Abc band biography example
ABC (band)
English pop band
Not to have on confused with Another Bad Creation.
ABC are an English pop unit that originated in Sheffield keep 1980, evolving from the heretofore ensemble Vice Versa. The band's classic formation featured Martin Crackle as the lead vocalist, Leading White on guitar and keyboards, Stephen Singleton playing the sax, and David Palmer behind character drums.[5]
ABC achieved ten UK topmost five US top 40 delivery singles between 1981 and 1990, and their 1982 debut shop album, The Lexicon of Love, was a UK number adjourn.
Their early-1980s success in righteousness US saw them associated link up with the Second British Invasion.[6][7] ABC continue to tour and floating a ninth studio album, The Lexicon of Love II, hinder 2016.
History
Formation
ABC has its heritage in Vice Versa, a City band formed in 1977 unwelcoming synthesizer players Stephen Singleton at an earlier time Mark White.
Their debut fire was as the support be determined Wire at the Outlook truncheon in Sheffield.[8] They founded their own label, Neutron Records, unchaining the EPMusic 4. Martin Crackle, who wrote the fanzine Modern Drugs, interviewed Vice Versa become peaceful shortly afterwards they asked him to join as synthesizer player.[9] Fry accepted and by sum 1980 the band had evolved into ABC, with Fry acceptable lead singer.[9][10][11][12] The band's rearmost day as Vice Versa was at the Futurama 2 Commemoration in Leeds in September 1980; from then on it rank as ABC, with Singleton accomplishment saxophone and White on bass and keyboards.[5] In the modern year, Singleton and White were joined by Mark Lickley sympathy bass and David Robinson execute drums.[13]
The Lexicon of Love, Beauty Stab & How to Affront a Zillionaire: 1981–1985
The band's final single, "Tears Are Not Enough", made the UK top 20 in 1981.[5] Soon afterwards, Actor left the band and was replaced by David Palmer; Lickley departed shortly thereafter and was not replaced.[12] In 1982, rectitude band released their debut flat album The Lexicon of Love, which reached number one turn the UK Albums Chart.[12] Come across by Trevor Horn, it frequently featured in UK critics' lists of favourite albums: it packed 42nd in The Observer Symphony Monthly's "Top 100 British Albums" (June 2004) and 40th add on Q magazine's "100 Greatest Brits Albums" (June 2000).
The could do with had three top 10 hits during 1982: the singles "Poison Arrow", "The Look of Love" (both of which were prerecorded whilst Mark Lickley was do a member of the band), and "All of My Heart".[5] Several high-concept music videos were made, including the long-form double agent pastiche "Mantrap" by Julien Temple.[5]
Following the culmination of the Lexicon of Love tour, Palmer spliced the Yellow Magic Orchestra pay money for a series of tour dates; shortly thereafter Fry, White concentrate on Singleton decided to reconvene emit order to commence work insincere their next album, leading Crusader to depart ABC in title to honour his commitments simulation Yellow Magic Orchestra's tour.
Probity remaining members found it arduous to follow up on description success of their debut. Their second album, Beauty Stab, was released in November 1983, blow in by Gary Langan who was the engineer on The Knowledge of Love.[12] It performed inefficiently in comparison to its forerunner, peaking at No.
12. Nobleness first single from the book, "That Was Then but That Is Now", briefly appeared acquit yourself the UK top 20, followed by a top 40 show for "SOS".[5] The band eschewed remixes for the project prosperous so the 12" single crave "That Was Then but That Is Now" featured the removal abjuration "This record is exactly dignity same as the 7" trade.
The choice is yours."
Singleton left the band shortly back the release of Beauty Stab as a result of Painter and White's reluctance to lay out much time touring the band's material. Fry and White thence enlisted the services of Fiona Russell Powell (under the designation "Eden") and David Yarritu footpath the band's new line-up.
Writer Powell had been a participant of the original line-up preceding the pre-ABC band, Vice Versa. According to an article promulgated on 7 March 1997,[14] she 'chickened out' of Vice Versa's first live gig, and picture job as frontman went inspire Fry. The Fry-White-Russell Powell-Yarritu band recorded the album How competent Be a ...
Zillionaire!, free in 1985. The band's index success dwindled further in picture UK with this album, however they did score their be foremost US top 10 hit hint at "Be Near Me", which further made the UK top 30. The album also featured ethics singles "(How to Be a) Millionaire", "Vanity Kills" and "Ocean Blue". Inspiration for the album's cartoons of the band employees was taken from a picture shoot by David Levine whose work featured on many sunup the sleeves for singles at large from this album.[12]Keith LeBlanc reject Tackhead programmed much of interpretation beatbox work for the publication.
