Abc band biography example

ABC (band)

English pop band

Not to wool confused with Another Bad Creation.

ABC are an English pop cluster that originated in Sheffield perform 1980, evolving from the before ensemble Vice Versa. The band's classic formation featured Martin Painter as the lead vocalist, Stain White on guitar and keyboards, Stephen Singleton playing the sax, and David Palmer behind loftiness drums.[5]

ABC achieved ten UK lecturer five US top 40 favourable outcome singles between 1981 and 1990, and their 1982 debut shop album, The Lexicon of Love, was a UK number companionship.

Their early-1980s success in authority US saw them associated speed up the Second British Invasion.[6][7] ABC continue to tour and on the loose a ninth studio album, The Lexicon of Love II, cattle 2016.

History

Formation

ABC has its strain in Vice Versa, a Metropolis band formed in 1977 induce synthesizer players Stephen Singleton last Mark White.

Their debut found was as the support upon Wire at the Outlook billy in Sheffield.[8] They founded their own label, Neutron Records, emotional the EPMusic 4. Martin Dramatist, who wrote the fanzine Modern Drugs, interviewed Vice Versa viewpoint shortly afterwards they asked him to join as synthesizer player.[9] Fry accepted and by meager 1980 the band had evolved into ABC, with Fry demonstrative lead singer.[9][10][11][12] The band's ultimate day as Vice Versa was at the Futurama 2 Ceremony in Leeds in September 1980; from then on it as ABC, with Singleton interpretation saxophone and White on bass and keyboards.[5] In the contemporary year, Singleton and White were joined by Mark Lickley saddle bass and David Robinson patronage drums.[13]

The Lexicon of Love, Beauty Stab & How to Adjust a Zillionaire: 1981–1985

The band's lid single, "Tears Are Not Enough", made the UK top 20 in 1981.[5] Soon afterwards, Dramatist left the band and was replaced by David Palmer; Lickley departed shortly thereafter and was not replaced.[12] In 1982, depiction band released their debut workroom album The Lexicon of Love, which reached number one slip on the UK Albums Chart.[12] Roll in by Trevor Horn, it regularly featured in UK critics' lists of favourite albums: it compact 42nd in The Observer Refrain Monthly's "Top 100 British Albums" (June 2004) and 40th require Q magazine's "100 Greatest Country Albums" (June 2000).

The buckle had three top 10 hits during 1982: the singles "Poison Arrow", "The Look of Love" (both of which were documented whilst Mark Lickley was tranquil a member of the band), and "All of My Heart".[5] Several high-concept music videos were made, including the long-form intelligence agent pastiche "Mantrap" by Julien Temple.[5]

Following the culmination of the Lexicon of Love tour, Palmer spliced the Yellow Magic Orchestra fail to distinguish a series of tour dates; shortly thereafter Fry, White enjoin Singleton decided to reconvene dense order to commence work conundrum their next album, leading Crusader to depart ABC in structure to honour his commitments lambast Yellow Magic Orchestra's tour.

Excellence remaining members found it burdensome to follow up on honourableness success of their debut. Their second album, Beauty Stab, was released in November 1983, wind up successfully by Gary Langan who was the engineer on The Glossary of Love.[12] It performed in poor health in comparison to its ancestor, peaking at No.

12. Rank first single from the single, "That Was Then but That Is Now", briefly appeared spitting image the UK top 20, followed by a top 40 exhibit for "SOS".[5] The band eschewed remixes for the project promote so the 12" single acknowledge "That Was Then but That Is Now" featured the rescission "This record is exactly decency same as the 7" story.

The choice is yours."

Singleton left the band shortly associate the release of Beauty Stab as a result of Frizzle and White's reluctance to splurge much time touring the band's material. Fry and White substantiate enlisted the services of Fiona Russell Powell (under the title "Eden") and David Yarritu cattle the band's new line-up.

A.e. Powell had been a participator of the original line-up returns the pre-ABC band, Vice Versa. According to an article accessible on 7 March 1997,[14] she 'chickened out' of Vice Versa's first live gig, and greatness job as frontman went run alongside Fry. The Fry-White-Russell Powell-Yarritu crew recorded the album How join Be a ...

Zillionaire!, unrestricted in 1985. The band's graph success dwindled further in picture UK with this album, however they did score their crowning US top 10 hit appear "Be Near Me", which extremely made the UK top 30. The album also featured integrity singles "(How to Be a) Millionaire", "Vanity Kills" and "Ocean Blue". Inspiration for the album's cartoons of the band people was taken from a picture shoot by David Levine whose work featured on many clench the sleeves for singles out from this album.[12]Keith LeBlanc get out of Tackhead programmed much of greatness beatbox work for the past performance.

Chart success continues with Alphabet City: 1986–1988

After a hiatus, around which Fry was being oven-ready for Hodgkin's lymphoma, he presentday White reconvened ABC as first-class duo, releasing the album Alphabet City in 1987.[5] The recording returned them to the UK Top 10 for the gain victory time in five years, peaking at No.

7. It featured "When Smokey Sings", a celebration to Smokey Robinson, which only just missed the UK Top 10.[5] The song did give prestige group their biggest hit addition the US, where it ashen at number 5 in September.[15] The album also spawned "The Night You Murdered Love" (UK No. 31) and "King Devoid of a Crown" (UK No.

44) as singles.[12]

Up, greatest hits book Absolutely & Abracadabra: 1989–1992

In 1989, the duo issued Up, their fifth and final PolyGram workshop album. This time experimenting interest house music, ABC scored clean up minor UK hit with integrity single "One Better World".

First-class second single, "The Real Thing", and the album itself were less successful.[5] During this generation, the duo worked on excellent couple of outside productions admiration at the house music location. One was Paul Rutherford's (Frankie Goes to Hollywood) solo book and first single release; high-mindedness other was for Lizzie Wrench on the duo's own Neutron label.

In 1990, the procession released a greatest hitscompilation single, Absolutely. This covered all find time for ABC's albums up until 1990 and featured most of their singles. The compilation made authority UK Top 10. A record package featuring promos was besides released. One new song, "The Look of Love '90", was released to promote the package.[5]

The duo moved to the EMI label (and MCA in Arctic America), where they recorded illustriousness 1991 album Abracadabra.

Two singles, "Love Conquers All" and "Say It", narrowly missed the UK Top 40, though a remix of the latter by say publicly Italian production team Black Busybody appeared on the US reposition chart.

Martin Fry also collaborated with M People in 1991 on their first album, Northern Soul, recording vocals for distinction song "Life". However, when righteousness album was re-released in 1992, and again in 1995, that track was omitted.

Skyscraping standing comeback: 1997–2007

After a six-year gap, ABC released the album Skyscraping, an homage to several be keen on his musical heroes, including King Bowie, Roxy Music and class Sex Pistols. With Glenn Hildebrand of Heaven 17 and Keith Lowndes contributing to the meeting and songwriting, the album was commercially unsuccessful though a unattached, "Stranger Things", reached No.

57 in the UK. Two added singles, "Rolling Sevens" and "Skyscraping", did not chart.

In 1999, ABC released their first outlast album, The Lexicon of Live. The album covered most be fitting of their major hits. Although Painter was the only member heraldry sinister, he had a backing belt and adorned the album stumble on in his famed gold lamé suit.

Look of Love – The Very Best of ABC was released in 2001. Granted essentially a reissue of decency 1990 greatest hits compilation Absolutely, the album featured two spanking songs by Fry, "Peace presentday Tranquility" and "Blame". A associate DVD, along with a perquisite disc of remixes, was along with released.

In 2004, the VH1 show Bands Reunited attempted beside get the band's classic company of Fry, White, Singleton endure Palmer together for a pacification concert.

Fry and Palmer arrived and played together (with benefit from Nick Beggs of Kajagoogoo) for the first time contact over twenty years. Singleton vital White opted not to have a hand in.

Traffic: 2007–2015

Following a tour go rotten the United States in Hawthorn and June 2006, Fry stand for Palmer, together with session keyboardist Chuck Kentis, put together calligraphic new ABC album, Traffic.

Cheer was released on 28 Apr 2008. Gary Langan, who specious on The Lexicon of Love and Beauty Stab, mixed deliver produced the album. The prime single, "The Very First Time", debuted on BBC Radio 2 in January, was added give the station's "A" playlist rent the week beginning 29 Amble and was released as simple music download track on 1 April.

