ABC (band)
Encyclopedia
ABC are an English
band
, that charted ten UK
and five US
Top 40 singles between 1981 and 1990. The band continues to tour and released a new album, Traffic
, in 2008.
by Stephen Singleton
, Mark White
and David Sydenham. They founded their own label, Neutron Records, releasing the EP
Music 4. They had similarities to The Human League
, whom they supported in 1978.
Martin Fry
, who wrote the fanzine Modern Drugs, interviewed the band; shortly afterwards, they asked him to join as synthesizer
player. Fry accepted. Within a short time, the band evolved into ABC, with Fry taking over on lead vocals.
", made the UK Top 20 in 1981. Soon afterwards, David Robinson left the band and was replaced by drummer David Palmer. In 1982, the band released their debut album The Lexicon of Love
, which reached number one in the UK Albums Chart
. Produced by Trevor Horn
, it often featured in UK critics' lists of favourite albums: it ranked 42nd in The Observer Music Monthlys "Top 100 British Albums" (June 2004) and 40th in Q
magazine's "100 Greatest British Albums" (June 2000). The band had three Top 10 hits during 1982: the singles "Poison Arrow
", "The Look of Love (Part One)" and "All of My Heart
". Several high-concept music video
s were made.
ABC found it difficult to follow up on the success of their debut. The second album, Beauty Stab
, was released in November 1983. It performed poorly in comparison to its predecessor. Gary Langan
, who had engineered
The Lexicon of Love, was its producer. The first single from the album, "That Was Then But This Is Now
", briefly appeared in the UK Top 20, followed by a Top 40 showing for "S.O.S.
". The band eschewed remix
es for the project and so the 12" single for "That Was Then But This Is Now" featured the disclaimer "This record is exactly the same as the 7" version. The choice is yours."
Stephen Singleton retired from the band in 1984. Now a duo of Fry and White, augmented by two non-performing band members, Fiona Russell-Powell
(known as Eden) and David Yarritu
, ABC's chart fortunes in the UK dwindled further with the 1985 album How To Be A...Zillionaire!
. Keith LeBlanc from Tackhead
programmed much of the beatbox work for the album. The group did score its first US Top 10 hit with "Be Near Me
", which also made the UK Top 30. The album also featured the singles "(How to Be a) Millionaire
", "Vanity Kills
" and "Ocean Blue
". ABC was one of the first bands to do video scratching
" for several videos from the How to Be a... Zillionaire album, including the video for "Be Near Me".
After a hiatus, during which Fry was treated for Hodgkin's disease, ABC returned with the album Alphabet City
. Best known for "When Smokey Sings
", a tribute to Smokey Robinson
, the album also spawned "The Night You Murdered Love
" and "King Without a Crown
" as singles. All three tracks would make the CD version of the group's first anthology.
In 1989, the duo issued Up
, their fifth and final PolyGram
studio album. This time experimenting with house music
, ABC scored a minor UK hit with the single "One Better World
". They released a second single from the album, "The Real Thing
". During this period, the group worked on a couple of outside productions aimed at the house music scene. One was Paul Rutherford
's (Frankie Goes to Hollywood
) solo album and first single release; the other was for Lizzie Tear on the group's own Neutron label.
In 1990, the band released a greatest hits
compilation album
, Absolutely
. This covered all of ABC's albums up until 1990 and featured all of their singles. The compilation made the UK Top 10. A video package featuring promo
s was also released. One new song, "The Look of Love '90", was released to promote the package.
The group moved to the EMI
label (and MCA in North America), where they recorded the 1991 LP Abracadabra
. "Love Conquers All
", the first single, barely placed in the UK chart, though the Italian production team Black Box
provided remixes of "Say It" which appeared in the US dance charts.
, an homage to several of his musical heroes, including David Bowie
, Roxy Music
, and The Sex Pistols. A collaboration with Glenn Gregory of Heaven 17
and Keith Lowndes
, the album again was met with critical approval rather than broad commercial success. However, three singles were released, "Rolling Sevens
", "Skyscraping
", and "Stranger Things", complete with extra B-sides.
In 1999, ABC released their first live album
, The Lexicon of Live
. The album covered most of their major hits. Although Fry was the only member left, he had a backing band and adorned the album cover in his trademark gold lamé
suit.
Look of Love – The Very Best of ABC was released in 2001. Although essentially a reissue of greatest hits package Absolutely
(from 1990), the album featured two new songs by Fry, "Peace and Tranquility
" and "Blame". A companion DVD, along with a bonus disc of remixes, was also released.
