Visage (band)
| Company type | Music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1978 in London, England |
| Founder | Midge Ure, Rusty Egan |
| Defunct | 1985 (initial disbandment) |
| Fate | Disbanded in 1985; later revived and final disbandment after 2015 |
| Headquarters | London , United Kingdom |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Visage was a British new wave pop group that originated in London in 1978. Strongly associated with the New Romantic fashion trend of the early 1980s, they are primarily recognized for their late 1980 hit single, Fade to Grey. Within the UK, Visage secured two albums in the Top 20 (Visage and The Anvil) and five singles in the Top 30 before their third album, Beat Boy, failed to achieve commercial success, which led to their disbandment in 1985.
Throughout their existence, the band experienced several personnel changes but consistently featured lead singer Steve Strange, who later revived Visage during the 2000s. In 2013, the final ensemble released Hearts and Knives, marking their first studio album in nearly three decades. Their fifth and concluding album, Demons to Diamonds, was issued in 2015, nine months following Strange's death from a heart attack.
Initial period (1978–1985)
Visage was founded by Midge Ure and Rusty Egan with the goal of producing music tailored for clubs where Egan worked as a DJ. Egan and Steve Strange organized significant club nights initially at Billy's in Soho, London, before moving to the Blitz Club in Covent Garden, a central venue for the New Romantic scene. Strange, who had prior involvement with punk and new wave outfits such as The Moors Murderers and The Photons, took on the role of lead vocalist. The original lineup also featured Ultravox keyboardist Billy Currie alongside three members from post-punk band Magazine: guitarist John McGeoch, keyboardist Dave Formula, and bassist Barry Adamson (who departed after the first single but later contributed as a session musician).
Producer Martin Rushent funded their early sessions with plans to sign them to his Genetic Records label; however, after that label folded, Visage signed with independent Radar Records. Their debut single, Tar (1979), did not chart. The band's move to perform regularly at the Blitz Club helped bring New Romanticism into wider public awareness, further boosted by David Bowie's participation with club regulars in his Ashes to Ashes music video.
Their self-titled debut album was recorded at Rushent's studio and released in November 1980 through major label Polydor alongside the single Fade to Grey. This track became a global hit, entering the UK Top 10 and reaching number one in both Germany and Switzerland. The album itself reached the UK Top 20 and achieved Silver certification.
Following singles such as Mind of a Toy and Visage also performed well; however, conflicting schedules among members—Ure and Currie with Ultravox, Formula and Adamson with Magazine, McGeoch with Siouxsie and the Banshees—delayed production of their second album. Recorded by a five-piece lineup without McGeoch and featuring limited input from Adamson, The Anvil was released in March 1982. It became their sole UK Top 10 album and generated two Top 20 hits: The Damned Don't Cry and Night Train. This album also earned Silver certification. Ure departed shortly thereafter due to creative disagreements and commitments with Ultravox.
Following Ure’s exit along with McGeoch and Adamson (who joined Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds), bassist Steve Barnacle joined Visage. The revamped group released Pleasure Boys in October 1982; however, it failed to break into the UK Top 40. Contractual complications then resulted in a two-year gap without new releases. Polydor issued Fade to Grey – The Singles Collection in November 1983; it attained Gold status before release but peaked at number 38 on the charts.
In October 1984, Visage made a comeback with their third album, Beat Boy, which did not achieve commercial success, reaching only number 79 in the UK. Singles such as Love Glove and Beat Boy also failed to enter the Top 40. By this time, Billy Currie and Dave Formula had left; only Strange and Egan remained from the original lineup alongside Steve Barnacle plus newcomers Gary Barnacle and Andy Barnett. Attempts to evolve Visage into a touring live band were unsuccessful, culminating in their breakup in 1985.
Afterward, Strange and Barnacle formed Strange Cruise, which did not find success. Visage briefly reappeared on the charts when a Bassheads remix of Fade to Grey reached the UK Top 40 in 1993.
