Billy Currie
Encyclopedia
Billy Currie is an English violist, violinist, pianist, keyboardist, and songwriter. He is best known for his work with New Wave
band Ultravox
, who achieved their greatest commercial success in the 1980s.
on viola and keyboard. In 1976, after several name changes, the band ultimately became Ultravox
and recorded three albums, Ultravox!
, Ha! Ha! Ha! and Systems of Romance
, before singer John Foxx
left to pursue a solo career in 1979.
During Ultravox's subsequent hiatus, Currie dedicated himself to different projects. He collaborated with Tubeway Army
, whose singer Gary Numan
had admired the Systems Of Romance album and asked Currie to record some songs that were included on his first solo album, The Pleasure Principle
. Currie toured with Numan's band during 1979. During soundchecks for the tour, Currie and Tubeway Army musician Chris Payne
began to develop a song of their own called "Toot City". Currie had also joined the studio-based band Visage
, fronted by Steve Strange
, that also included Midge Ure
. Currie and Ure developed a solid working relationship. Visage drummer Rusty Egan
encouraged Currie to ask Ure to join the defunct Ultravox as lead singer/guitarist. Whilst composing material for a new Ultravox album and for the debut Visage album, Ure collaborated with Currie on the "Toot City" track which eventually became "Fade to Grey". The single became a huge hit for Visage in early 1981. However, this was surpassed by Ultravox's hit "Vienna", released around the same time. Both Ultravox and Visage became highly successful recording acts in the early 1980s. Ure decided to leave Visage to focus on Ultravox full time in 1982. Currie remained with Visage for a while longer, but he too had left by 1984.
From 1980–86, Ultravox released seven top 10 albums, including a live album and a "greatest hits" compilation and featured in Live Aid
in Wembley Stadium
on 13 July 1985. During the last days of the band, there were tensions between Currie and Ure. With an underwhelming response to their 1986 album U-Vox
, the band effectively disintegrated.
In 1988, Currie put out an instrumental
solo album Transportation, released on the IRS NoSpeak record label
. Steve Howe
played guitar on some of the tracks.
In 1992, Currie reformed Ultravox with a new line-up (himself being the only original member involved). With Tony Fennell on vocals, they recorded the album "Revelation". At the outset of the subsequent tour, Fennell left to be replaced by Sam Blue. The tour took in the former USSR and Malta amongst other locations. Many of the synthesisers for which Currie was famous, apart from the often-volatile OSCar and Minimoog, were abandoned for this tour, replaced with Korg Wavestations and T-series keyboards. A further Ultravox album featuring this line-up, "Ingenuity", was released in 1994. Both albums were unsuccessful.
In 2009 and 2010, the "classic" Ultravox line-up from the 1980s (Currie, Ure, Chris Cross, and Warren Cann) reformed for two successful tours – their first together in over twenty years.
sound, which typically consisted of soaring fluid lines on an ARP Odyssey
, making use of oscillator sync, later re-created with the Oxford Synthesiser Company "OSCar" synth. Currie's original instrument whilst at music college was the viola
, and he frequently added solo violin or viola to the arrangements of songs he played on, a relatively unusual choice in pop music.
At the height of Ultravox's career, Billy Currie's keyboard rig included a Yamaha CP70 electric piano and SS30 string machine, CS80 synthesiser, a PPG Wave 2.2 digital synth, a Sequential Circuits Prophet T8 synth as well as his trademark ARP Odyssey. Other synths used by Ultravox included the Moog MiniMoog, Yamaha GS1 (the pad sound on "Lament") and Emulator II sampler.
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
band Ultravox
Ultravox
Ultravox is a British New Wave rock band. They were one of the primary exponents of the British electronic pop music movement of the late 1970s/early 1980s. The band was particularly associated with the New Romantic and New Wave movements....
, who achieved their greatest commercial success in the 1980s.
Career
In 1974, Currie left the art group Ritual Theatre to join the glam rock band Tiger LilyTiger Lily (UK band)
Tiger Lily was a short-lived glam rock band and the seed of Ultravox! . It was founded in London in 1973 by Royal College of Art student Dennis Leigh , who escaped from his northern industrial environment in Lancashire, Chris St...
on viola and keyboard. In 1976, after several name changes, the band ultimately became Ultravox
Ultravox
Ultravox is a British New Wave rock band. They were one of the primary exponents of the British electronic pop music movement of the late 1970s/early 1980s. The band was particularly associated with the New Romantic and New Wave movements....
and recorded three albums, Ultravox!
Ultravox! (album)
Ultravox! is the first studio album from the band Ultravox!, which at the time was properly eponymous before the band dropped the Neu!-inspired exclamation mark from their name...
, Ha! Ha! Ha! and Systems of Romance
Systems of Romance
Systems of Romance, released on 8 September 1978, is the third album by British band Ultravox...
, before singer John Foxx
John Foxx
John Foxx is an English singer, artist, photographer and teacher. He was the original lead singer of the band Ultravox before being replaced by Midge Ure, when he left to embark on a solo career in 1979...
left to pursue a solo career in 1979.
During Ultravox's subsequent hiatus, Currie dedicated himself to different projects. He collaborated with Tubeway Army
Tubeway Army
Tubeway Army were a London-based punk rock and new wave band led by lead singer Gary Numan. They were the first band of the post-punk era to have a synthesizer-based hit, with their single Are 'Friends' Electric? and its parent album Replicas both topping the UK Album Chart in mid-1979.-Line-up:The...
, whose singer Gary Numan
Gary Numan
Gary Numan is an English singer, composer, and musician, most widely known for his chart-topping 1979 hits "Are 'Friends' Electric?" and "Cars". His signature sound consisted of heavy synthesizer hooks fed through guitar effects pedals.Numan is considered a pioneer of commercial electronic music...
had admired the Systems Of Romance album and asked Currie to record some songs that were included on his first solo album, The Pleasure Principle
The Pleasure Principle (Gary Numan album)
The Pleasure Principle is the third studio album, and debut album under his own name, by electronic music pioneer Gary Numan, released in 1979...
. Currie toured with Numan's band during 1979. During soundchecks for the tour, Currie and Tubeway Army musician Chris Payne
Dramatis
Dramatis were an English synthpop band from the early 1980s. Chris Payne , Russell Bell , Cedric Sharpley , and Denis Haines were all originally members of Gary Numan's backing band. They formed Dramatis following Numan's announced retirement in April 1981.They released six singles and one album...
began to develop a song of their own called "Toot City". Currie had also joined the studio-based band Visage
Visage
Visage are a British New Wave rock band. Formed in 1978, the band became closely linked to the burgeoning New Romantic fashion movement of the early 1980s, and are best known for their 1980 hit "Fade to Grey".-New Wave years :...
, fronted by Steve Strange
Steve Strange
Steve Strange , is a Welsh pop singer, best known as the lead singer and frontman of the 1980s pop group Visage...
, that also included Midge Ure
Midge Ure
James "Midge" Ure, OBE is a Scottish guitarist, singer, keyboard player, and songwriter...
. Currie and Ure developed a solid working relationship. Visage drummer Rusty Egan
Rusty Egan
Rusty Egan was the drummer for the British new wave band, The Rich Kids. They were founded by former Sex Pistol, Glen Matlock, bass guitarist and backing vocals, occasional lead vocals; with Steve New guitarist and backing vocals, occasional lead vocals; and fronted by Midge Ure guitarist, lead...
encouraged Currie to ask Ure to join the defunct Ultravox as lead singer/guitarist. Whilst composing material for a new Ultravox album and for the debut Visage album, Ure collaborated with Currie on the "Toot City" track which eventually became "Fade to Grey". The single became a huge hit for Visage in early 1981. However, this was surpassed by Ultravox's hit "Vienna", released around the same time. Both Ultravox and Visage became highly successful recording acts in the early 1980s. Ure decided to leave Visage to focus on Ultravox full time in 1982. Currie remained with Visage for a while longer, but he too had left by 1984.