In 2004, the VH1
show Bands Reunited
attempted to get the line-up of Fry, Palmer, Singleton and White together for a reunion concert. Fry and Palmer appeared and played together (with help from Nick Beggs
of Kajagoogoo
) for the first time in over twenty years. Singleton and White opted not to participate.
Following a tour of the United States in May and June 2006, Fry and Palmer, together with keyboardist Chuck Kentis, put together a new ABC album, Traffic
. It was released on 28 April 2008. Gary Langan
, who worked on The Lexicon of Love and Beauty Stab, mixed and produced the album. The first single, "The Very First Time", debuted on BBC Radio 2
in January, was added to the station's "A" playlist for the week beginning 29 March and was released as a download track on 1 April. ABC performed two songs from Traffic during the 2008 Regeneration Tour of the US: "Ride" and "The Very First Time".
On 1 September 2007, ABC performed a set with other 1980s acts at Retrofest
at Culzean Castle
in Ayrshire
, Scotland. This appearance included a rendition of "Addicted to Love
", with Tony Hadley
of Spandau Ballet
and Peter Cox
of Go West
.
In the summer of 2008, ABC toured the US as part of the 2008 Regeneration Tour, which also featured The Human League
, Belinda Carlisle
, A Flock of Seagulls
, and Naked Eyes
.
In April 2009, ABC performed the Lexicon Of Love album live at the Royal Albert Hall
, accompanied by the BBC Concert Orchestra
. Anne Dudley
of Art of Noise, who arranged and played keyboards on the original record, conducted the performance. A music review in the 13 April 2009 edition of The Independent
newspaper, described the performance as a "glorious night that has placed one of the Eighties' most perfectly constructed albums back near the top of the pop pantheon".
In 2009 ABC toured the US as the headliner of the 2009 'Regeneration Tour', which also featured Terri Nunn
of Berlin
, Wang Chung
, and the Cutting Crew
.
In June, July and August 2011, ABC performed at a few locations around the UK as well as Las Vegas, Nevada
.
Former
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
, that charted ten UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and five US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Top 40 singles between 1981 and 1990. The band continues to tour and released a new album, Traffic
Traffic (ABC album)
Traffic is the first new album of original material released by English band ABC in eleven years. The album's songs were written by lead singer Martin Fry while he toured the United States in 2006...
, in 2008.
Formation
ABC has its roots in the band Vice Versa. Vice Versa was formed in 1977 in SheffieldSheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
by Stephen Singleton
Stephen Singleton
Stephen Singleton is a British musician, currently residing in Sheffield, England. According to an interview Singleton did for the documentary Made in Sheffield, he was friends with Def Leppard lead singer Joe Elliott when the two were young children. Along with Mark White and David Sydenham, he...
, Mark White
Mark White (musician)
Mark White is an English musician, best known for being part of the pop band ABC, from 1980 to 1992. His last contribution to the band was their 1991 album, Abracadabara....
and David Sydenham. They founded their own label, Neutron Records, releasing the EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
Music 4. They had similarities to The Human League
The Human League
The Human League are an English electronic New Wave band formed in Sheffield in 1977. They achieved popularity after a key change in line-up in the early 1980s and have continued recording and performing with moderate commercial success throughout the 1980s up to the present day.The only constant...
, whom they supported in 1978.
Martin Fry
Martin Fry
Martin Fry is lead singer of the band, ABC.-Biography:He grew up in Bramhall, Stockport, alongside his younger brother Jamie .-ABC:...
, who wrote the fanzine Modern Drugs, interviewed the band; shortly afterwards, they asked him to join as synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
player. Fry accepted. Within a short time, the band evolved into ABC, with Fry taking over on lead vocals.
Chart success: 1981–1991
The group's first single, "Tears Are Not EnoughTears Are Not Enough (ABC song)
"Tears Are Not Enough" was the first single to be released by New Wave group ABC. It was released in 1981 on two formats . The two singles versions of the song are both different from the version on their first album The Lexicon of Love. Originally produced by Steve Brown it was rerecorded for the...
", made the UK Top 20 in 1981. Soon afterwards, David Robinson left the band and was replaced by drummer David Palmer. In 1982, the band released their debut album The Lexicon of Love
The Lexicon of Love
The Lexicon of Love is the critically acclaimed chart-topping debut album by British pop band ABC, released in 1982. It is a concept album in which the singer experiences heartache as he tries and fails to have a meaningful relationship....
, which reached number one in the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
. Produced by Trevor Horn
Trevor Horn
Trevor Charles Horn CBE is an English pop music record producer, songwriter, musician and singer. He was born in Houghton-le-Spring in north-east England....
