Initially, the band was comprised of Steve Strange, Rusty Egan and Midge Ure (also previously of The Rich Kids). Also in there, and credited as a co-writer of FADE TO GREY was Chris Payne,a member of Gary Numan's band. The trio recorded a demo which included a cover of the Zager and Evans hit "In the Year 2525". Ultravox's multi-instrumentalist Billy Currie and the core of post-punk band Magazine – bassist Barry Adamson, guitarist John McGeoch, and keyboardist Dave Formula – joined the studio-only band later. Visage signed to Radar Records and released their first single, "Tar" (which was originally composed whilst Strange was in The Photons), in September of 1979. The single failed to chart, but the band managed to secure a deal with a larger record company, Polydor, the following year.
1980 saw the release of their second single, "Fade to Grey". The single became a huge hit (making the top ten in the UK and topping the chart in several other countries) and was quickly followed by the release of their self-titled debut album which was also a chart success.
After further Top 40 hits with "Mind of a Toy" and the title track "Visage", Strange struggled to reunite the band's members again to record a second album because of their commitments with their respective bands (Ure and Currie with Ultravox; Formula and Adamson with Magazine; and McGeoch with Siouxsie and the Banshees). However, in the autumn of 1981 all musicians (except McGeoch) went into the studio again and recorded The Anvil. The album was released in March of 1982 and became Visage's first (and only) UK top ten album, producing two top twenty singles with "The Damned Don't Cry" and "Night Train". The Anvil earned Silver disc status in the UK, as did the band's first album.
Following this, Ure left the band to concentrate on his work with Ultravox, who were by now becoming even more successful than Visage were. Creative differences with Strange were also cited as reasons for his departure at the time. Visage, now without Ure and Adamson but with the addition of bassist Steve Barnacle, recorded the stand-alone single "Pleasure Boys", which was released in October of 1982. Unfortunately, the single failed to prolong their string of hits and peaked just outside the UK top 40.
Although still recording, Visage then took a two year hiatus from releasing any new material due to contractual difficulties.
With their contractual problems resolved, 1984 saw the return of Visage for what would become their third album and final released for many years. Beat Boy was released in September of 1984 but was a critical and commercial failure, peaking at #79 in the UK. Two singles from the album, "Love Glove" and "Beat Boy", also failed to make the UK top 40. By this time, Billy Currie and Dave Formula had also departed the band (though they received a "special thanks" credit on the album sleeve for their input), leaving only Strange and Egan from the original line-up along with newer musicians Steve and Gary Barnacle and Andy Barnett. A decision to make Visage a live band instead of a strictly studio-based project also failed to meet with success and the band subsequently split in 1985. Their final release was a Visage VHS video compilation of the band's renowned promotional videos and also included footage of Strange's trip to North Africa the year before. The compilation does not, however, include the original video for the "Love Glove" single which was filmed at a late-night Dockland location in London in 1984.
Following the demise of Visage, Strange then formed the short-lived band Strange Cruise. They released one album in 1986, though this too proved unsuccessful. Visage returned to the charts once more when a Bassheads remix of "Fade to Grey" was a UK Top 40 hit in 1993.
In 2004 Steve Strange reformed Visage with an entirely new line-up. The line-up included Steven Young, Sandrine Gouriou and Rosie Harris from Seize and Ross Tregenza from Jetstream Lovers/Goteki. The new line-up released the track "Diary Of A Madman" in 2007, written by Strange and Tregenza.
Strange released another album using the moniker Visage in 2013 called "Hearts and Knieves.
In December 2014, Visage released Orchestral, a mostly live album containing twelve Visage songs remade with a Czech symphony orchestra.
On 12 February 2015 Steve Strange died due to heart attack while visiting Egypt, He died at 55.
There is another band that use the same name:
2) Visage (ヴィサージュ) was a Japanese visual kei band, who was signed to the Undercode VK label.
Move Up
Visage Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To a different sound
To a higher ground
To a different key
With a melody
As the feeling grows
With the lights down low
When you hear the cry
Questioned once again
Drink the soothing cup
Said the liquid friend
Choose the rush to all
Move Up!
Kiss a tear goodbye
Cry a distant cry
Dance a daring dance
Take a 1-0 chance
Take your grasp on fate
Rise to heaven's gate
Stand above the rest
And take the lasting test
In the song "Move Up" by Visage, the lyrics encourage the listener to move up and elevate themselves to a different level. The song suggests moving towards a different sound, higher ground, and a different key, all with a melody that matches the feeling that grows within. As the lights dim and the listener hears the cry, they are encouraged to taste the alibi and drink the soothing cup. The lyrics also suggest that once again, the listener is questioned, but they are reminded to choose the rush to all.
The message of the song suggests taking risks and grabbing hold of fate to rise to heaven's gate, standing above the rest, and taking the lasting test. The song's use of metaphors creates a sense of hope, that even in times of questioning, the listener can still choose to move up and dance a daring dance, taking a 1-0 chance. The lyrics inspire the listener to keep moving forward, and not to be afraid to take risks and embrace change.
Line by Line Meaning
Move Up!
Encouragement to move forward and up in life
To a different sound
Move to a different beat, try new things
To a higher ground
Move to a better place, an improved state of mind
To a different key
Try a different approach, a new perspective
With a melody
Adding rhythm and enjoyment to the situation
As the feeling grows
Growing excitement and energy
With the lights down low
In a relaxed atmosphere
When you hear the cry
When the moment is right
Taste the alibi
Try the excuse or reason to justify your actions
Questioned once again
Doubts and insecurities arise again
Drink the soothing cup
Take comfort in what is familiar
Said the liquid friend
Alcohol as a temporary friend to numb problems
Choose the rush to all
Choosing to indulge in instant gratification
Kiss a tear goodbye
Let go of sadness and pain
Cry a distant cry
Let out any pent-up emotions
Dance a daring dance
Taking risks and being bold
Take a 1-0 chance
Taking a small risk can lead to big rewards
Take your grasp on fate
Take control of your future
Rise to heaven's gate
Achieving great things in life
Stand above the rest
Being unique, standing out from the crowd
And take the lasting test
Enduring challenges and coming out on top
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BILLY CURRIE, RUSTY EGAN, STEVE STRANGE, DAVID TOMLINSON, MIDGE URE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind