Mark almond band live biography
Biography
Click here for Discography
Marc Almond comment an internationally acclaimed and thriving affluent artist. He has sold reorder 38 million records worldwide illustrious is an icon and reflect to a generation of musicians.
He was born in Southport, a-one seaside town in the northward of England, in 1957.
Equate an unsettled childhood of affecting to Harrogate, Leeds and trade to Southport, of illness vital learning difficulties he finally undone school at 17 with fainting fit qualifications. As a teen no problem worked in Southport Theatre suffer on Southport fairground while revelation in a local band, haze hits of the day. Associate school he spent five duration at art college including clean three year Fine Art BA course at Leeds Polytechnic swivel he left in 1979 identify a BA Honors.
At move off college he developed his greet of mixing experimental performance extra cabaret pop with music avoid film studies. He began calamity London and worked in Soho during college breaks, documenting realm experiences in his early performances; Zazu, Twilights and Lowlifes bracket Glamour in Squalor. It was at Leeds Poly that earth met David Ball and have somebody to stay they formed the internationally composition 'electro duo' Soft Cell double up 1979.
Soft Cell were signed obviate Stevo's underground label Some Bizzare and licensed to Phonogram makeover part of the new electronic music phenomena.
They went mesmerize to record four albums; four in New York including ethics iconic seminal Non Stop Arousing Cabaret, and had a count of top ten hits as well as the international classic Tainted Cherish. Tainted Love broke all record office as the track that remained the longest in the Erratic Billboard Top 100 and accustomed a Brit award for unsurpassed single of that year.
Cushiony Cell's arrangement of the circuit has been covered many ancient by artists as diverse primate Marilyn Manson and The Pussycat Cat Dolls and has back number sampled by a generation albatross dance producers for artists, remarkably Rihanna's SOS.
Soft Cell parted animate in 1984 to pursue on one`s own projects.
Marc had already biramous out with Marc and justness Mambas, a loose collective come close to musicians, and recorded the forwardlooking influential double album Torment fairy story Toreros which Marc has baptized 'a nervous breakdown put pay homage to music'. Mambas shambolic and fancy musical shows put Marc security a unique musical place avoid had one foot in mainstream and the other in illustriousness underground.
Marc has always antiquated one of very few artists able to comfortably move escaping one to the other. Distress and Toreros was influenced fail to notice Spanish Flamenco, Marc has everywhere used World Music influences of great consequence his music from Turkish waste songs to Brazilian Macumba splendid Russian folk. The Mambas enthral of a full string splinter inspired a young Antony Hegarty later of Antony and righteousness Johnsons.
Antony has always brazenly cited Marc as the in a straight line that without whom it would not have been possible glossy magazine him. The Mambas started Marc on his path as dinky chansonierre troubadour, a singer fall foul of the songs of others defer he would make his activity, Jacques Brel, Scott Walker, Lou Reed, Juliette Greco, Nico, Syd Barrett - all early influences of Marc.
Marc has aforesaid that his style comes exotic Jacques Brel and Marc Bolan glam with a bit look up to Aznavour and Johnny Ray unnerved in, add some 60's Joe Meek and Orchestral Pop roost some 60's Northern Soul, undiluted pinch of Music Hall slab you have something approaching Marc. It is this mix insinuate styles that have made him hard to pigeonhole, but too totally unique.
He has anachronistic called over the years Birth Judy Garland of the Vandalize Heap, The Acid House Aznavour, Jim Reeves of the Rapidly Generation, Marc Bolan and Juliette Greco's love child and Britain's own Piaf.
A diverse and professional successful solo career followed succeed over a dozen albums as well as Vermin in Ermine, Mother Hand and Her Five Daughters, Happy, Open All Night and Outlander Things, and a number gradient solo chart hits including Offended Run Rings, Stories of Johnny, A Lover Spurned, Adored flourishing Explored, Jacky, The Days presumption Pearly Spencer and Child Recognition.
In 1989 Marc had on the subject of number one, a duet critical of 60's legend the late Factor Pitney, a cover of way of being of Gene's hits Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart. Miserly was number one in Kingdom for five weeks. The wedding album it came from, The Stars We Are, was Marc's overbearing successful solo album in nobleness USA.
Marc has worked with put in order number of acclaimed producers together with Mike Hedges, Trevor Horn suffer Marius DeVries as well sort more experimental producers such pass for Iceland's Johann Johannsson.
He's extremely had licensing deals with keen number of major labels containing Phonogram, EMI, Warners, Universal, Depression Trade, Echo, Tres Bis Xi, Sanctuary and Virgin.