, it often featured in UK critics' lists of favourite albums: it ranked 42nd in The Observer Music Monthlys "Top 100 British Albums" (June 2004) and 40th in Q
Q (magazine)
Q is a popular music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom.Founders Mark Ellen and David Hepworth were dismayed by the music press of the time, which they felt was ignoring a generation of older music buyers who were buying CDs — then still a new technology...
magazine's "100 Greatest British Albums" (June 2000). The band had three Top 10 hits during 1982: the singles "Poison Arrow
Poison Arrow
"Poison Arrow" is a New Wave single released and popularised by ABC in 1982 and also included on their 1982 debut album, The Lexicon of Love. It reached #6 on the UK singles chart, #4 in Australia and also was their first entry on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, at #25...
", "The Look of Love (Part One)" and "All of My Heart
All of My Heart
"All of My Heart" is a song by the British synthpop group ABC from their album The Lexicon of Love. It was released as a single in the UK in October 1982 and peaked at number five in the UK Singles Chart. It was written by lead singer Martin Fry and released by Neutron Records...
". Several high-concept music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
s were made.
ABC found it difficult to follow up on the success of their debut. The second album, Beauty Stab
Beauty Stab
Beauty Stab is the second album by the British band ABC. Released in 1983, it was a departure from the stylized production of the band's first album, The Lexicon of Love, preferring a more guitar-oriented sound....
, was released in November 1983. It performed poorly in comparison to its predecessor. Gary Langan
Gary Langan
Gary Langan is an audio engineer and record producer.-Biography:In 1983, Langan co-founded the ZTT Records label with Trevor Horn, Paul Morley and Jill Sinclair...
, who had engineered
Audio engineering
An audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
The Lexicon of Love, was its producer. The first single from the album, "That Was Then But This Is Now
That Was Then but This Is Now
"That Was Then but This Is Now" is a song by the British group ABC. It was released as the first single from their second album Beauty Stab in late 1983.The single was the band's third entry on the U.S...
", briefly appeared in the UK Top 20, followed by a Top 40 showing for "S.O.S.
S.O.S. (ABC song)
"S.O.S." is a song by the British group ABC. It was released as the second single from their second album Beauty Stab in early 1984.- Chart positions :...
". The band eschewed remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
es for the project and so the 12" single for "That Was Then But This Is Now" featured the disclaimer "This record is exactly the same as the 7" version. The choice is yours."
Stephen Singleton retired from the band in 1984. Now a duo of Fry and White, augmented by two non-performing band members, Fiona Russell-Powell
Fiona Russell-Powell
Fiona Russell Powell is a British journalist. She is best known for her series of interviews throughout the 1980s in The Face magazine. For a brief period in the mid 1980s, she performed with the pop group ABC in videos and onstage to support their cartoon-synth album How to Be a...Zillionaire!...
(known as Eden) and David Yarritu
David Yarritu
David Yarritu is an American musician and photographer. He was best known for his short stint as a member of new wave group ABC in the 1980s. He was featured in several videos from the band's How to Be a...Zillionaire! album, including "Be Near Me" ....
, ABC's chart fortunes in the UK dwindled further with the 1985 album How To Be A...Zillionaire!
How to Be a...Zillionaire!
How to Be a... Zillionaire! is an album by the band ABC. It was released in January 1985 . Four singles were released from this album, "Be Near Me" , " Millionaire" , and "Vanity Kills" , and the fourth was "Ocean Blue",...
. Keith LeBlanc from Tackhead
Tackhead
Tackhead are an industrial hip-hop group that were most active during the 1980s and early 1990s, and briefly reformed in 2004 for a tour. Their music occupies the territory where funk, dub, industrial music and electronica intersect...
programmed much of the beatbox work for the album. The group did score its first US Top 10 hit with "Be Near Me
Be Near Me
"Be Near Me" is a song by ABC. The hit single from How to Be a...Zillionaire!, it is a message from the group's lead singer, Martin Fry, to an unknown addressee. He commands the addressee not to leave him. It peaked at #26 on the UK singles chart in 1985, then later in the year it went to #9 on the...
", which also made the UK Top 30. The album also featured the singles "(How to Be a) Millionaire
(How to Be A) Millionaire
" Millionaire" is a song by the British band ABC. It was the first single taken from their 1985 album How to Be a...Zillionaire!....
", "Vanity Kills
Vanity Kills
"Vanity Kills" is a song by ABC released as the third single from their album How to Be a...Zillionaire!.Two music videos were made by the band ABC. The UK video shows the four band members moving against a dark background, using simple stop motion camera tricks...
