MARC ALMOND

'Marc Almond' (born 'Peter Mark Sinclair Almond' on 9 July, 1957 in Southport, Merseyside, England) is a popular English singer, songwriter and recording artist, who originally found fame as half of the seminal synthpop/New Wave duo Soft Cell.

Contents

Life and works

Miscellaneous facts

Discography

Albums

With Soft Cell

With Marc & the Mambas

With Raoul and the Ruined

With The Willing Sinners

Solo

Singles

Other contributions

Books

DVDs

External links

Life and works

Marc Almond has had a long and varied career spanning almost 30 years. During this time, after a career with Soft Cell and Marc and the Mambas, he has collaborated with an extremely wide range of artists including Antony and The Johnsons, Jools Holland, Siouxsie Sioux, Nick Cave, P.J. Proby, Nico, Kelli Ali of the Sneaker Pimps, Neal X (on the albums ''Fantastic Star'' and ''Open All Night''), Marie France, Agnes Bernelle, Lydia Lunch, Gene Pitney on the #1 UK single "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart", Foetus (a.k.a. J. G. Thirlwell), Jimmy Somerville of The Communards and Bronski Beat, Psychic TV, Coil, Sally Timms of the Mekons, King Roc, John Cale and David Johansen of The New York Dolls and German band Rosenstolz.
Almond initially shot to fame in the early 1980s as one half of synth duo Soft Cell, whose combination of drama and peep show sleaze set to an electronic beat gave them hits such as "Tainted Love" (UK #1), "Bedsitter" (UK #3), "Torch" (UK #2), "Say Hello Wave Goodbye" (UK #3), "Soul Inside" (UK # 16), "What?" (UK #3) and the club hit "Memorabilia". They were first spotted by David Oddie, boss of Wakefield based Ambergris Records in a Bradford club, who passed his enthusiasm onto Dead Good Records in Lincoln, famous for their Hicks From The Sticks compilation, who in turn approached Polygram , the newly formed amalgum of Polydor and Phonogram. Although Soft Cell disbanded in 1984 just before the release of their third album, ''This Last Night In Sodom'', the duo reunited in 2001 for live shows and in 2002 released a new album entitled ''Cruelty Without Beauty'', from which the single "The Night" (UK #39) was taken.
His biggest solo UK hits have been cover versions: the aforementioned 1989 #1 duet with Gene Pitney and another near chart-topper in 1991 with David McWilliams' "The Days of Pearly Spencer", which peaked at #4 in the UK. In 1985, he duetted with Jimmy Somerville and Bronski Beat on a cover of Donna Summer's "I Feel Love (Medley)" and it hit #3. The highest UK positions his self-penned singles have reached so far have been "Stories of Johnny" (#23 in 1985), "Tears Run Rings" (#28 in 1988) and "Adored and Explored" (#25 in 1995).
Almond's work runs the gamut from electronica and dance music to French chanson, traditional piano ballads, and Russian romance songs, as exhibited on his 2003 album ''Heart on Snow''. Influences include David Bowie, a childhood hero of his, as well as early 1960s Northern Soul and disco. Other major influences have been Scott Walker from the Walker Brothers and Jacques Brel, 12 of whose songs Almond reworked in English for his 1989 album ''Jacques''. Almond's own lyrics are a creative expression of what he sees and are not to be confused with his own life. He also operates a record label, Blue Star Music, on which he has released many of his solo and collaborative records in the UK. In 1999, he received attention and accolades for his autobiography, entitled ''Tainted Life,'' which confronts details of his early life, creative ventures, his sexuality, and drug addiction, for which he was hospitalized in 1994. Almond wrote the autobiography without a ghost writer, and his publishers subsequently commissioned him to write a travel book, ''In Search of the Pleasure Palace: Disreputable Travels'', whose publication in 2004 was accompanied by a book-signing tour.
On 17 October, 2004, Almond was critically injured in a motorbike accident in London, in which he was a pillion passenger. Although the initial prognosis was considered poor, he was discharged from Royal London Hospital on around 6 November 2004 and was said to be making a "remarkable" recovery. Two months later he was giving press and TV interviews saying he could not wait to get back on stage. His recovery was, however, to take longer than he thought, involving several operations and counseling for post traumatic stress disorder.
In 2005, he continued his recovery, did some DJ gigs all over Europe and guested at the Meltdown Festival in London in June 2005, hosted by Patti Smith. Almond contributed two songs to this night of Brecht music, "Bilbao Song" and "What Keeps a Man Alive". In October, November and December 2005, Almond went on tour with Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, singing two songs during the shows, "Say Hello Wave Goodbye" and "Tainted Love", which had a new arrangement done by Holland. 2006 saw Almond concentrate on recording, making few public appearances, though he did headline the Manchester Gay Pride Festival in August of that year.
Almond's new album of cover songs, ''Stardom Road'', was released on 4 June 2007, and features artists such as St Etienne's Sarah Cracknell and Antony from Antony and the Johnsons. Two of the cover versions included in this new album are Dusty Springfield's "I Close My Eyes and Count to Ten", which he has recorded with Sarah Cracknell, and Gene Pitney's over the top "Backstage (I'm Lonely)", as a tribute to the late crooner, featuring a guest appearance by Jools Holland. The album also includes one new self-penned song, "Redeem Me (Beauty Will Redeem the World)", his first composition since the near-fatal motorbike accident.
Marc also appears on the 2006 album ''Black Ships Ate the Sky'' by experimental band Current 93. He is also working on a DVD compilation of all his promotional video clips as well as his last ever self-penned album, tentatively titled ''Dining with Panthers'', which is due to be completed in 2008.
Almond made his return to the London stage for a three-night run at the historic Wilton's Music Hall from May 4-6 2007, his first full-length UK shows since his accident. He had been warming up with shows in Barcelona, Athens and Moscow. He then recorded a BBC Radio special which was broadcast on Radio 2 on 1st June, and played a mini-tour in June and July, culminating in a 50th birthday concert before 2,000 fans and friends at Shepherd's Bush Empire in London on July 9th. On July 29th, Marc made his first ever live appearance in his home town of Southport as a guest of Jools Holland's Rhythm and Blues Orchestra. He performed "Say Hello Wave Goodbye" and "Tainted Love".
Almond currently lives in the Bermondsey area of south east London. In his autobiography he describes previously living in Earl's Court, in a converted church in Fulham and most memorably in Soho's Berwick Street, where he lived in a flat overlooking the Raymond Revuebar.