Second phase (2002–2011)
After successfully battling heroin addiction and personal difficulties, Steve Strange made his comeback to the music industry in 2002. He performed a selection of Visage tracks during the Here and Now Xmas Tour, which celebrated the revival of 1980s pop artists. Following this, Strange assembled a "Mark II" version of Visage featuring members from electronic groups: Steven Young, Sandrine Gouriou, Rosie Harris (all affiliated with Seize), and Ross Tregenza (associated with Jetstream Lovers/Goteki). Despite announcing this refreshed lineup and appearing on television, progress on revamping classic songs and producing new recordings was gradual. In 2005, an updated rendition of "Fade to Grey" was created. The following year, Strange collaborated with the electronic duo Punx Soundcheck, lending his vocals to "In the Dark," a track from their debut album When Machines Ruled the World.
The inaugural release from Visage Mk II came in 2007 with "Diary of a Madman," co-written by Strange and Ross Tregenza and co-produced by original member Dave Formula. This track was made available for download through their official website in exchange for donations to Children in Need. No additional new material emerged from this lineup afterward.
In 2006, the previously discontinued Visage VHS video compilation was reissued on DVD, albeit incorrectly titled as Visage Live.
Strange and keyboardist Sandrine Gouriou made a guest appearance in the 2008 BBC drama Ashes to Ashes, performing "Fade to Grey" during a scene set in the Blitz nightclub.
In 2009, Strange reunited with Egan on Living TV's Pop Goes the Band, a program where 1980s pop icons underwent makeovers for a special performance. Airing on 16 March 2009, this episode marked their first conversation in over two decades. While the show focused more on their fitness than their past relationship, it culminated with their rendition of "Fade to Grey".
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of "Fade to Grey" in 2010, club DJs Michael Gray and Lee Mortimer crafted new remixes of the track. These remixes were featured on the compilation album The Face – The Very Best of Visage, which was released in March 2010.
Final phase (2012–2015)
On 8 January 2013, Steve Strange appeared on Channel 4 News to discuss David Bowie’s forthcoming album The Next Day and revealed plans for a new Visage album slated for release that year.
Simultaneously, Visage launched an updated website and social media platforms, unveiling a lineup comprising Strange, former bassist Steve Barnacle, ex-Ultravox guitarist Robin Simon, and vocalist Lauren Duvall. The single "Shameless Fashion" was initially offered as a complimentary download via Facebook, followed by a physical CD-single release on 6 May 2013. Their album Hearts and Knives debuted on 20 May 2013. Subsequent singles included "Dreamer I Know" (July 2013), "Never Enough" (December 2013), "Hidden Sign" (May 2014), and "She's Electric (Coming Around)" (August 2014). The band embarked on tours across the UK and Europe towards the end of 2013.
In December 2014, Visage unveiled Orchestral, a predominantly live album featuring twelve tracks reinterpreted with orchestral arrangements. An orchestral version of "Fade To Grey" was released ahead of the album in November 2014.
Steve Strange passed away from a heart attack on 12 February 2015 while vacationing in Egypt at age 55. His death signified the conclusion of Visage as an active ensemble; nonetheless, the band completed the album they had been developing with him. On 2 September 2015, The Steve Strange Collective was established by his friends and family to manage the release of Visage's final record, Demons to Diamonds, which was launched on 6 November 2015.
Previous Members
- Steve Strange – lead vocalist (1978–1985, 2002–2015; until his passing)
- Rusty Egan – drums and percussion (1978–1985)
- Midge Ure – guitar and synthesizers (1978–1982)
- Billy Currie – keyboards, synthesizer, and violin (1978–1984)
- Dave Formula – keyboards and synthesizer (1978–1984)
- John McGeoch – guitar and saxophone (1978–1981; deceased 2004)
- Barry Adamson – bass guitar (1978–1979)
- Steve Barnacle – bass guitar (1982–1985, 2012–2015)
- Gary Barnacle – saxophone (1984–1985)
- Andy Barnett – guitar (1984–1985)
- Sandrine Gouriou – keyboards, synthesizer, vocals (2002–2010)
- Rosie Harris – keyboards, synthesizer, vocals (2002–2010)
- Ross Tregenza – keyboards, synthesizer, vocals (2004–2010)
- Steven Young – keyboards, synthesizer, vocals (2004–2010)
- Lauren Duvall – vocalist (2012–2015)
- Logan Sky – keyboards and synthesizer (2012–2015)
- Robin Simon – guitarist (2012–2015)
Albums
- Studio Releases
- Visage (1980)
- The Anvil (1982)
- Beat Boy (1984)
- Hearts and Knives (2013)
- Demons to Diamonds (2015)