On 1 September 2007, ABC performed a set critical of other 1980s acts at Retrofest at Culzean Castle in Milcher, Scotland. This appearance included span rendition of "Addicted to Love", with Tony Hadley of Spandau Ballet and Peter Cox magnetize Go West.

In the summertime of 2008, ABC toured probity US as part of leadership 2008 Regeneration Tour, which along with featured the Human League, Belinda Carlisle, A Flock of Seagulls and Naked Eyes.

In Apr 2009, ABC performed The Vocabulary of Love album live pocket-sized the Royal Albert Hall, attended by the BBC Concert Keep. Anne Dudley of Art healthy Noise, who arranged and swayed keyboards on the original take down, conducted the performance. A punishment review in the 13 Apr 2009 edition of The Independent newspaper, described the performance monkey a "glorious night that has placed one of the Eighties' most perfectly constructed albums rescue near the top of character pop pantheon".

In 2009 ABC toured the US as illustriousness headliner of the 2009 Renaissance Tour,[16] which also featured Terri Nunn of Berlin, Wang Chung and Cutting Crew.

In June, July and August 2011, ABC performed at a few locations around the UK as superior as Las Vegas, Nevada.

Hoax October 2011, ABC performing dates in Melbourne, Australia.

On 19 July 2012, Fry was flat an honorary Doctor of Sound at the University of Metropolis for his contribution to tune euphony over more than thirty stage. The following day his lassie Nancy received her degree flight the Department of Sociological Studies from the same university.[17]

On 1 March 2013, ABC appeared pretend Dubai, UAE, in the '80s Rewind' concert with Rick Astley, Heaven 17, Howard Jones subject T'Pau.

In June 2014, set out was revealed that a twelve early tapes had been determined of rare remixes and inaudible songs from ABC's first triad albums. These were returned retain Martin Fry who was enchanted, but unsure as to what he would do with them. According to Classic Pop, nobleness rediscovered songs include "a 'That's It Folks!' mix of 'So Hip It Hurts' from Zillionaire.

From Beauty Stab, reams accept early studio takes have arrive to light including one tune, 'You and Me', that not made the final album. Take from The Lexicon of Love crop, the band's own, pre-Trevor Frighten demos of 'All of Turn for the better ame Heart' have come to congestion, along with a reel powerful '4 Ever 2 Gether – The Outtake, Starring Martin Sputter as Ken Dodd'".[18]

The Lexicon summarize Love II: 2016 - 2021

In October 2015, Fry announced avoid he was working on unadorned new ABC album.

"It's awaken to be a take escort The Lexicon of Love, on the contrary all these years on. I'm a man in my 1950s now with a wealth expose experience. It's about how sell something to someone grow older but you manufacture the same mistakes over captivated over and over again."[19]

In Nov 2015, a compilation album advantaged 80s Recovered was released, featuring many artists from the Eighties.

ABC contributed a cover fall for Radiohead's "High and Dry", narrow a regular version and clean up remix.[20]

In January 2016, Fry whispered the new ABC album would be entitled The Lexicon pageant a Lost Ideal and floating in the UK in May well 2016. Featuring tracks penned gross Fry, with contributions by Sap 2 Fusari, Marcus Vere, Matt Rowe and Anne Dudley, the single features orchestration arranged by Anne Dudley, who worked in uncomplicated similar capacity on The Vocabulary of Love.[21] In April 2016, the release of the novel album, now entitled The Dictionary of Love II, was proclaimed with lead single "Viva Love" made available via digital platforms.

It was A playlisted soak BBC Radio 2.[22] The unfetter of "Viva Love" was attended by a video directed unresponsive to Julien Temple, who also unnatural with the band on grandeur Mantrap and Poison Arrow videos, which the new video references.

The album was released smile the UK and the Farsighted on 27 May 2016 nearby entered the UK Albums Diagram at No.

5, the cardinal time ABC had reached magnanimity Top 5 since the latest Lexicon of Love album cage 1982.[23] "The Flames Of Desire" and "Ten Below Zero" were released as follow-up singles. Both were added to the BBC Radio 2 playlist.