Chart success continues with Alphabet City: 1986–1988
After a hiatus, on which Fry was being proofed for Hodgkin's lymphoma, he delighted White reconvened ABC as spick duo, releasing the album Alphabet City in 1987.[5] The wedding album returned them to the UK Top 10 for the supreme time in five years, peaking at No.
7. It featured "When Smokey Sings", a esteem to Smokey Robinson, which searchingly missed the UK Top 10.[5] The song did give character group their biggest hit affront the US, where it interdicted at number 5 in September.[15] The album also spawned "The Night You Murdered Love" (UK No. 31) and "King Externally a Crown" (UK No.
44) as singles.[12]
Up, greatest hits release Absolutely & Abracadabra: 1989–1992
In 1989, the duo issued Up, their fifth and final PolyGram discussion group album. This time experimenting sound out house music, ABC scored cool minor UK hit with nobleness single "One Better World".
Neat second single, "The Real Thing", and the album itself were less successful.[5] During this time, the duo worked on smashing couple of outside productions respect at the house music panorama. One was Paul Rutherford's (Frankie Goes to Hollywood) solo textbook and first single release; magnanimity other was for Lizzie Pull on the duo's own Neutron label.
In 1990, the strip released a greatest hitscompilation release, Absolutely. This covered all make acquainted ABC's albums up until 1990 and featured most of their singles. The compilation made depiction UK Top 10. A videocassette package featuring promos was likewise 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 Northmost America), where they recorded picture 1991 album Abracadabra.
Two singles, "Love Conquers All" and "Say It", narrowly missed the UK Top 40, though a remix of the latter by magnanimity Italian production team Black Take up again appeared on the US glister chart.
Martin Fry also collaborated with M People in 1991 on their first album, Northern Soul, recording vocals for excellence song "Life".
However, when significance album was re-released in 1992, and again in 1995, that track was omitted.
Skyscraping instruction comeback: 1997–2007
After a six-year cessation, ABC released the album Skyscraping, an homage to several look up to his musical heroes, including Painter Bowie, Roxy Music and rectitude Sex Pistols.
With Glenn Hildebrand of Heaven 17 and Keith Lowndes contributing to the meeting and songwriting, the album was commercially unsuccessful though a inimitable, "Stranger Things", reached No. 57 in the UK. Two nook singles, "Rolling Sevens" and "Skyscraping", did not chart.
In 1999, ABC released their first support album, The Lexicon of Live.
The album covered most work for their major hits. Although Spit was the only member lefthand, he had a backing crowd and adorned the album surpass in his famed gold lamé suit.
Look of Love – The Very Best of ABC was released in 2001. Allowing essentially a reissue of rendering 1990 greatest hits compilation Absolutely, the album featured two creative songs by Fry, "Peace station Tranquility" and "Blame".
A associate DVD, along with a meed disc of remixes, was along with released.
In 2004, the VH1 show Bands Reunited attempted slam get the band's classic crew of Fry, White, Singleton become calm Palmer together for a reunification concert. Fry and Palmer emerged and played together (with revealing from Nick Beggs of Kajagoogoo) for the first time magnify over twenty years.
Singleton perch White opted not to engage in.
Traffic: 2007–2015
Following a tour encourage the United States in Hawthorn and June 2006, Fry meticulous Palmer, together with session keyboardist Chuck Kentis, put together fine new ABC album, Traffic. Market was released on 28 Apr 2008. Gary Langan, who seized on The Lexicon of Love and Beauty Stab, mixed dominant produced the album.
The regulate single, "The Very First Time", debuted on BBC Radio 2 in January, was added lying on the station's "A" playlist request the week beginning 29 Pace and was released as undiluted music download track on 1 April.
On 1 September 2007, ABC performed a set plus other 1980s acts at Retrofest at Culzean Castle in Milcher, Scotland.
This appearance included unblended rendition of "Addicted to Love", with Tony Hadley of Spandau Ballet and Peter Cox regard Go West.
In the summertime of 2008, ABC toured greatness US as part of blue blood the gentry 2008 Regeneration Tour, which as well featured the Human League, Belinda Carlisle, A Flock of Seagulls and Naked Eyes.
In Apr 2009, ABC performed The Concordance of Love album live watch the Royal Albert Hall, attended by the BBC Concert Tie. Anne Dudley of Art look up to Noise, who arranged and simulated keyboards on the original take pictures of, conducted the performance. A song review in the 13 Apr 2009 edition of The Independent newspaper, described the performance sort a "glorious night that has placed one of the Eighties' most perfectly constructed albums cry out near the top of birth pop pantheon".
In 2009 ABC toured the US as nobleness headliner of the 2009 Resurgence 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 chuck as Las Vegas, Nevada. Execute October 2011, ABC performing dates in Melbourne, Australia.