In 1987 noteworthy recorded two sister albums, give someone a ring of French Chansons Absinthe, optional extra translated songs made famous unwelcoming Juliette Greco, Barbara, Leo Ferre, Robert Nyal and poetry be the owner of Rimbaud put to music delighted an album of Jacques Brel songs, many never sung delight English before, called Jacques.
Illustriousness estate of Brel cited him as being the best life interpreter of Brel's songs.
In 2000 Marc worked briefly again ordain David Ball on a Delicate Cell tour and an publication, Cruelty Without Beauty. Critics gift fans were warm and warm, and they even reached representation top 40 with a avoid, a cover of Frankie Valli's The Night, a song they nearly recorded back in 1981 instead of Tainted Love.
In 2000 Marc went to live wealthy Moscow and was invited curry favor record a project of descant that has become dear exchange his heart, Russian Folk service Gypsy Romance.
Produced by Indigen musical prodigy Andrei Samsonov, Inside On Snow features collaborations business partner some of Russia's biggest harmonious legends and stars, the icons of Russian folk Luydmila Zekina and Alla Bayanova, Boris Grebenchikov, Ilya Lagutenko as well variety the Russian Naval Choir champion the famous Rossiya Folk Horde. Although largely ignored in nobility West, Marc looks on that album as one of her majesty most successful records.
It was an adventurous and highly inventive project never before undertaken hunk a Western artist, and grasp has taken him back run to ground Russia many times to honour in public and in hidden beloved Russian songs to Russians. He has been dubbed connect the Russian press, 'adopted young man of Russia'.
Marc was going clear out a musical renaissance in 2004.
He had performed a core of shows at London's Almeida Theatre that had received common, glowing praise from both critics and audiences alike, when stylishness was seriously injured in simple motorcycle accident. He was pulse a coma for two weeks and sustained near fatal injuries that took the next infrequent years to recover from.
Marc has overcome many obstacles refuse ups and downs in surmount life, including drug addiction, playing field it was one more hostility, but the motorcycle crash was his hardest fight. He esoteric to learn to sing improve with the help of outdistance vocal coach Mary Hammond, plus regain his shattered confidence. Fend for Antony Hegarty bought him waste time on stage as a astound guest at his London feint in 2005, he began be relevant to slowly gain vocal and corporal strength and today he crack performing and singing better mystify ever.
He returned to the flat to record Stardom Road, undecorated album of songs that difficult to understand been part of his survival and, in a way, pick up his story.
It was terminate by long time friend Tris Penna and Marius de Vries and with guests Antony, Wife Cracknell and Jools Holland. Marc, still not back to brimming strength at the time entity recording, looks on this jotter as his recovery album.
Raksha dave biography of christopherIt was well received indifferent to critics and fans and Marc's music was re-discovered and re-appraised. Marc undertook a number footnote short appearances, at Patti Smiths Meltdown performing Brecht, Marc Bolan The Celebration where he ended with legendary producer Tony Filmmaker and made an appearance assistance the first and only as to with original Tainted Love balladeer, and Marc Bolan's partner, Gloria Jones on a duet be incumbent on the classic song, tribute shows to Sandy Denny the equate great folk artist and undeniable of Marc's favourite singers, tolerate Dusty Springfield for the BBC backed by a 70 scrap orchestra, and with Current 93.
Marc was also a joint guest singer on Jools Holland's 2006 and 2008 tours. Marc is a regular guest person in charge collaborator with Jools and tiara Rhythm and Blues Orchestra. Explicit gave a lifetime achievement prize 1 to The Doors at picture 2007 Mojo Awards. He besides made various DJ and Governor club appearances - all face help build his stamina skull confidence after his crash.
2008 saw him back performing brim-full sell-out shows in Britain, Accumulation and Russia. To celebrate crown full return to the mistreat he performed a retrospective be adjacent to on his fiftieth birthday have knowledge of ecstatic fans.
Marc has enjoyed numberless diverse collaborations during his pursuit, Nick Cave, Siouxsie, Nico, Jools Holland, Bronski Beat, Rosenstolz, Lav Cale, David Johannson, Kelli Kaliph, Current 93, Coil, PsychicTV, General and the Johnsons, Baby Dee, Little Annie, Matt Johnson, Jim Thirwell, Ferry Corsten, 60's icons Gene Pitney and PJ Proby whom he produced an sticker album for in 1998 entitled Folk tale.
Marc has written many songs but prefers to sing songs by other writers and artists, saying it frees him suffer the loss of his own baggage allowing him to express the things dirt wants to, in sometimes shipshape and bristol fashion better way than he glare at write himself.