ABC likewise contributed a new song named "Living Inside My Heart" disparagement Fly: Songs Inspired by class Film Eddie the Eagle, authority soundtrack of which was unfastened on 18 March 2016 jump on CD and digitally.[24]

ABC released their first Christmas song, entitled "A Christmas We Deserve", on 2 December 2016 as part appreciated a four-track EP.

The bay three songs are acoustic versions of "The Love Inside grandeur Love, "Viva Love" and "The Look of Love".

In Strut 2017, just before the band's Royal Albert Hall orchestra put on an act on April 6 (featuring songs from The Lexicon of Affection II, greatest hits and goodness complete Lexicon of Love album) the band announced the Nov 2017 XYZ tour.

During honesty tour two new songs were performed: "Look Good Tonite" at an earlier time "The Life And Times Admire A Troubadour".

On 22 Oct 2020, the compilation album The Essential ABC - featuring songs and remixes from the chief five albums - entered honourableness UK Albums Chart at Pollex all thumbs butte. 62.[25]

The Lexicon of Love Ordinal Anniversary: 2022 and beyond

On 9 June 2022 ABC released interpretation vinyl-only single "Look Good Tonite"/"Sixty Seconds Later" in the UK.

To celebrate the 40th commemoration of the release of The Lexicon of Love, the troupe performed at Sheffield City Passageway on 21 June 2022. Decency show was recorded for forward-looking release on CD and DVD.

In January 2023, a Melancholy show was announced: the stripe played at the Cruel Terra Festival in Pasadena, California unpleasant incident May 20, 2023.[26]

In March 2023, ABC announced the May 19 release of the live stand-in CD The Lexicon of Fondness 40th Anniversary Live At Metropolis City Hall.

It was out digitally and as a longevous edition live album on 19 May 2023.[27]

The album was filmed in 2022 at a wellknown in ABC’s hometown of Metropolis, to mark the 40th day of the seminal album, The Lexicon Of Love. ABC were joined by the original orchestral team of Southbank Sinfonia stake longtime collaborator and arranger Anne Dudley who conducted on representation evening of the recording.

Primacy album features the whole warm the original Lexicon Of Adore album, plus hits like "When Smokey Sings", "Be Near Me", "Viva Love", "(How To Weakness A) Millionaire" and "The Bombardment Of Desire".

On 4 Honorable, The Lexicon of Love was reissued (belatedly) for its Ordinal anniversary with special vinyl editions and an SDE-exclusive blu-ray oftenness, No.

12 in the current SDE Surround Series. Renowned pinnacle, songwriter and producer Steven President remixed the classic album knoll Dolby Atmos, 5.1 and binaural for this special reissue, which was also made available exertion streaming platforms. [28] The textbook (re)entered the UK Albums Rough draft at No.

48.

Band members

Current members

Former members

  • Stephen Singleton – low and tenor saxophones (1980–1984)
  • Mark Pasty – keyboards, guitars (1980–1991)
  • Mark Lickley – bass guitar (1981–1982)
  • David Thespian – drums, percussion (1981)
  • David Hajji – drums, percussion (1981–1983, 2004–2009)
  • Fiona Russell Powell – vocals (1984–1985)
  • David Yarritu – vocals (1984–1985)

Line-ups

1980–1981 1981 1981–1982 1982–1983
(Classic Lineup)
  • Martin Fry – vocals
  • Stephen Singleton – contralto and tenor saxophones
  • Mark White – guitars, keyboards, programming
  • Mark Lickley – bass guitar
  • David Robinson – drums, percussion
  • Martin Fry – vocals
  • Stephen Singleton – alto and tenor saxophones
  • Mark White – guitars, keyboards, programming
  • Mark Lickley – bass guitar
  • David Palmer – drums, percussion
  • Martin Fry – vocals
  • Stephen Singleton – alto dispatch tenor saxophones
  • Mark White – guitars, keyboards, programming
  • David Palmer – drums, percussion
1983–1984 1984–1985 1985–1991 1991–1997
  • Martin Fry – vocals
  • Stephen Singleton – alto and tenor saxophones
  • Mark White – guitars, keyboards, programming
  • Martin Fry – vocals
  • Mark White – guitars, keyboards, programming
1997–2004 2004–2009 2009–2016 2016–present
  • Martin Fry – vocals
  • David Palmer – drums, percussion
  • Martin Fry – various instrumentation

Timeline

Discography

Main article: ABC discography

[29]

Dance chart success

ABC had three number-one hits on the US Exercise Club Songs:

See also

References

  1. ^ abcErlewine, Stephen Thomas.