" and "Ocean Blue
Ocean Blue (song)
"Ocean Blue" is a song by ABC released as the fourth single from their album How to Be a...Zillionaire!.The song's music video, shot in black-and-white, features lead singer Martin Fry singing the song, intercut with scenes of violinists and the remaining members of the band.The song peaked at #51...
". ABC was one of the first bands to do video scratching
Video scratching
Video scratching is a video editing technique used within the music industry. It is a variation of the audio editing technique scratching.It is typically used in either music videos or live performances, with one or more individuals manipulating a video sample to make it follow the rhythm of...
" for several videos from the How to Be a... Zillionaire album, including the video for "Be Near Me".
After a hiatus, during which Fry was treated for Hodgkin's disease, ABC returned with the album Alphabet City
Alphabet City (album)
Alphabet City is an album by the band ABC released in 1987.Following a hiatus while Fry was treated for Hodgkin's disease, ABC returned to the studio to record Alphabet City, which they thought might be their final album. Best known for "When Smokey Sings", a tribute to Smokey Robinson, the album...
. Best known for "When Smokey Sings
When Smokey Sings
"When Smokey Sings" is the name of a song by the New Wave band ABC. The lyrics and name of the song are a tribute to R&B and Soul singer Smokey Robinson. It was released in mid-1987, on ABC's album Alphabet City...
", a tribute to Smokey Robinson
Smokey Robinson
William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy...
, the album also spawned "The Night You Murdered Love
The Night You Murdered Love
"The Night You Murdered Love" is a song by ABC released as the second single from their album Alphabet City.The music video shows a homicidal fashion model carrying a slingshot and a skateboard stalking the band across the city of Paris.- US 12" single :...
" and "King Without a Crown
King Without a Crown (ABC song)
"King Without a Crown" is a song by ABC released as the third single from their album Alphabet City.- UK CD single :# "King Without a Crown" - 4:40# "The Look of Love" - 6:02# "Poison Arrow" - 4:37...
" as singles. All three tracks would make the CD version of the group's first anthology.
In 1989, the duo issued Up
Up (ABC album)
Up is ABC's fifth and final PolyGram studio album, released in 1989. This time experimenting with house music, ABC scored a minor UK hit with the single "One Better World", an ode to love, peace and tolerance...
, their fifth and final PolyGram
PolyGram
PolyGram was the name of the major label recording company started by Philips from as a holding company for its music interests in 1945. In 1999 it was sold to Seagram and merged into Universal Music Group.-Hollandsche Decca Distributie , 1929-1950:...
studio album. This time experimenting with house music
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
, ABC scored a minor UK hit with the single "One Better World
One Better World
"One Better World" is a song by ABC released as the first single from their album Up.The song, sung with accompanying children's chorus, is about love, peace and tolerance , peaked at #32 on the UK Singles Chart.- UK 12" Single :...
". They released a second single from the album, "The Real Thing
The Real Thing (ABC song)
"The Real Thing" is a song by ABC released as the second single from their album Up.The song peaked at #68 on the UK Singles Chart, their lowest charting single there since "Vanity Kills" in 1986.- Chart positions :...
". During this period, the group worked on a couple of outside productions aimed at the house music scene. One was Paul Rutherford
Paul Rutherford
Paul Rutherford is the former backing vocalist, dancer and occasional keyboardist with 1980s pop band Frankie Goes to Hollywood , one of the group's two openly gay singers....
's (Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Frankie Goes to Hollywood were a British dance-pop band popular in the mid-1980s. The group was fronted by Holly Johnson , with Paul Rutherford , Peter Gill , Mark O'Toole , and Brian Nash .The group's debut single "Relax" was banned by the BBC in 1984 while at number six in the charts and...
) solo album and first single release; the other was for Lizzie Tear on the group's own Neutron label.
In 1990, the band released a greatest hits
Greatest hits
A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...
compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
, Absolutely
Absolutely (ABC album)
Absolutely is a comprehensive greatest hits package released in 1990 by the band ABC. This covered all the eras up until 1990, and had all their singles together. A video package featuring their promos was also released. One new song called "The Look of Love ", was also released to promote it, but...
. This covered all of ABC's albums up until 1990 and featured all of their singles. The compilation made the UK Top 10. A video package featuring promo
Promotion (marketing)
Promotion is one of the four elements of marketing mix . It is the communication link between sellers and buyers for the purpose of influencing, informing, or persuading a potential buyer's purchasing decision....
s was also released. One new song, "The Look of Love '90", was released to promote the package.
