In 1979 two young musicians from Sheffield decide to form their own band: Vice Versa. The two, Mark
White and Stephen Singleton, set up their own record label, Neutron records, and start making weird electronic music using cheap
synthesizers. They release a four track EP entitled Music 4 which quickly sells out its thousand copies. Things really start to roll for them
when they do an interview with the editor of a local fanzine called Modern Drugs. The editor, an English Lit. student named Martin Fry, is
apparently "the first person in the world who understands what we are doing". The three get on very well and Martin joins the band. By
accident he becomes the singer and the three record a few tracks in Rotterdam before changing their name and direction.
They have a new name, ABC, add a rhythm section (drummer Dave Robinson, quickly replaced by David Palmer, and bassist Marc
Lickley) and change their style. One of the tracks recorded in Rotterdam, Stilyagi, is posthumously released as the last Vice Versa single
and the five piece ABC start rehearsing and creating their own songs. After half a year of hard work their first single is recorded: the rough
and funky Tears Are Not Enough. Helped by a buzz created around the group, it reaches the UK top twenty. The group have already signed
a massive deal with Phonogram and then decide to record an album with the young Buggles and Dollar producer Trevor Horn.
It appears to be a masterstroke as the first two singles with Horn hit the mark. Poison Arrow and The Look Of Love both hit the UK top 6
and make a big impact. Bassist Marc Lickley leaves then group and when the debut album The Lexicon Of Love is released it is an
immediate success. It enters the UK chart at number one and stays there for four weeks. A fourth single of the album, All Of My Heart gives
the group another top five hit.
ABC then embark on a world tour and create an 55-minute espionage thriller with director Julien Temple. The movie, Mantrap, is set
against the decor of the world tour. David Palmer has left the group immediately after the tour and the remaining three start working on their
second album.
They decide to switch their style and opt for a rawer sound. They skip the glamorous parts of their sound and replace it with rough guitars
and saxophone solos. Aided by a rhythm section consisting of Andy Newmark and Alan Spenner they record an album that sounds like a
live album in the studio. There is social and political awareness in the lyrics and the record heavily contrasts to The Lexicon Of Love. It is a
fine record though but the critics and public fail to see it as such. Still it sells well (a UK number 12) but not as much as Lexicon.
After the album, Stephen Singleton leaves the band. Fry and White start looking for replacements and audition 700 musicians. They don't
find similar minds and change their minds. They add the extravagant Eden and David Yarritu to the band. They don't play on the records but
only make a ABC look like a group. Aided by some guest musicians the band records How To Be A Zillionaire, an electro-dance record
which gives them a lot of success in the US. Be Near Me gives them their first US top 10 hit and How To Be A Millionaire and Vanity Kills
become massive dance floor favourites as well.
Then the group have to put all activity on hold. Martin Fry gets very ill (Hodgkins Disease, a form of cancer) and has to fight for his life. Still
not fully recovered he gets married and records the fourth album Alphabet City with Mark White as a duo. The first two singles, produced by
Bernard Edwards, bring ABC back to the top of the Eurpean charts and When Smokey Sings even gives them their biggest US hit
ever(number 5). After the release of a third single ABC try their hands at production and produce records for Lizzie Tear and Paul
Rutherford.
Having already signed to another major record company (EMI) they record their latest album on Phonogram: Up. Helped by DJs Mike
Pickering and Graeme Park, the album is very house influenced and the songs are danceable and uplifting. The record is about "Joy,
Euphoria, Deep Pain and a greater sense of humanity", as Martin helpfully explains what ABC is all about in 1989.
The pair contribute a track, the fantastic Mythical Girl, to a solo record by Arthur Baker before Phonogram starts exploiting the ABC
catalogue. First of all they bring out a remix of The Look Of Love. Mark and Martin hate the remix and urge fans not to buy the remix which
they describe as shoddy. The compilation album Absolutely is much better and gives ABC another UK top 10 album. This is an essential
record for people who want to learn their ABC.
Abracadabra is re-recorded a couple of times before its final release mid 1991 and it fails to give EMI the success they demand. Mark
White subsequently leaves the group as he feels he hasn't got anything more to say in ABC. Martin Fry goes on and starts recording new
tracks. One of the tracks, Viva Love, is scheduled for a release but then EMI decide to drop the act and Martin signs up for Deconstruction.
First of all he records tracks by himself and then teams up with Heaven 17 singer Glenn Gregory and guitarist Keith Lowndes. The three
start making music for enjoyment as the Magic Skulls and record about nine techno tracks. Then they switch their style and start recording
an ABC comeback album. Skyscraping is released early 1997 and ABC even return to the stage as they do two UK tours within four
months, as well as playing at the Phoenix festival. Three singles from the album are released: Stranger Things, Skyscraping and Rolling
Sevens.
Martin Fry also records Thunderball for an album of James Bond themes by David Arnold, entitled Shaken Not Stirred.. Then he leaves
Deconstruction but re-emerges in December 1998 with a superb band, supporting Culture Club together with the Human League at an UK
sell-out Arena tour.
To be continued!
