Vice Versa (band)
| Company type | Group or band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1977 in Sheffield, England |
| Founder | Stephen Singleton, Mark White, Ian Garth, David Sydenham |
| Defunct | 1980 |
| Fate | Reassembled in 2015 without Ian Garth and David Sydenham |
| Headquarters | Sheffield , England |
Area served | United Kingdom |
Key people | Stephen Singleton, Mark White, Ian Garth, David Sydenham, Martin Fry (joined later) |
| Products | Electronic music recordings, EPs, albums, singles |
Vice Versa is an electronic music group that originated in Sheffield, England, in 1977. The founding members were Stephen Singleton, Mark White, Ian Garth, and David Sydenham. Singleton and White subsequently went on to create the prominent 1980s pop act ABC. The band was active from 1977 until 1980 and reassembled in 2015 without Garth and Sydenham. They are considered among the "Big Four" minimal electronic/synth-driven bands from late-1970s Sheffield, alongside Cabaret Voltaire, Clock DVA, and the Human League.
History
Vice Versa was formed by Singleton, White, Garth, and Sydenham, with Singleton and Sydenham handling synthesizers, Garth playing guitar and synthesizer, and White performing vocals. Their debut live appearance was as a supporting act for Wire at the Doncaster Outlook club. A significant Sheffield performance occurred alongside the Human League at the Now Society event at Sheffield University titled "Wot, no Drummers," highlighting the use of drum machines in place of traditional drummers.
In 1978, Vice Versa again supported the Human League. Later that year, White and Singleton established Neutron Records to distribute their synthesizer-oriented music, which was largely overlooked by major record companies at the time. Their initial release was the 1979 EP Music 4, accompanied by a series of prints and a manifesto.
In 1980, Vice Versa participated in the six-track fold-out EP 1980: The First Fifteen Minutes alongside Clock DVA, Stunt Kites, and I'm So Hollow. This compilation provided early vinyl exposure for these Sheffield bands before they secured individual recording contracts and was selected as "single of the week" by NME.
Following Sydenham's exit, Martin Fry—then known as a fanzine writer—joined as vocalist after an impromptu studio session in Rotterdam during a Netherlands tour. Fry's vocal abilities led to his appointment as lead singer. In 1980, Vice Versa released two additional projects: the cassette-only album 8 Aspects of and their sole single "Stilyagi" with the B-side "Eyes of Christ," both remixed from the cassette at Backstreet/Backlash Studio in Rotterdam. These releases marked their final output before transitioning into ABC after a year dedicated to songwriting and rebranding.
Later years
In 2014, German label VOD Records issued a box set entitled Electrogenesis 1978–1980, curated by original members White and Singleton. This collection included 4 LPs plus a bonus 7-inch featuring "Genetic Warfare" by Vice Versa and Adi Newton, alongside a 48-page LP-sized history detailing Vice Versa and Neutron Records, previously unpublished photography, original artwork, a metal enamel badge, four full-colour inner sleeves, and a paper kit synthesizer named "nowsoc78," paying tribute to the venue where Vice Versa debuted.
The four LPs contained were:
- The Vice-Pop – Studio Electrophonique Sessions 1978–1979
- The Anti-Pop Bowood Road Sessions 1978–1980
- 8 Aspects of Vice Versa (April 1980)
- Live in Concert 1979–1980
This release inspired Vice Versa’s reunion in 2014. In December 2015, the duo issued a complimentary Christmas single titled "Little Drum Machine Boy" via SoundCloud. They remain active in composing and recording new material.
Discography
| Year | Title | Format | Record Label | Catalogue Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Music 4 | 7-inch EP | Neutron Records | NT001 |
| 1979 | Neutron Datapack | Data | Neutron Records | NT002 |
| 1979 | 1980: The First 15 Minutes | 7-inch EP | Neutron Records | NT003 |
| 1980 | 8 Aspects Of | CAS album | Neutron Records | Neutron cassette |
| 1980 | "Stilyagi" / "Eyes of Christ" | 7-inch single | Backstreet Records (NL) | BBR003 |
| 2014 | Electrogenesis 1978–1980 | 4-LP box set | VOD Records (GE) | VOD116 |
| 2015 | "Little Drum Machine Boy" | Digital single download | White label | N/A |
Awards
- 2016 – Awarded Best Reissue of the Year by Classic Pop magazine