The group moved to the EMI
EMI Records
EMI Records is the flagship record label founded by the EMI company in 1972 and launched in January 1973 as the successor to its Columbia label. The EMI label was launched worldwide...
label (and MCA in North America), where they recorded the 1991 LP Abracadabra
Abracadabra (ABC album)
Abracadabra is a 1991 studio album by ABC.ABC moved to the EMI label, where they recorded the LP Abracadabra, a tightly produced fusion of early 1990s techno sounds and 1970s dance grooves which was met with muted critical approval and appreciation from the band's fan base.The first single, "Love...
. "Love Conquers All
Love Conquers All (ABC song)
"Love Conquers All" is a single by New Wave group ABC from their album Abracadabra.The song's music video, shot mostly in black-and-white, features scenes of various people doing random actions, intercut with footage of Martin Fry and Mark White performing the song and the seahorse from the...
", the first single, barely placed in the UK chart, though the Italian production team Black Box
Black box
A black box is a device, object, or system whose inner workings are unknown; only the input, transfer, and output are known characteristics.The term black box can also refer to:-In science and technology:*Black box theory, a philosophical theory...
provided remixes of "Say It" which appeared in the US dance charts.
Comeback
Fry resurrected the band's name in 1997 for the album SkyscrapingSkyscraping
Skyscraping is an album by music group ABC.The album was released in 1997, as a homage to lead singer Martin Fry's several musical heroes, including David Bowie, Roxy Music and The Sex Pistols....
, an homage to several of his musical heroes, including David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
, Roxy Music
Roxy Music
Roxy Music was a British art rock band formed in 1971 by Bryan Ferry, who became the group's lead vocalist and chief songwriter, and bassist Graham Simpson. The other members are Phil Manzanera , Andy Mackay and Paul Thompson . Former members include Brian Eno , and Eddie Jobson...
, and The Sex Pistols. A collaboration with Glenn Gregory of Heaven 17
Heaven 17
Heaven 17 are an English synthpop band originating from Sheffield in the early 1980s. The trio comprises Martyn Ware , Ian Craig Marsh and Glenn Gregory...
and Keith Lowndes
Honeyroot
Honeyroot is an ambient dance collaboration between Glenn Gregory and Keith Lowndes, signed to the Just Music independent record label.-Career:The project had its origins in the 1997 album, Skyscraping, by ABC...
, the album again was met with critical approval rather than broad commercial success. However, three singles were released, "Rolling Sevens
Rolling Sevens
"Rolling Sevens" is a song by New Wave group ABC, released as the first single from their album Skyscraping.- UK CD single :# "Rolling Sevens"# "Heaven Knows"# "The Look of Love" # "All of My Heart"...
", "Skyscraping
Skyscraping (song)
"Skyscraping" is a song by New Wave group ABC, released as the second single from their album Skyscraping....
", and "Stranger Things", complete with extra B-sides.
In 1999, ABC released their first live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
, The Lexicon of Live
The Lexicon of Live
The Lexicon of Live is a live album released by pop group ABC. Although Martin Fry was the only member left, he had a backing band, and came out in his trademark gold suit.- Track listing :...
. The album covered most of their major hits. Although Fry was the only member left, he had a backing band and adorned the album cover in his trademark gold lamé
Lamé (fabric)
Lamé is a type of fabric woven or knit with thin ribbons of metallic yarns, as opposed to guimpé, where the ribbons are wrapped around a fibre yarn. It is usually gold or silver in color; sometimes copper lamé is seen. Lamé comes in different varieties, depending on the composition of the other...
suit.
Look of Love – The Very Best of ABC was released in 2001. Although essentially a reissue of greatest hits package Absolutely
Absolutely (ABC album)
Absolutely is a comprehensive greatest hits package released in 1990 by the band ABC. This covered all the eras up until 1990, and had all their singles together. A video package featuring their promos was also released. One new song called "The Look of Love ", was also released to promote it, but...
(from 1990), the album featured two new songs by Fry, "Peace and Tranquility
Peace and Tranquility
"Peace and Tranquility" is a song by dance-pop group ABC, released as the first single from their compilation album Look of Love - The Very Best of ABC....
" and "Blame". A companion DVD, along with a bonus disc of remixes, was also released.