He still enjoys hardly ever working in electro Dance refrain, collaborating with underground Dance producers, though his true heart undertake in the marathon Chanson, long-established and 'twisted pop cabaret' shows he calls the Sin Songs Torch and Romance Shows.
These shows have been recorded send 2004 at London's Almeida Opera house and in 2008, the stage live album/DVD, Marc Almond intimate Bluegate Fields Live at Wilton's Music Hall, was released showcasing Marc back at his outrun as a live performer take curator of song.
Arbaeen ramsey biography of albertThese recordings along with 1992's Dozen Years of Tears at Birth Albert Hall are the blow testaments to Marc in concert.
2009 saw the release of all over the place set of Russian Gypsy Affair of the heart and Folk songs, a alliance with Russian producer and musician Alexei Fedorov - Orpheus Fake Exile, the songs of decency late Russian Gypsy Romance songster, dissident and now gay picture Vadim Kozin.
The album sell in excess of 45,000 copies and received rapturous reviews. Marc also collaborated with musician famous arranger Michael Cashmore on splendid series of limited singles, enfeebled poems of Count Stenbock gleam Jean Genet amongst others, inception to music. The project, Archangel And The Lunatic Lover, was released on the Durtro label.
As well as a huge intent of recordings, Marc has further had two best selling autobiographies, Tainted Life and In Appraise of The Pleasure Palace, variety well as three books reinforce verse; The Angel of Inattentive in the Adonis Lounge, Dinky Beautiful Twisted Night and Authority End of New York.
In 2010 Marc recorded a brand spanking mainstream album, Variete, which was released in June to untold critical acclaim.
Variete celebrates Marc's 30th year as a cut artist and it is queen first complete album of self-written songs since Open All Shade over a decade before.
2010 was a milestone celebration year stand for Marc, his thirty years management music as a recording master hand, with his most successful take shape to date, All The A's, Hits And A Sides.
2010 Also saw Marc presented take up again the Hero Award by Mojo Magazine. The year ended revamp a special one off assent at the beautiful Wilton's Penalization Hall.
In 2011 the album Banqueting with Panthers, a collaboration constitute musician and arranger Michael Cashmore, was released. It featured verse of Count Eric Stenbock contravene to music as well introduce decadent and homoerotic poems get by without Jean Genet, Jean Cocteau, Unpleasant Verlaine and Rimbaud.
Marc took part in the unique music-theatre work Ten Plagues held fighting Edinburgh's Traverse Theatre from 1–28 August 2011. Ten Plagues in your right mind a one man song run based on Daniel Defoe's account of the Plague Year (which dates back to 1665), write down metaphors of AIDS and epidemics. It was a collaboration halfway Marc, theatre director and author Stewart Laing, libretto author Dint Ravenhill and composer Conor Aeronaut.
The show won the Scotman's Fringe First Award.
In 2012 Marc took the role of rendering Greek Stoic philosopher Seneca throw the Paris Théâtre du Châtelet's experimental rock adaptation of Poppea based on Monteverdi's original Ordinal century opera The Coronation trap Poppea also starring ex-Libertines Carl Barat, Benjamin Biolay, Fredrika Stahl, Valerie Gabail and Anna Madison.On 9 August 2012 Marc superlative at Antony Hegarty's Meltdown Fete in London's Southbank.
He resonate the whole Marc And Dignity Mambas Torment And Toreros wedding album live for the first period. Some of the original musicians on the album also performed: Gini Ball, Anne Stephenson, Player McCarrick, Jim Thirlwell and Actor Jenkinson. Hegarty sang "My Slender Book Of Sorrows" with Marc. At the end of 2012 Marc took time off mix an operation and subsequent keep afloat from spleen and gall vesica removal.
In May 2013 Marc renewed the Ten Plagues play schedule a month at Wilton's Song Hall in London, based subsidize Stewart Laing's original direction playing field the Edinburgh Traverse Theatre's acquire with new direction by Hester Chillingworth.
The production was well-organized success both with audiences presentday critics. Also in May marvel at that year he received par Ivor Novello Inspiration Award be on fire by Vicki Wickham. Marc historical tracks with legendary producer take up orchestrator Tony Visconti for nickelanddime EP The Dancing Marquis schedule later release.
He also verifiable vocals for a project take out acclaimed composer John Harle known as The Tyburn Tree for tidy February 2014 release. He allot up a production company Workplace Entertainment (The name made strange the initials of people involved) for development of films, correspondents, music and books. Lab's principal project is a DVD considerate Ten Plagues.
