Visage

小簡介
在新浪漫運(yùn)動中，合成器流行樂（Syn-pop）是相當(dāng)重要的一個分支。Visage是這一流派的奠基者，經(jīng)過Ultravox、Soft Cell、Yazoo等樂隊的完善，在Depeche Mode 樂隊手中集大成。Visage的前身是一支朋克樂隊，改玩合成器流行樂后被老同行嘲笑為"孔雀朋克"，意為華而不實(shí)。但在20年后再看Visage的選擇，人們會覺得他們沒錯。樂隊靈魂Steve Strange的最出色之處在于使Kraftwerk的音樂除去了機(jī)械和呆板，卻突然美麗動人起來。
by Jason Ankeny
Pioneers of the New Romantic movement, the synth-pop group Visage emerged in 1978 from the London club Billys, a neo-glam nightspot which stood in stark contrast to the prevailing punk mentality of the moment. Spearheading Billys ultra-chic clientele were Steve Strange, a former member of the punk band the Moors Murderers, as well as DJ Rusty Egan, onetime drummer with the Rich Kids; seeking to record music of their own to fit in with the clubs regular playlist (a steady diet of David Bowie, Kraftwerk and Roxy Music), Strange and Egan were offered studio time by another Rich Kids alum, guitarist Midge Ure. In late 1978, this trio recorded a demo which yielded the first Visage single, an aptly-futuristic cover of Zager & Evans In the Year 2525.
Adding Ultravox keyboardist Billy Currie as well as three members of Magazine — bassist Barry Adamson, guitarist John McGeoch, and keyboardist Dave Formula — Visage signed to Radar Records to release Tar in September 1979, followed a year later by their self-titled debut LP. The album yielded a major single in Fade to Grey, an instant club classic which heralded synth-pops imminent commercial breakthrough. The follow-up, Mind of a Toy, was a Top 20 hit, but after releasing 1982s The Anvil, Visage began to disintegrate — first Ure exited to focus all of his energies on fronting Ultravox, then Currie and Formula broke ranks as well. 1984s Beat Boys was the groups final recording, although a remixed Fade to Grey was a UK Top 40 hit during the early 90s.