Gigs 2017

Two weeks from now I'll be celebrating my 18th birthday. It really is exciting, old enough to drink, vote, heading into higher education this September and have the right to call myself an adult - a whole boat load of things to be looking forward to. However, I wasn't just eager for this year to roll around because of this special birthday and university on the cards, I'm going to be going to a couple of gigs this year. I feel like my passion for the 1980s will be ignited further.

The first one I'll be going to see is Adam Ant, on his Anthems: The Singles Tour, in just 13 days at the First Direct Arena in Leeds. I've been a big fan of his for quite a while now and I always dreamed of having the opportunity to see him live, because I've heard a lot of good things about his recent Kings of the Wild Frontier anniversary tour and his 2012/3 Blueblack Hussar tour; he's still got the moves at the tender age of 62 years young. Crazy to think that he's that old, I always thought he was a similar age to that of my folks (who are in their mid 50s), but there you go! In September last year he announced that he would be doing another UK tour in 2017, and when he released the dates, I knew I would be working on my dad to let me go and see him in Leeds. The tickets were reasonably priced, so he said he was going to book for me and my mum (who admired him in the 1980s) to go see him on 27/5. Boy, I wasn't half a happy camper that day! I'll definitely be sharing my experiences and a few photos (if I can) after the show! So far I've heard some glowing reviews so I know for sure that I'm in for a treat.

In June, I'll be seeing Jeff Lynne's ELO at Sheffield Arena. They have been really good live so far on their Alone in the Universe tour. Originally, we were going to travel to London to see them at Wembley Stadium, but they must have gotten a couple complaints, they added extra dates in Sheffield, Glasgow, and I think there's some more. They can't forger Birmingham, that's where they hail from! Again, should be another good show!

Lastly, in November, I'll be seeing popular 1980s group Big Country at Sheffield O2 Academy on The Seer 30th Anniversary Tour. The original frontman passed away in 2001, and there's only two of the original members left, but I saw them on the same tour last September at the Holmfirth Picturedrome, and it was a good show! I've definitely got the same expectations again this time.

So with all that being said, these will certainly be good highlights of the year, and I'll definitely share my experiences and photos with you (if I take any).

See you in the next post


- S

Ultravox: The Lowdown

As some of you may know now, I run a fan hub on Twitter that is dedicated to both Ultravox and Spandau Ballet named UltraSpandauVox. Before you say anything, it's a really weird combination and the name is totally unoriginal, but when it was just a Spandau Ballet fan page, lots of my followers would talk about Midge Ure and his works so I thought "Hmm, I wonder what it would be like if I posted about both bands". So far, it's been so good. People seem to be well-adjusted at the moment, always subject to change!

So who or what is Ultravox? Here's what Wikipedia had to say:

"Ultravox (formerly known as Ultravox!) are a British new wave band, formed in London in 1974 as Tiger Lily. Between 1980–86, they scored seven Top Ten albums and seventeen Top 40 singles in the UK, the most successful of which was their 1981 hit "Vienna".The band has been led by two different frontmen who never played together in the band at the same time. From 1974 until 1979, singer John Foxx was frontman and the main driving force behind Ultravox. Foxx left the band to embark on a solo career and, following his departure, Midge Ure took over as lead singer, guitarist and frontman in 1980 after he and keyboardist Billy Currie worked in the studio project Visage. Ure revitalised the band and steered it to commercial success lasting until the mid-1980s. Ure left the band in 1987 after establishing his own solo career and the group disbanded for a while. A new line-up, led by Currie, was formed in 1992, but achieved limited success.The band's best-known line-up of Currie, Ure, bassist Chris Cross and drummer Warren Cann reformed in 2008 and performed a series of reunion shows in 2009 and 2010 before releasing a new studio album, Brill!ant, in May 2012. In November 2013, Ultravox performed as special guests on a four date UK arena tour with Simple Minds".

From left to right: Billy Currie, Midge Ure, Chris Cross, Warren Cann (1985)

Ultravox was one of the first synthpop bands that I listened to growing up, again through the power of VH1 Classic on television, but this time I was 16, and the video was 'Vienna'. So I'm kind of a newbie to the group. No prizes for guessing that. I will always be eternally grateful for channels like that for their existence. Like I said in my last post about George Michael and Wham! God knows what I would be doing if I had never discovered or had been introduced to these bands. Not only did I find Midge Ure pretty handsome when I watched it, but I found the song was very catchy. It wasn't long before I was raiding my mum's vinyl collection to see what treasures she had in store. She had almost the entire 80s U-Vox anthology on LP. Thank god I had been given a record player that Christmas! I find U-Vox very easy to listen to and would definitely recommend it. I haven't heard a bad song yet by them.

So, as an Ultravox fan page owner, I get frequently asked a lot of questions about the group. Here are just a few of them.

1. Who is your favourite member/which member in your opinion is the fittest?
Hmm...that's a hard one. My favourite member would have to be Billy Currie as I think he is a very talented musician, being able to play violin and synthesisers very well to create an eerie effect. As for the fittest, I would have to go with the most obvious answer and select Midge Ure...

2. What inspired you to open your fan page?
In short, I really wanted to share my passion about the group with the band and others I have listened to during my teenage years. I knew there was more fans around the world so my mission was simply to connect with them.

3. Who's your favourite frontman?
That's easy. Midge Ure. I am only just getting into the John Foxx era and my overall impression so far is good, so watch this space...it may change!

4. What's your favourite music video?
Love's Great Adventure. Love how they kept that little blooper of Midge stopping to catch his breath then carrying on. It's very amusing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPwmoLl60nc

5. What is your favourite album?
Easy. Vienna. I love every song off of it!.

6. What is your favourite single?
Reap the Wild Wind. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwMLFXaeZvE

So with all that being said, Ultravox is one of many other 80's groups I adore, and there will be plenty more posts like this, I can assure you of that!

Coming up next, a couple of quotes for Tuesday motivation.

Until then, I'll see you soon.

Sigourney