Biography Of Visage (Band)

"Visage" are a British musical group formed in 1978 in London. Founding members Midge Ure and Rusty Egan began working on the "Visage" project to produce music to play at clubs where Rusty Egan DJed. Rusty Egan at the time worked in the nightclub "Billy's" (in London's Soho) alongside his friend Steve Strange. Steve Strange had briefly been in the punk/new wave bands 'The Moors Murderers' and 'The Photons' while Rusty Egan was in the band 'The Rich Kids' with Midge Ure. Ure and Egan recorded the first demo of the new project "Visage" entitled "The Dancer". Steve Strange joined the band to provide the face and voice of "Visage". The lineup was completed with the addition of “Ultravox” keyboardist Billy Currie, guitarist John McGeoch, keyboardist Dave Formula and bassist Barry Adamson. 'Visage' recorded their first album in producer Martin Rushent's home studio in Berkshire, but Rushent's label went bankrupt and the band signed to 'Radar Records'. Although Visage's self-titled debut album had been completed for several months, it was not released until November 1980, when the band signed with Polydor Records.

The single "Fade to Grey" was initially composed as an instrumental track by Billy Currie and Chris Payne, but Midge Ure later wrote the lyrics for the vocal part. "Fade to Grey" was released on the same day as the band's debut album and entered the European charts between late 1980 and early 1981. It reached the Top 10 in the UK, the Top 5 in five countries, and number one in West Germany and Switzerland. In Italy, it reached sixth place on the singles chart.

After further successes with the singles "Mind of a Toy" and the title track "Visage", the band struggled to record a second album due to their commitments to other bands. Midge Ure had joined Billy Currie in the band 'Ultravox', Formula and Adamson were members of the band 'Magazine' and John McGeoch had joined 'Siouxsie and the Banshees'. In the fall of 1981, "Visage" went into the studio and recorded the album "The Anvil" without John McGeoch. The album was released in March 1982 and thanks to the successes of the singles "The Damned Don't Cry" and "Night Train", they went silver in the UK. Midge Ure left the "Visage" to concentrate on her work with the group "Ultravox. During the summer of 1982, the "Visage" were without Ure, McGeoch and Adamson. They recruited bassist Steve Barnacle and recorded the single "Pleasure Boys" managing to extend their hit streak. The "Visage" they took a two-year hiatus due to contractual difficulties with their management company. In 1984, contractual issues resolved, 'Visage' returned with their third album 'Beat Boy'. Released in October 1984, l The album was a commercial failure and led to the band's breakup. On February 12, 2015, frontman Steve Strange died of a heart attack while on vacation in Egypt.

Discography :

Album

1980 - Visage

1982 - The Anvil

1984 - Beat Boy

Singles

1979 - Tar

1980 - Fade To Grey

1981 - Moon Over Moscow

1981 - Mind Of A Toy

1981 - Visage

1982 - The Anvil

1982 - The Damned Don't Cry

1982 - Night Train

1982 - Pleasure Boys

1984 - Can You Heart Me

1984 - Love Glove

1984 - Beat Boy

1984 - Casualty

1984 - Questions