Chris Cross Ultravox: Band member who co-wrote hit Vienna dies aged 71

Chris Cross, the bassist who rose to fame as a member of the brand new wave band Ultravox, has died aged 71.

The information was introduced by his bandmate Midge Ure, who paid tribute to “the glue that held the band collectively”.

“We labored collectively, we performed collectively, made music and directed movies collectively. We had been immediate buddies in addition to Ultravox comrades,” Ure wrote in a publish shared from the band’s Instagram account.

“Even after years aside we managed to choose up the place we left off just like the years in between by no means existed. You had been the glue that held the band collectively. You had been the logic within the insanity and the insanity in our lives. It was nice to know and develop with you. You might be beloved and missed previous good friend.”

Born Chris Allen, the musician reportedly died on 25 March, however the information was not shared with the general public till this week.

Ultravox (styled as Ultravox!) fashioned in London in 1974 and initially carried out below the identify Tiger Lily. They achieved quite a few High 10 albums and 17 hit singles between 1980 and 1986, together with their 1981 No 2 single “Vienna” from the album of the identical identify.

“Vienna”, which opens on moody synths earlier than blooming right into a sprawling, mournful epic, is extensively thought to be a defining track of the synth-pop scene that dominated the UK within the early Eighties, and was carried out by the band throughout the 1985 Stay Assist live performance at Wembley Stadium.

It marked one thing of a resurgence for the band after their authentic frontman John Foxx give up and so they had been dropped by their report label, Island. Nevertheless, Ure’s arrival gave Ultravox a brand new lease of life, and collectively he and Cross helped co-write what would develop into their largest observe.

“Vienna” was saved from the highest spot on the UK singles chart by Joe Dolce’s novelty hit “Shaddap You Face”, however charted once more in 1993.

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In 2012, it was named because the UK’s favorite No 2 single in a nationwide ballot by Radio b2 and the Official Charts Firm, beating hits resembling “Fairytale of New York” by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl.

“It’s most likely essentially the most apt winner, given the truth that it was saved from the chart summit in 1981 by Joe Dolce’s ‘Shaddup You Face’, which has lengthy been thought of one of many largest chart injustices of all time,” then-managing director for the OCC, Martin Talbot, mentioned on the time.

Followers paid tribute to Allen on Ure’s Instagram publish, with one writing: “As a loyal fan of Ultravox that is actually unhappy information.”

“Relaxation in peace Chris, you’re a legend,” one other mentioned.

On X/Twitter, journalist Alastair Coleman wrote: “Devastated to study of the dying of Chris Cross, bass participant from Ultravox. Relaxation in peace, man.”

“Such unhappy information concerning the passing of Chris Cross,” artist James Tansley mentioned. “He was an integral a part of each incarnations of Ultravox and an excellent musician who will likely be sadly missed.”