From 1980–86, Ultravox released seven top 10 albums, including a live album and a "greatest hits" compilation and featured in Live Aid
Live Aid
Live Aid was a dual-venue concert that was held on 13 July 1985. The event was organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for relief of the ongoing Ethiopian famine. Billed as the "global jukebox", the event was held simultaneously in Wembley Stadium in London, England, United Kingdom ...
in Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
on 13 July 1985. During the last days of the band, there were tensions between Currie and Ure. With an underwhelming response to their 1986 album U-Vox
U-Vox
U-Vox is an album by Ultravox, released in 1986. This was the eighth full album and the fifth of the band's most-recognisable incarnation, fronted by Midge Ure...
, the band effectively disintegrated.
In 1988, Currie put out an instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
solo album Transportation, released on the IRS NoSpeak record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
. Steve Howe
Steve Howe (guitarist)
Stephen James "Steve" Howe is an English guitarist, known for his work with the progressive rock group Yes...
played guitar on some of the tracks.
In 1992, Currie reformed Ultravox with a new line-up (himself being the only original member involved). With Tony Fennell on vocals, they recorded the album "Revelation". At the outset of the subsequent tour, Fennell left to be replaced by Sam Blue. The tour took in the former USSR and Malta amongst other locations. Many of the synthesisers for which Currie was famous, apart from the often-volatile OSCar and Minimoog, were abandoned for this tour, replaced with Korg Wavestations and T-series keyboards. A further Ultravox album featuring this line-up, "Ingenuity", was released in 1994. Both albums were unsuccessful.
In 2009 and 2010, the "classic" Ultravox line-up from the 1980s (Currie, Ure, Chris Cross, and Warren Cann) reformed for two successful tours – their first together in over twenty years.
Instruments
Currie is noted for his use of analogue synthesizers, and in particular his trademark soloingSolo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
sound, which typically consisted of soaring fluid lines on an ARP Odyssey
ARP Odyssey
The ARP Odyssey was an analog synthesizer introduced in 1972. Responding to pressure from Moog Music to create a portable, affordable "performance" synthesizer, ARP scaled down its popular 2600 synthesizer and created the Odyssey, which became the best-selling synthesizer they made.The Odyssey is...
, making use of oscillator sync, later re-created with the Oxford Synthesiser Company "OSCar" synth. Currie's original instrument whilst at music college was the viola
Viola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
, and he frequently added solo violin or viola to the arrangements of songs he played on, a relatively unusual choice in pop music.
At the height of Ultravox's career, Billy Currie's keyboard rig included a Yamaha CP70 electric piano and SS30 string machine, CS80 synthesiser, a PPG Wave 2.2 digital synth, a Sequential Circuits Prophet T8 synth as well as his trademark ARP Odyssey. Other synths used by Ultravox included the Moog MiniMoog, Yamaha GS1 (the pad sound on "Lament") and Emulator II sampler.
Personal life
Currie has a daughter called Lucy, born c. 1991, and a son Tom, born c. 1996. He is married to Heidi and lives in North London.Associated bands
- Barry Edwards' "The Ritual Theatre"
- Ultravox (1974–1988, 1991–1996, 2009)
- VisageVisageVisage are a British New Wave rock band. Formed in 1978, the band became closely linked to the burgeoning New Romantic fashion movement of the early 1980s, and are best known for their 1980 hit "Fade to Grey".-New Wave years :...
(1979–1984) - Gary NumanGary NumanGary Numan is an English singer, composer, and musician, most widely known for his chart-topping 1979 hits "Are 'Friends' Electric?" and "Cars". His signature sound consisted of heavy synthesizer hooks fed through guitar effects pedals.Numan is considered a pioneer of commercial electronic music...