    Rav screwball biography channel

    "ABC – Master hand Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 Sedate 2016.

  2. ^"Still a Spectacle, Fun-Loving ABC Holds Up Well". Hartford Courant. 20 June 2006. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  3. ^Reynolds, Simon (2006). "New Pop and its Aftermath". On Record: Rock, Pop and say publicly Written Word.

    Routledge. ISBN .

  4. ^Harvel, Jess. "Now That's What I Convene New Pop!".Pitchfork Media. 12 Sep 2005.
  5. ^ abcdefghijDafydd Rees; Luke Crampton (1991).

    The Guinness Book intelligent Rock Stars: An A extremity Z of the People Who Made Rock Happen (2nd ed.). Enfield: Guinness World Records. pp. 2–3. ISBN . OCLC 24712919.

  6. ^Reynolds, Simon (2005). Rip Outdo Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978–1984. Faber and Faber. pp. 340, 342–3.

    ISBN .

  7. ^Fletcher, Tony (2013). Perfect Circle: The Story of REM. Omnibus Press. ISBN .
  8. ^Frame, Pete. (1999) Pete Frame's Rockin' Bypass Britain: Rock'n'roll Landmarks of integrity UK and Ireland, Omnibus Measure ISBN 978-0711969735
  9. ^ ab"made in sheffield - vice versa".

    Sheffieldvision.com. Retrieved 25 June 2016.

  10. ^Reynolds, Simon (2005) Rip it up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978–1984, Faber & Faber, ISBN 0-571-21570-X
  11. ^George-Warren, Holly and Patricia Romanowski, ed. (2005). "ABC". The Wheeling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll.

    New York City: Area. p. 2. ISBN .

  12. ^ abcdefStrong, Martin Maxim. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. pp. 2–3. ISBN .
  13. ^"Futurama 1980".

    Songkick.com. Retrieved 25 June 2016.

  14. ^"Pop groups should crowd make comebacks, says Fiona Stargazer Powell"Archived 19 February 2009 cram the Wayback Machine, The Times, 7 March 1997
  15. ^"Music: Top Century Songs - Billboard Hot Cardinal Chart". Billboard.com. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  16. ^"Regeneration Tour 2009".

    Regenerationtour.com. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 23 Oct 2011.

  17. ^"ABC singer takes centre abuse in honorary degree ceremonies". Shef.ac.uk. 6 July 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  18. ^"Exclusive! Lost ABC Grandmaster Tapes Found - Classic Bulge Magazine".

    Classicpopmag.com. 10 June 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2016.

  19. ^""People posh that record. They still do." Martin Fry on The Vocabulary of Love". Heraldscotland.com. 31 Oct 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  20. ^"80s Recovered". 80srecovered.com. Archived from blue blood the gentry original on 8 December 2015.

    Retrieved 25 June 2016.

  21. ^"ABC Send up Manchester235 casino - Manchester Confidential". Manchesterconfidential.co.uk. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  22. ^"ABC to release The Lexicon be required of Love II". Superdeluxeedition.com. 13 Apr 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  23. ^"ABC".

    Official Charts. 31 October 1981. Retrieved 1 April 2024.

  24. ^Enterprises, Ubiquitous Music. "'FLY' Songs Inspired Vulgar The Film EDDIE THE Raptor Released March 18, 2016". Prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  25. ^"ABC". Official Charts Company.

    Retrieved 12 February 2024.

  26. ^Jones, Damien (23 January 2023). "Siouxsie Sioux favour Iggy Pop lead Cruel Replica Festival 2023 line-up with repeated erior acts including the Human League". Nme.com. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  27. ^"ABC Announce New Live Album, 'The Lexicon Of Love Live' – Set For Release 19 May".

    Essentiallypop.com. 9 March 2023.

  28. ^"ABC's influence Lexicon of Love on SDE-exclusive blu-ray audio". Superdeluxeedition.com. 28 June 2023.
  29. ^"ABC Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 April 2024.

External links