There weren’t too many “cool” things about the 1980’s and to most the New Romantic movement would be one of the more unpopular derivatives, a view that I definitely don’t subscribe to. The New Romantic movement was conceived in London’s nightclubs with its pioneer Steve Strange leading the charge accompanied by his experimental band Visage. From Steve’s somewhat outlandish appearance through to Visage’s new wave sound it spawned a genre in music that paved wave for acts such as Duran Duran, Ultravox and Spandau Ballet.One of the first albums I ever purchased was Visages self titled LP, purchased with a gift voucher I had won in some school raffle. So it was off to Westfield Hurstville, and straight to the ground floor record shop to claim my prize. With my new Visage album wrapped in a brown paper bag, I sat on the 112 bus on route back home, eagerly awaiting for that moment to finally play my recent purchase. Now, Visage was not exactly acceptable music to be listening to in High School, not that I really ever cared what people thought about music I listen to, but I thought it wiser to listen to it in within the confides of my private surrounds.
With songs like the Fade To Grey ( probably the New Romantic anthem ) , Mind of a Toy and the instrumental piece The Dancer, it was an incredible album, one that would be played many times over, in fact it even makes an appearance on the turntable today.
Fade To Grey Video
I still remember driving to my Uncle’s farm in the Yarramalong Valley during my school holidays, with Visage’s album (which was by now transferred to tape) playing continuously in the tape player, ahhh …memories to cherish.Steve Strange, as mentioned, pioneered a movement that was more than just about music, it was also a fashion style( often androgynous in nature ) and part of the general music scene around London’s night clubs but it was also relatively short lived, although it was revived several times during the subsequent decades in various forms, even recently by bands such as the Scissor Sisters
Steve Strange, thanks for the memories and the music, ones which will certainly never fade to anything.
David