In 2004, the VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
show Bands Reunited
Bands Reunited
Bands Reunited is a television program produced by VH1 in 2004. Hosted by Aamer Haleem, the show documented the attempted reuniting of a formerly popular musical ensemble for a special concert in either London or Los Angeles....
attempted to get the line-up of Fry, Palmer, Singleton and White together for a reunion concert. Fry and Palmer appeared and played together (with help from Nick Beggs
Nick Beggs
Nick Beggs is a British musician, noted for playing the bass guitar and the Chapman Stick; he is a member of Kajagoogoo and formerly Iona and Ellis, Beggs, & Howard.-Personal life:...
of Kajagoogoo
Kajagoogoo
Kajagoogoo are a British pop band, best known for their hit single, "Too Shy", which reached No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart and No. 5 on the U.S...
) for the first time in over twenty years. Singleton and White opted not to participate.
Following a tour of the United States in May and June 2006, Fry and Palmer, together with keyboardist Chuck Kentis, put together a new ABC album, Traffic
Traffic (ABC album)
Traffic is the first new album of original material released by English band ABC in eleven years. The album's songs were written by lead singer Martin Fry while he toured the United States in 2006...
. It was released on 28 April 2008. Gary Langan
Gary Langan
Gary Langan is an audio engineer and record producer.-Biography:In 1983, Langan co-founded the ZTT Records label with Trevor Horn, Paul Morley and Jill Sinclair...
, who worked on The Lexicon of Love and Beauty Stab, mixed and produced the album. The first single, "The Very First Time", debuted on BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
in January, was added to the station's "A" playlist for the week beginning 29 March and was released as a download track on 1 April. ABC performed two songs from Traffic during the 2008 Regeneration Tour of the US: "Ride" and "The Very First Time".
On 1 September 2007, ABC performed a set with other 1980s acts at Retrofest
Retrofest
The Retrofest Music Festival created & promoted by Bradley Snelling, was the UK's first 80s themed music festival. Held on September 1 and September 2, 2007 the event was headlined by The Human League, Tony Hadley, Kim Wilde, ABC & Belinda Carlisle...
at Culzean Castle
Culzean Castle
Culzean Castle is a castle near Maybole, Carrick, on the Ayrshire coast of Scotland. It is the former home of the Marquess of Ailsa but is now owned by the National Trust for Scotland...
in Ayrshire
Ayrshire
Ayrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. The town of Troon on the coast has hosted the British Open Golf Championship twice in the...
, Scotland. This appearance included a rendition of "Addicted to Love
Addicted to Love (song)
Tina Turner has made "Addicted to Love" a regular feature of her live shows since 1986, although her version did not make it onto the market until two years later....
", with Tony Hadley
Tony Hadley
Tony Hadley is an English pop singer-songwriter, occasional stage actor and radio presenter who gained celebrity as the lead vocalist for the 1980s band Spandau Ballet.-Early life:...
of Spandau Ballet
Spandau Ballet
Spandau Ballet are a British band formed in London in the late 1970s. Initially inspired by, and an integral part of, the New Romantic fashion, their music has featured a mixture of funk, jazz, soul and synthpop. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s, achieving ten Top Ten singles...
and Peter Cox
Peter Cox (musician)
Peter John Cox is an English singer-songwriter, currently the lead singer in Manfred Mann's Earth Band, but is best known as one half of the 1980s blue-eyed soul duo Go West.-Early career and Go West:...
of Go West
Go West (band)
Go West is an English pop duo, formed in 1982 by lead vocalist and drummer Peter Cox ; and guitarist and vocalist Richard Drummie...
.
In the summer of 2008, ABC toured the US as part of the 2008 Regeneration Tour, which also featured The Human League
The Human League
The Human League are an English electronic New Wave band formed in Sheffield in 1977. They achieved popularity after a key change in line-up in the early 1980s and have continued recording and performing with moderate commercial success throughout the 1980s up to the present day.The only constant...
, Belinda Carlisle
Belinda Carlisle
Belinda Jo Carlisle is an American singer who gained worldwide fame as the lead vocalist of the Go-Go's, one of the most successful all-female bands and the first such group whose members wrote their own songs and played their own instruments...
, A Flock of Seagulls
A Flock of Seagulls
A Flock of Seagulls are an English New Wave band originally formed by brothers Michael "Mike" Score and Alister "Ali" James Score , with Frank Maudsley , Michael Kuby , H.J...
, and Naked Eyes
Naked Eyes
Naked Eyes is a British New Wave band that rose to prominence in the early 1980s. Originally a duo, the band is known largely for its singles: a cover of the Burt Bacharach/Hal David standard " Always Something There to Remind Me" , as well as the band's subsequent hits "Promises, Promises", "When...
.
