Vicious Pink
| Company type | Music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1981 |
| Headquarters | Leeds , England |
| Products | Synth-pop music |
Vicious Pink is a synth-pop pair originating from Leeds, England, established in 1981. The duo reunited in 2023 to produce a new album and has scheduled live performances for 2024.
History
Specializing in infectious melodies combined with bold, suggestive lyrics, Vicious Pink primarily appealed to nightclub patrons rather than aiming for mainstream chart success. The group consists of vocalist Josephine Warden and keyboardist Brian Moss, who initially served as backing singers for Soft Cell under the name Vicious Pink Phenomena.
Their reputation is largely built on four dance-oriented singles: "8:15 to Nowhere," "Cccan't You See," and "Fetish," all produced by Tony Mansfield of New Musik. Their last single, "Take Me Now," was produced by Gary Moberley.
Under the management of Mike Wiand—owner of The Warehouse in Leeds and a prominent figure in 1980s dance music—Vicious Pink supported Soft Cell during performances at The Warehouse and appeared live at The Ritz in New York City in December 1984.
Although they never broke into the mainstream market, they cultivated a dedicated cult audience. Their 1984 release "Cccan't You See" peaked at number 67 on the UK charts, while its instrumental B-side "8:15 to Nowhere" enjoyed popularity within club scenes internationally.
In 1983, they recorded unreleased demo tracks titled Blue and The Tape Gallery. After discontinuing recording activities, they issued a self-titled album in 1986 compiling their earlier singles.
Following the band's hiatus, Warden married a music attorney based in London. Meanwhile, Moss pursued his musical career and, as of June 2022, performs as keyboardist for Mirazma.
In 2015, Vicious Pink released several remixes of their 2012 track "Kings of the Mountains." Later, in 2019, they introduced new material with the single "Organiclon Sentient Ship."
The year 2022 saw the release of the double LP West View, which includes remastered tracks and demo recordings.
On 21 September 2023, during a Twitch livestream showcasing rare recordings from both Soft Cell and Vicious Pink, Josie revealed plans for an upcoming album titled Unexpected to be released on Minimal Wave Records before the end of the year. She also premiered a new track called "Not Your Kind of Girl." Additionally, the band announced their intention to reunite for live performances scheduled for 2024.
Albums
- Vicious Pink (1986)
- West View (2022)
- Unexpected (2024)
Singles
- "My Private Tokyo" (1982)
- "Je T'aime" (1983) (UK #84)
- "8:15 to Nowhere" (1984)
- "Cccan't You See" (1984) (UK #67)
- "Fetish" / "Spooky" (1985) (UK #87)
- "Cccan't You See" (Remix) (1985) (UK #95)
- "Take Me Now" (1986)