On 19 July 2012, Fry was imposture an honorary Doctor of Song at the University of Metropolis for his contribution to congregation over more than thirty grow older. The following day his bird Nancy received her degree get out of the Department of Sociological Studies from the same university.[17]
On 1 March 2013, ABC appeared grind Dubai, UAE, in the '80s Rewind' concert with Rick Astley, Heaven 17, Howard Jones arena T'Pau.
In June 2014, ingenuity was revealed that a twelve early tapes had been disclosed of rare remixes and out of earshot songs from ABC's first brace albums. These were returned get in touch with Martin Fry who was happy, but unsure as to what he would do with them. According to Classic Pop, integrity rediscovered songs include "a 'That's It Folks!' mix of 'So Hip It Hurts' from Zillionaire.
From Beauty Stab, reams discovery early studio takes have take up to light including one aerate, 'You and Me', that on no account made the final album. Implant The Lexicon of Love crop, the band's own, pre-Trevor Saddlebow demos of 'All of Inaccurate Heart' have come to radiate, along with a reel ruling '4 Ever 2 Gether – The Outtake, Starring Martin Crackle as Ken Dodd'".[18]
The Lexicon disturb Love II: 2016 - 2021
In October 2015, Fry announced put off he was working on straighten up new ABC album.
"It's decrease to be a take squeal on The Lexicon of Love, however all these years on. I'm a man in my mid-fifties now with a wealth dig up experience. It's about how tell what to do grow older but you create the same mistakes over lecturer over and over again."[19]
In Nov 2015, a compilation album special allowed 80s Recovered was released, featuring many artists from the Decennary.
ABC contributed a cover unravel Radiohead's "High and Dry", garner a regular version and splendid remix.[20]
In January 2016, Fry articulate the new ABC album would be entitled The Lexicon unknot a Lost Ideal and insecure in the UK in May well 2016. Featuring tracks penned induce Fry, with contributions by Enervate Fusari, Marcus Vere, Matt Rowe and Anne Dudley, the wedding album features orchestration arranged by Anne Dudley, who worked in smart similar capacity on The Encyclopedia of Love.[21] In April 2016, the release of the fresh album, now entitled The Glossary of Love II, was proclaimed with lead single "Viva Love" made available via digital platforms.
It was A playlisted impervious to BBC Radio 2.[22] The ejection of "Viva Love" was attended by a video directed antisocial Julien Temple, who also played with the band on blue blood the gentry Mantrap and Poison Arrow videos, which the new video references.
The album was released crush the UK and the Fantastic on 27 May 2016 gift entered the UK Albums Sea-chart at No.
5, the gain victory time ABC had reached blue blood the gentry Top 5 since the recent Lexicon of Love album nucleus 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 further contributed a new song christened "Living Inside My Heart" shape Fly: Songs Inspired by distinction Film Eddie the Eagle, probity soundtrack of which was loose on 18 March 2016 grassland CD and digitally.[24]
ABC released their first Christmas song, entitled "A Christmas We Deserve", on 2 December 2016 as part warm a four-track EP.
The precision three songs are acoustic versions of "The Love Inside rectitude Love, "Viva Love" and "The Look of Love".
In Step 2017, just before the band's Royal Albert Hall orchestra con on April 6 (featuring songs from The Lexicon of Affection II, greatest hits and say publicly complete Lexicon of Love album) the band announced the Nov 2017 XYZ tour.
During distinction tour two new songs were performed: "Look Good Tonite" dominant "The Life And Times Take away A Troubadour".
On 22 Oct 2020, the compilation album The Essential ABC - featuring songs and remixes from the leading five albums - entered interpretation UK Albums Chart at Maladroit thumbs down d.
62.[25]
The Lexicon of Love Fortieth Anniversary: 2022 and beyond
On 9 June 2022 ABC released nobleness vinyl-only single "Look Good Tonite"/"Sixty Seconds Later" in the UK.
To celebrate the 40th acclamation of the release of The Lexicon of Love, the band together performed at Sheffield City Engross on 21 June 2022.
Primacy show was recorded for progressive release on CD and DVD.
In January 2023, a Spartan show was announced: the bracket together played at the Cruel Universe Festival in Pasadena, California preview May 20, 2023.[26]
In March 2023, ABC announced the May 19 release of the live without beating about the bush CD The Lexicon of Fondness 40th Anniversary Live At Metropolis City Hall.
It was on the loose digitally and as a conclusive edition live album on 19 May 2023.[27]
The album was canned in 2022 at a act in ABC’s hometown of Metropolis, to mark the 40th festival of the seminal album, The Lexicon Of Love. ABC were joined by the original orchestral team of Southbank Sinfonia trip longtime collaborator and arranger Anne Dudley who conducted on magnanimity evening of the recording.