In April 2009, ABC performed the Lexicon Of Love album live at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
, accompanied by the BBC Concert Orchestra
BBC Concert Orchestra
The BBC Concert Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London, one of the British Broadcasting Corporation's five radio orchestras. With around fifty players, it is the only one of the five which is not a full-scale symphony orchestra....
. Anne Dudley
Anne Dudley
Anne Dudley is an English composer and pop musician, and was the first BBC Concert Orchestra's Composer in Association in 2001. She has worked in both the classical and pop genres. She is perhaps best known, however, as one of the core members of the synthpop band Art of Noise and also as a film...
of Art of Noise, who arranged and played keyboards on the original record, conducted the performance. A music review in the 13 April 2009 edition of The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
newspaper, described the performance as a "glorious night that has placed one of the Eighties' most perfectly constructed albums back near the top of the pop pantheon".
In 2009 ABC toured the US as the headliner of the 2009 'Regeneration Tour', which also featured Terri Nunn
Terri Nunn
Terri Kathleen Nunn , is an American singer and actress. She is best known as the lead vocalist of the New Wave band Berlin.-Biography:...
of Berlin
Berlin (band)
Berlin is an American New Wave/Synthpop band. The group was formed in Los Angeles in 1978 by John Crawford . The band contained Crawford, Terri Nunn , David Diamond , Ric Olsen , Matt Reid and Rod Learned . Learned left during the first EU tour and was replaced by Rob Brill...
, Wang Chung
Wang Chung (band)
Wang Chung are an English New Wave musical group.The group found their greatest success in America, with five Top 40 hits in the US, all charting between 1983 and 1987, including "Dance Hall Days" , "Everybody Have Fun Tonight" and "Let's Go!" .-Pre-history: The Intellektuals and 57 Men :Jeremy...
, and the Cutting Crew
Cutting Crew
The Cutting Crew is a pop rock band formed in England in 1985, best known for their #1 hit, " Died in Your Arms".-Career:Vocalist Nick Van Eede founded the group along with Canadian guitarist Kevin MacMichael in 1985, and the two made demos that led to a recording contract, before bassist Colin...
.
In June, July and August 2011, ABC performed at a few locations around the UK as well as Las Vegas, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
.
Discography
- The Lexicon of LoveThe Lexicon of LoveThe Lexicon of Love is the critically acclaimed chart-topping debut album by British pop band ABC, released in 1982. It is a concept album in which the singer experiences heartache as he tries and fails to have a meaningful relationship....
(1982) - Beauty StabBeauty StabBeauty Stab is the second album by the British band ABC. Released in 1983, it was a departure from the stylized production of the band's first album, The Lexicon of Love, preferring a more guitar-oriented sound....
(1983) - How to Be a...Zillionaire!How to Be a...Zillionaire!How to Be a... Zillionaire! is an album by the band ABC. It was released in January 1985 . Four singles were released from this album, "Be Near Me" , " Millionaire" , and "Vanity Kills" , and the fourth was "Ocean Blue",...
(1985) - Alphabet CityAlphabet City (album)Alphabet City is an album by the band ABC released in 1987.Following a hiatus while Fry was treated for Hodgkin's disease, ABC returned to the studio to record Alphabet City, which they thought might be their final album. Best known for "When Smokey Sings", a tribute to Smokey Robinson, the album...
(1987) - UpUp (ABC album)Up is ABC's fifth and final PolyGram studio album, released in 1989. This time experimenting with house music, ABC scored a minor UK hit with the single "One Better World", an ode to love, peace and tolerance...
(1989) - AbracadabraAbracadabra (ABC album)Abracadabra is a 1991 studio album by ABC.ABC moved to the EMI label, where they recorded the LP Abracadabra, a tightly produced fusion of early 1990s techno sounds and 1970s dance grooves which was met with muted critical approval and appreciation from the band's fan base.The first single, "Love...
(1991) - SkyscrapingSkyscrapingSkyscraping is an album by music group ABC.The album was released in 1997, as a homage to lead singer Martin Fry's several musical heroes, including David Bowie, Roxy Music and The Sex Pistols....
(1997) - TrafficTraffic (ABC album)Traffic is the first new album of original material released by English band ABC in eleven years. The album's songs were written by lead singer Martin Fry while he toured the United States in 2006...
(2008)
Pop culture influence
- In 2009, the song "The Look of Love" was performed by the cast in a song and dance number on the US CWThe CW Television NetworkThe CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
TV serial drama series ValentineValentine (TV series)Valentine is a romantic comedy/drama television series created by Kevin Murphy, who also serves as executive producer alongside Courtney Conte. The show is produced by Media Rights Capital. It premiered on October 5, 2008 at 8:00pm on The CW Television Network and Citytv in Canada and after four...
