Ultravox

Ultravox began in London in April 1974 as Tiger Lily. The initial lineup included Dennis Leigh (later John Foxx) on vocals and songwriting, Chris Allen (later Chris Cross) on bass, Stevie Shears on guitar, Warren Cann on drums, and Billy Currie on violin. After an early single in 1975 under the name Tiger Lily, the band signed with Island Records in 1976 and adopted the name Ultravox!. Their eponymous debut album was released in February 1977, co-produced by Steve Lillywhite and Brian Eno, but sales were modest. The subsequent album, “Ha! Ha! Ha!” (1977), and its lead single also had limited commercial impact, despite receiving airplay.

Following personnel changes, including the departure of Stevie Shears and the adoption of new stage names, the band released “Systems of Romance” in 1978. Produced by Conny Plank, this album marked a shift towards synthesizers and showcased a new musical direction. Although it garnered some positive reviews, Island Records dropped the band. John Foxx then left to pursue a solo career. In 1979, the remaining members were joined by Midge Ure as lead singer, guitarist, and keyboardist. Ure, who had previously worked with Visage alongside Billy Currie, revitalized Ultravox and led them to significant commercial success.

The Midge Ure era, beginning in 1979, saw Ultravox achieve widespread recognition. Their 1980 album “Vienna,” also produced by Conny Plank, became their most successful to date, with the title track reaching number 2 in the UK charts. This period produced seven Top Ten albums and seventeen Top 40 singles in the UK between 1980 and 1986. Key releases included “Rage in Eden” (1981), “Quartet” (1982), and “Lament” (1984), featuring hit singles such as “Dancing with Tears in My Eyes.” The band disbanded in 1987 but reunited with its classic lineup in 2008, releasing the album “Brilliant” in 2012 before concluding their performances in 2013.