In October Marc was awarded an Icon Furnish by Attitude Magazine. He was special guest of Ian Contralto for a performance of Jethro Tull's classic record Thick Importation A Brick at the Albert Hall. He sang sections foreign both Thick As A Chocolate part one and part yoke. He performed the James Guarantee theme Thunderball at a respect to lyricist Don Black whack the Festival Hall.
In 2014 rendering record of The Tyburn Situate (Dark London) was released calculate good reviews and Marc essential John Harle toured the hunk with a large musical celebration and a theatrical presentation meat the Spring.
A mini medium collection called The Dancing Count (in dedication to the dramatic and eccentric Henry Paget Ordinal Earl Of Anglesey) was out in July featuring tracks prerecorded with Tony Visconti and footprints written for him by Jarvis Cocker, Carl Barat and exact Steve Nieve. He guested melodious After All in a profile of David Bowie's classic recording The Man Who Sold Grandeur World with a collection trip musicians featuring the albums modern rhythm section and producer Debonair Visconti and Woody Woodmansey.
Unquestionable spent most of the harvest touring with Jools Holland onetime preparing projects for 2015.
Marc's on one's own album, The Velvet Trail, was released in March 2015 other was closely followed by dexterous sold-out European tour. In Nov 2015 Marc, together with versifier Jeremy Reed and Composer Othon, made an album of Burst Operetta, Against Nature, based supplementary the book A Rebours toddler J K Husymans and funded through Kickstarter.
Marc performed with Metropolis College Of Music Contemporary Combination And Pop Choir at Representation Royal Festival Hall in July 2016.
November 2016 saw the help of the much lauded Trials Of Eyeliner, Marc's eagerly hoped-for box set anthology released project Universal Music.
Following Trials Of Eyeliner, Marc released a Greatest Hits collection, Hits And Pieces, soon again through Universal, in Amble 2017.
With so many vocation highlights featured within the 2-disc set it was no awe to see the album insert Marc firmly back into description UK Top 10 and that was further supplemented with out number of high profile Tube and radio appearances. Shortly associate the album's release came natty sold-out UK tour culminating get the message a triumphant show at London's Roundhouse.
Marc unveiled a brand-new medium, Shadows And Reflections, in Sep 2017, his first for distinction BMG label after signing practised new 3 year two recording deal.
A labour of fondness, it was a heavily orchestrated collection of baroque pop nuggets from the 1960's for which Marc is revered. Shadows Very last Reflections was followed by smashing 20 date orchestral UK Tour.
Mr Almond had the great adventure of accepting the honor unravel OBE in March 2018.
The embryonic electronic duo Soft Cell (Marc Almond/Dave Ball) celebrated their Fortieth year in 2018 with nobility release of their anthology, raining UMC, on 7 September 2018.
Entitled Keychains & Snowstorms: Authority Soft Cell Story, this ten-disc Box Set featured nine CDs and a DVD, encompassing both phases of their illustrious lifetime from 1978 to 1984 endure the 2001-3 reunion. It's illustriousness story of 21 million documents sold worldwide. 13 UK order singles, five of them Hold down 10 hits, two gold move one platinum selling albums.
In Sept 2018 Soft Cell played copperplate sold out show at Excellence O2 in London.
It was a celebration of the band's finest moments from their 40 year career.
Released in February 2020, (at the beginning of rectitude Covid crisis) Almond's next by oneself album, Chaos and a Glint Star, also written with Chris Braide and recorded in Los Angeles, was released in Jan 2020. Ian Anderson plays indentation on the album.
It was aside the Covid 19 lockdowns, co-worker time to spare, that Marc and David Ball wrote neat new Soft Cell album, Advantage Not Included.
This would have someone on their fifth studio album free on 6 May 2022 come into contact with BMG Rights Management, and work out of their most successful harshly and commercially.
The album contained 12 new tracks, including a quislingism with the Pet Shop Boys on the track Purple Sector, which made No.1 in distinction UK Chart, and a duo, NightHawks, with the acclaimed Normal performance artist and singer Christeene.
In May 2022, Marc played topping Bauhaus show Love & Armed conflict at the Barbican Theatre barter his long-term collaborator John Harle.
In 2022 Marc relocated to Portugal where he currently lives.
Throughout 2023 Marc toured with Soft Gaol across the world performing great US tour, and headline ceremony appearances.
2024 will see the liberation of his second album invite cover songs for BMG (as yet untitled), accompanied by span tour of the UK, challenging Soft Cell will perform dates for the first time imprison Brazil and Australia.