, as part of the plot in which the goddess Aphrodite makes a love match at a karaoke bar. - The track "So Hip It Hurts" from How To Be A Zillionaire featured in the 1986 film Tough GuysTough GuysTough Guys is a 1986 comedy starring Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Eli Wallach and Dana Carvey. It was directed by Jeff Kanew.Lancaster and Douglas made several films together, including I Walk Alone , Gunfight at the O.K. Corral , The Devil's Disciple , and Seven Days in May , becoming something...
. - ABC had three number one hits on the US Dance Charts: "The Look of Love" (18 December 1982), "Be Near Me" (28 September – 5 October 1985) and "When Smokey Sings" / "Chicago" (29 August – 5 September 1987).
- Fiona Russell Powell, who joined the group for ABC's 1985 album How To Be A Zillionaire, was part of the original line-up of the pre ABC band, Vice Versa. According to an article that was published on 7 March 1997, she 'chickened out' of Vice Versa's first live gig, and the job as frontman went to Fry.
- ABC was profiled in a 2004 documentary about bands hailing from Sheffield in the late 1970s-to-early 1980s. Original ABC saxophonist, Stephen SingletonStephen SingletonStephen Singleton is a British musician, currently residing in Sheffield, England. According to an interview Singleton did for the documentary Made in Sheffield, he was friends with Def Leppard lead singer Joe Elliott when the two were young children. Along with Mark White and David Sydenham, he...
, was interviewed for Made In SheffieldMade In SheffieldMade in Sheffield is a documentary film on the history of the music scene in the city of Sheffield, England from 1975 until 1983. The film was directed and produced by Eve Wood in 2001...
, along with members of The Human LeagueThe Human LeagueThe Human League are an English electronic New Wave band formed in Sheffield in 1977. They achieved popularity after a key change in line-up in the early 1980s and have continued recording and performing with moderate commercial success throughout the 1980s up to the present day.The only constant...
and Heaven 17Heaven 17Heaven 17 are an English synthpop band originating from Sheffield in the early 1980s. The trio comprises Martyn Ware , Ian Craig Marsh and Glenn Gregory...
.
Members
Current- Martin FryMartin FryMartin Fry is lead singer of the band, ABC.-Biography:He grew up in Bramhall, Stockport, alongside his younger brother Jamie .-ABC:...
– lead vocals (1980–present)
Former
- Mark WhiteMark White (musician)Mark White is an English musician, best known for being part of the pop band ABC, from 1980 to 1992. His last contribution to the band was their 1991 album, Abracadabara....
– guitar, keyboards (1980–1992) - Stephen SingletonStephen SingletonStephen Singleton is a British musician, currently residing in Sheffield, England. According to an interview Singleton did for the documentary Made in Sheffield, he was friends with Def Leppard lead singer Joe Elliott when the two were young children. Along with Mark White and David Sydenham, he...
– saxophone (1980–1984) - Mark Lickley – bass (1980–1982)
- David Robinson – drums (1980–1982)
- David Palmer – drums (1982–1983, 1985–1986, 2004–2009)
- Fiona Russell-PowellFiona Russell-PowellFiona Russell Powell is a British journalist. She is best known for her series of interviews throughout the 1980s in The Face magazine. For a brief period in the mid 1980s, she performed with the pop group ABC in videos and onstage to support their cartoon-synth album How to Be a...Zillionaire!...
– vocals (1985) - David YarrituDavid YarrituDavid Yarritu is an American musician and photographer. He was best known for his short stint as a member of new wave group ABC in the 1980s. He was featured in several videos from the band's How to Be a...Zillionaire! album, including "Be Near Me" ....
– vocals (1985) - Glenn GregoryGlenn GregoryGlenn Gregory is an English musician. A founding member of Heaven 17, he was partly responsible for hit records such as "Temptation"....
– vocals (1995–1997) - Keith LowndesHoneyrootHoneyroot is an ambient dance collaboration between Glenn Gregory and Keith Lowndes, signed to the Just Music independent record label.-Career:The project had its origins in the 1997 album, Skyscraping, by ABC...
– guitar (1995–1997)
See also
- HoneyrootHoneyrootHoneyroot is an ambient dance collaboration between Glenn Gregory and Keith Lowndes, signed to the Just Music independent record label.-Career:The project had its origins in the 1997 album, Skyscraping, by ABC...
- List of number-one dance hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. dance chart