(1979–80) - The Armoury ShowThe Armoury ShowThe Armoury Show was a New Wave band formed in 1983 by Richard Jobson on vocals, Russell Webb on bass guitar, John McGeoch on guitar and John Doyle on drums. Each member was known for being in a previously acclaimed band, as Jobson and Webb were in The Skids and McGeoch and Doyle in Magazine. The...
(1985) - Humania (1988–89)
- Phil LynottPhil LynottPhilip Parris "Phil" Lynott was an Irish musician who first came to prominence as a founding member, principal songwriter, and frontman of the Irish rock band Thin Lizzy....
- Steve HoweSteve Howe (guitarist)Stephen James "Steve" Howe is an English guitarist, known for his work with the progressive rock group Yes...
With Ultravox
- Ultravox! (1977)
- Ha!-Ha!-Ha!Ha!-Ha!-Ha!Ha!-Ha!-Ha! was the second album by British pop group Ultravox, at that time formally known as "Ultravox!", with an exclamation mark, as a nod to Neu!...
(1977) - Systems of RomanceSystems of RomanceSystems of Romance, released on 8 September 1978, is the third album by British band Ultravox...
(1978) - ViennaVienna (album)Vienna is the fourth studio LP by the synthpop band Ultravox, first released on 11 July 1980. The album peaked at #3 in the UK charts and was the first Ultravox release to enter the UK top ten. It was certified Platinum in the United Kingdom in July 1981 for 300,000 copies sold...
(1980) - Rage in EdenRage in EdenRage in Eden, released in 1981, is the fifth album by British band Ultravox, and the second of the band's most-recognizable incarnation, fronted by Midge Ure. The album reached #4 in the UK album charts and was certified Gold by the BPI for sales in excess of 100,000 copies...
(1981) - QuartetQuartet (Ultravox album)Quartet, released in 1982, is the sixth LP by British band Ultravox, and the third of the band's most-recognizable incarnation, fronted by Midge Ure. The album peaked at no.6 on the UK album chart and was certified Gold by the BPI in December 1982 for 100,000 copies sold...
(1982) - Monument (1983)
- LamentLament (Ultravox album)Lament is an album by Ultravox, released in 1984. This was the seventh full album and the fourth of the band's most-recognisable incarnation, fronted by Midge Ure. It was also the last album featuring original drummer Warren Cann. The album peaked at no.8 on the UK album chart and was certified...
(1984) - U-VoxU-VoxU-Vox is an album by Ultravox, released in 1986. This was the eighth full album and the fifth of the band's most-recognisable incarnation, fronted by Midge Ure...
(1986) - Revelation (1993)
- Ingenuity (1996)
With Gary Numan
- The Pleasure PrincipleThe Pleasure Principle (Gary Numan album)The Pleasure Principle is the third studio album, and debut album under his own name, by electronic music pioneer Gary Numan, released in 1979...
(1979) (guest) - Living Ornaments '79Living Ornaments '79Living Ornaments '79 is a live album by Gary Numan recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon on 28 September 1979. It was also released as a limited edition box set with Living Ornaments '80 . An expanded version was reissued on a double CD in 1998 before a remastered version was again reissued in 2005...
(1981)
With Visage
- VisageVisage (album)Visage is the eponymous debut album from the British pop group Visage, recorded at Genetic Sound Studios in Reading and released by Polydor Records on 10 November 1980...
(1980) - The AnvilThe Anvil (album)-References:*...
(1982) - Beat BoyBeat BoyBeat Boy is the third and final album by the British pop group Visage. It was recorded at Trident Studios between 1982 and 1983 and released on Polydor Records in September 1984...
(1984) (guest)
Solo
- Transportation (1988)
- Stand Up and Walk (1990)
- Unearthed (2001)
- Keys and the Fiddle (2001)
- Push (2002)
- Pieces of the Puzzle (2003)
- Still Movement (2004)
- Accidental Poetry of the Structure (2007)
- Refine (2009)
External links
- Official web site
- [ Allmusic biography]