Midge Ure has announced that Chris Cross has passed. Looks like he actually died a week ago but the news has just now been made public. Ultravox have been weirdly underrated in post-punk histories and I'm not sure why. I remember when the BBC did the Synth Brittania series, Ultravox were barely mentioned and when they were, it was briefly and dismissively, with "Vienna" being placed chronologically in 1983. It was frankly pretty insulting. https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,67104,67104#msg-67104 Mon, 13 Jul 2026 02:09:17 -0500 Phorum 5.2.23 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,67104,67141#msg-67141 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,67104,67141#msg-67141
"Ultravox have been weirdly underrated in post-punk histories and I'm not sure why. I remember when the BBC did the Synth Brittania series, Ultravox were barely mentioned and when they were, it was briefly and dismissively, with "Vienna" being placed chronologically in 1983. It was frankly pretty insulting."

I figure that's down to the commercial success of the Midge Ure era that followed on the critically unimpeachable Foxx era. I still love at least the first four from the Ure era, but I'll be the first to admit there's an artistic gulf there that's substantial. No matter how hot the playing and arranging was.]]> Post-Punk Monk Trouser Press Sat, 06 Apr 2024 15:39:08 -0500 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,67104,67140#msg-67140 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,67104,67140#msg-67140 Post-Punk Monk Trouser Press Sat, 06 Apr 2024 15:36:27 -0500 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,67104,67115#msg-67115 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,67104,67115#msg-67115 breno Trouser Press Tue, 02 Apr 2024 18:29:18 -0500 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,67104,67114#msg-67114 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,67104,67114#msg-67114 > and surprised to find out from Wiki that he's actually
> Canadian!

Perhaps if Ultravox had stayed intact for longer, they might eventually have signed to this label.]]> Delvin Trouser Press Tue, 02 Apr 2024 18:25:51 -0500 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,67104,67112#msg-67112 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,67104,67112#msg-67112
I am happy to see that Warren Cann is still with us and surprised to find out from Wiki that he's actually Canadian!]]> rhettlawrence Trouser Press Tue, 02 Apr 2024 18:11:30 -0500 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,67104,67109#msg-67109 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,67104,67109#msg-67109 Metamatic and Rage in Eden the next time I visited Wax Trax.

Throughout Ultravox's work -- both with Foxx and with Ure -- Cross' bass work is exceptional. Agree with Rhett that the band had a remarkably strong rhythm section, especially for a band so strongly associated with synthesizers. Rest in peace, Chris, and thank you.]]> Delvin Trouser Press Tue, 02 Apr 2024 11:32:36 -0500 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,67104,67108#msg-67108 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,67104,67108#msg-67108
Especially for a bassist.

Sorry, couldn't resist. But I think you're maybe confusing Chris Cross with Warren Cann.]]> breno Trouser Press Tue, 02 Apr 2024 11:12:06 -0500 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,67104,67107#msg-67107 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,67104,67107#msg-67107 rhettlawrence Trouser Press Tue, 02 Apr 2024 10:42:04 -0500 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,67104,67106#msg-67106 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,67104,67106#msg-67106 zoo Trouser Press Tue, 02 Apr 2024 10:39:38 -0500 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,67104,67105#msg-67105 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,67104,67105#msg-67105 The Collection, and it's got some strong material in addition to "Vienna." I am not even sure which era of the band that represented; I am aware that they had a lot of personnel transitions.]]> zwirnm Trouser Press Tue, 02 Apr 2024 08:20:41 -0500 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,67104,67104#msg-67104 https://trouserpress.com/forum/read.php?1,67104,67104#msg-67104
Ultravox have been weirdly underrated in post-punk histories and I'm not sure why. I remember when the BBC did the Synth Brittania series, Ultravox were barely mentioned and when they were, it was briefly and dismissively, with "Vienna" being placed chronologically in 1983. It was frankly pretty insulting.]]> breno Trouser Press Tue, 02 Apr 2024 06:10:43 -0500