1980s English New Wave band,
that charted ten UK and five US Top 40 singles between 1981 and 1990. Formed in
1977 as Vice Versa in Sheffield by Stephen Singleton, Mark White and David
Sydenham, they formed their own label, Neutron Records, releasing the EP
Music 4. They had similarities to The Human League, who they supported in
1978. Martin Fry, a music journalist who wrote the fanzine Modern Drugs,
interviewed the band, and shortly afterwards, they asked him to join as
synthesizer player. After Martin accepted, the group changed its name to
ABC.
In 1981, the group released their first single "Tears Are Not Enough", made the UK Top 20. Soon afterwards, David Robinson left the band and was replaced by drummer David Palmer. In 1982, the band released their debut album The Lexicon of Love, which reached number one in the UK Albums Chart. Produced by Trevor Horn, it featured three Top 10 hits including "Poison Arrow", "The Look of Love (Part One)" and "All of My Heart". Between 1982 and 1989, ABC released four albums beginning with 1983's Beauty Stab\, How to be a Zillionaire! (1985), Alphabet City (1987) and Up (1989).
In 1990, the band released a greatest hits compilation album, Absolutely. This covered all of ABC's albums up until 1990, and featured all of their singles. The compilation made the UK Top 10. A video package featuring promos was also released. One new song, "The Look of Love '90", was released to promote the package. After releasing their greatest hits, the group switched to EMI when they recorded their sixth studio album Abracadabra (released in 1991). The albums first single "Love Conquers All", barely placed in the UK chart, though Italian production team Black Box provided remixes of "Say It" which appeared in the US dance chart.
In 1997, Martin Fry resurrected the group for the album Skyscraping, a homage to several of his musical heroes including David Bowie, Roxy Music and The Sex Pistols. Their greatest hits album "Look of Love - The Very Best of ABC" was released in 2001. In 2004, the VH1 show Bands Reunited attempted to get the line-up of Martin Fry, David Palmer, Stephen Singleton and Mark White perform together for a reunion concert. Martin Fry and David Palmer appeared and played together for the first time in over twenty years but Singleton and White opted not to participate.
In 1981, the group released their first single "Tears Are Not Enough", made the UK Top 20. Soon afterwards, David Robinson left the band and was replaced by drummer David Palmer. In 1982, the band released their debut album The Lexicon of Love, which reached number one in the UK Albums Chart. Produced by Trevor Horn, it featured three Top 10 hits including "Poison Arrow", "The Look of Love (Part One)" and "All of My Heart". Between 1982 and 1989, ABC released four albums beginning with 1983's Beauty Stab\, How to be a Zillionaire! (1985), Alphabet City (1987) and Up (1989).
In 1990, the band released a greatest hits compilation album, Absolutely. This covered all of ABC's albums up until 1990, and featured all of their singles. The compilation made the UK Top 10. A video package featuring promos was also released. One new song, "The Look of Love '90", was released to promote the package. After releasing their greatest hits, the group switched to EMI when they recorded their sixth studio album Abracadabra (released in 1991). The albums first single "Love Conquers All", barely placed in the UK chart, though Italian production team Black Box provided remixes of "Say It" which appeared in the US dance chart.
In 1997, Martin Fry resurrected the group for the album Skyscraping, a homage to several of his musical heroes including David Bowie, Roxy Music and The Sex Pistols. Their greatest hits album "Look of Love - The Very Best of ABC" was released in 2001. In 2004, the VH1 show Bands Reunited attempted to get the line-up of Martin Fry, David Palmer, Stephen Singleton and Mark White perform together for a reunion concert. Martin Fry and David Palmer appeared and played together for the first time in over twenty years but Singleton and White opted not to participate.
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