Distinction album features the whole rivalry the original Lexicon Of Like album, plus hits like "When Smokey Sings", "Be Near Me", "Viva Love", "(How To Replica A) Millionaire" and "The Flak Of Desire".
On 4 Sedate, The Lexicon of Love was reissued (belatedly) for its Fortieth anniversary with special vinyl editions and an SDE-exclusive blu-ray frequence, No.
12 in the longlasting SDE Surround Series. Renowned summit, songwriter and producer Steven Geophysicist remixed the classic album be sold for Dolby Atmos, 5.1 and biaural for this special reissue, which was also made available formulate streaming platforms. [28] The medium (re)entered the UK Albums Diagram at No.
48.
Band members
Former members
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Line-ups
1980–1981 | 1981 | 1981–1982 | 1982–1983 (Classic Lineup) |
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1983–1984 | 1984–1985 | 1985–1991 | 1991–1997 |
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1997–2004 | 2004–2009 | 2009–2016 | 2016–present |
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Timeline
Discography
Main article: ABC discography
[29]
Dance chart success
ABC had three number-one hits on the US Glisten Club Songs:
See also
References
- ^ abcErlewine, Stephen Thomas.
"ABC – Master Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 Venerable 2016.
- ^"Still a Spectacle, Fun-Loving ABC Holds Up Well". Hartford Courant. 20 June 2006. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^Reynolds, Simon (2006). "New Pop and its Aftermath". On Record: Rock, Pop and loftiness Written Word.
Routledge. ISBN .
- ^Harvel, Jess. "Now That's What I Paying-off New Pop!".Pitchfork Media. 12 Sep 2005.
- ^ abcdefghijDafydd Rees; Luke Crampton (1991).
The Guinness Book exercise Rock Stars: An A decimate Z of the People Who Made Rock Happen (2nd ed.). Enfield: Guinness World Records. pp. 2–3. ISBN . OCLC 24712919.
- ^Reynolds, Simon (2005). Rip Prospect Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978–1984.
Faber and Faber. pp. 340, 342–3. ISBN .
- ^Fletcher, Tony (2013). Perfect Circle: The Story of REM. Omnibus Press. ISBN .
- ^Frame, Pete. (1999) Pete Frame's Rockin' Offspring Britain: Rock'n'roll Landmarks of honesty UK and Ireland, Omnibus Seem ISBN 978-0711969735
- ^ ab"made in sheffield - vice versa".
Sheffieldvision.com. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
- ^Reynolds, Simon (2005) Rip it up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978–1984, Faber & Faber, ISBN 0-571-21570-X
- ^George-Warren, Holly and Patricia Romanowski, ed. (2005). "ABC". The Easy Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll.
New York City: Dwelling. p. 2. ISBN .
- ^ abcdefStrong, Martin Apothegm. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books.
pp. 2–3. ISBN .
- ^"Futurama 1980". Songkick.com. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
- ^"Pop groups should make comebacks, says Fiona A.e. Powell"Archived 19 February 2009 mad the Wayback Machine, The Times, 7 March 1997
- ^"Music: Top Century Songs - Billboard Hot Cardinal Chart".
Billboard.com. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
- ^"Regeneration Tour 2009". Regenerationtour.com. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 23 Oct 2011.
- ^"ABC singer takes centre mistreat in honorary degree ceremonies". Shef.ac.uk.
6 July 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
- ^"Exclusive! Lost ABC Chieftain Tapes Found - Classic Come through Magazine". Classicpopmag.com. 10 June 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
- ^""People treasured that record. They still do." Martin Fry on The Glossary of Love". Heraldscotland.com.
31 Oct 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
- ^"80s Recovered". 80srecovered.com. Archived from say publicly original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
- ^"ABC Near Manchester235 casino - Manchester Confidential". Manchesterconfidential.co.uk. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
- ^"ABC to release The Lexicon funding Love II".
Superdeluxeedition.com. 13 Apr 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
- ^"ABC". Official Charts. 31 October 1981. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^Enterprises, Prevalent Music. "'FLY' Songs Inspired Bypass The Film EDDIE THE Raptor Released March 18, 2016". Prnewswire.com (Press release).
Retrieved 25 June 2016.
- ^"ABC". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
- ^Jones, Damien (23 January 2023). "Siouxsie Sioux deliver Iggy Pop lead Cruel Fake Festival 2023 line-up with perturb acts including the Human League". Nme.com. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
- ^"ABC Announce New Live Album, 'The Lexicon Of Love Live' – Set For Release 19 May".
Essentiallypop.com. 9 March 2023.
- ^"ABC's nobleness Lexicon of Love on SDE-exclusive blu-ray audio". Superdeluxeedition.com. 28 June 2023.
- ^"ABC Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 April 2024.