet Man Waiting, we were waiting As the traffic moved through all ou…
Rage In Eden We sit and watch these lifeless forms Stark and petrified Th…
Reap the Wild Wind [Repeat: x3] Reap the wild wind A finger points to show a…
Remembering Closing my eyes I slip away I see the pictures play Of…
Revelation I see it every day As children play There's a future, watchi…
Rise I give to you the best of everything I'm here to…
ROckWrok ROckWrok ROckWrok ROckWrok ROckWrokrockwrok Blast off, t…
Same Old Story Telling me the same old story When the storm grows…
Satellite Shine from above you, satellite Follow your lead, follow yo…
Saturday Night in the City of the Dead Fat guy jets by, bony in a Zodiac Picking up trouble,…
Serenade [Chorus] Serenade, in rhythm and swing. Serenade, the gift t…
Sleepwalk Sleepwalk. Rolling and falling, I'm choking and calling, N…
Slip Away Enter me gently I break in the light Cover my eyes With the…
Slow Motion No reply I'm trying hard to somehow frame a reply Pictures, …
Some of Them Some of them are changing day to day Some of them…
Someone Else's Clothes Check out some memories I don't recognise Another country an…
Stranger Within Light comes through a crack in the door I tape up…
Sweet Surrender Sweet sweet sweet surrender Sweet sweet sweet surrender Sw…
Systems of Love When everyone else is uncertain And walls are closing in The…
The Ascent There dosent seem to be any lyrics for The Ascent,…
The Closer I Get to You My obsession Your desire Come let me lead you To the fire Sh…
The Frozen Ones Marching across our own screens Our faces form all our needs…
The Great Outdoor You stand out of the crowd You don't follow the shadows You'…
The Lonely Hunter [Chorus:] Lonely hunter Lonely hunter Lonely hunter Lonely h…
The Man Who Dies Every Day Someone stood beside me for a moments in the rain A…
The New Frontier Try to understand As I take you by the hand Side by…
The Prize The prize is worth the working for The prize is worth…
The Silent Cries You're hopeful of everything To do what you want to Belief…
The Song [Chorus] Welcome to.. Welcome to.. Welcome to the song. Hea…
The Thin Wall The sound is on the visions move The image dance starts…
The Voice Native these words seem to me All speech directed to me I've…
The Wall The sound is on the visions move The image dance starts…
The Wild [Repeat: x3] Reap the wild wind A finger points to show a…
The Wild The Beautiful Calling cards of madness Pull the brass men from their knee…
The Wild The Beautiful and The Damned Calling cards of madness Pull the brass men from their knee…
There Goes A Beautiful World Spinning round, demanding a gentle way Rushed up crowd, had…
Time To Kill Sitting on a train going round, round, get around Looking a…
True Believer Maximize your potential Utilize the influential Come take my…
Unified You give me exaltation Like a rush from the morning air All…
Vienna We walked in the cold air Freezing breath on a window…
Visions in Blue Face in the window in the night Caught for a second…
Visions of Blue Face in the window in the night Caught for a second…
Waiting Move on as we step in time Strange words from the…
We Came to Dance We came to dance Making moves from a passion play The ties…
We Stand Alone The words played on around our heads Perhaps we went too…
Western Promise Hai! Oh mystical East, on old postcards, Your childhood dre…
When the Scream Subsides (And we talked) Just the two of us. (All the time)…
When The Time Comes So you think it's over So you think that down's The only…
When You Walk Through Me It's warm tonight It rained tonight The windows are all op…
While I Playing the game With the chips on my shoulder Checking in t…
White China When pale turns to pink With a soft unnerving ease And all…
Who We passed upon the stair, we spoke of was and…
Who'll Save You Please yourself Only solitary kind Be yourself When there…
Wide Boys I took a walk down New York avenue Wearing my latest…
Yellow Pearl We all must beware of the yellow pearl The Yellow Pearl…
You Move Me It's warm tonight It rained tonight The windows are all open…
Young Savage The Jekyll-Hyde of you I can't survive the tide of you The…
Your Name Something stops me from seeing too clear A misty haze floats…
Philip Kassabian
on The Frozen Ones
A great Ultravox song.
Philip Kassabian
on Dancing With Tears in My Eyes
A great and emotional song.