Miscellaneous facts

★ Almond's remix of Shocking Blue's "Venus" appears on Bananarama's 2005 album ''Drama''.

★ Marc was a one-time member of the Church of Satan, inducted by Boyd Rice, although he has later written that perhaps this was a mistake. [1][2]

Discography

Albums

With Soft Cell

★ 1981 ''Non-stop Erotic Cabaret'' #5 UK

★ 1982 ''Non-stop Ecstatic Dancing'' #6 UK

★ 1983 ''The Art of Falling Apart'' #5 UK

★ 1984 ''This Last Night In Sodom'' #12 UK

★ 1986 ''The Singles''

★ 1991 ''Memorabilia: The Singles''

★ 1994 ''Down in the Subway'' (compilation)

★ 1996 ''Say Hello to Soft Cell'' (compilation)

★ 1999 ''The Twelve Inch Singles''

★ 2002 ''The Very Best of Soft Cell'' #37 UK

★ 2002 ''Cruelty Without Beauty'' #116 UK

★ 2003 ''Live''

★ 2003 ''Soft Cell at the BBC'' (BBC)

★ 2005 ''The Bedsit Tapes Early/Rare Demos 1978-1982''

★ 2006 ''Demo Non Stop'' - More Rare Demos

With Marc & the Mambas

★ 1982 ''Untitled'' #42 UK

★ 1983 ''Torment & Toreros'' #28 UK

With Raoul and the Ruined

★ 1984 ''Bite Black and Blues Live'' (Fan club only release)

With The Willing Sinners

★ 1984 ''Vermin in Ermine'' #36 UK

★ 1985 ''Stories of Johnny'' #22 UK

★ 1987 ''Mother Fist & Her Five Daughters'' #41 UK

Solo

★ 1986 ''Violent Silence'' (mini album)

★ 1986 ''A Woman's Story'' (mini album)

★ 1987 ''Singles 1984 - 1987''

★ 1988 ''The Stars We Are'' (with La Magia) #41 UK #144 US

★ 1989 ''Jacques''

★ 1990 ''Enchanted'' #52 UK

★ 1991 ''Tenement Symphony'' #39 UK

★ 1992 ''A Virgin's Tale - Volume I'' (1985-1987 era B-sides & remixes)

★ 1992 ''A Virgin's Tale - Volume II'' (1985-1987 era B-sides & remixes)

★ 1993 ''Twelve Years of Tears (Live at the Royal Albert Hall)''

★ 1993 ''Absinthe: The French album''

★ 1995 ''Treasure Box'' (rarities compilation)

★ 1996 ''Fantastic Star'' #54 UK

★ 1998 ''Marc Almond & La Magia Live in Concert''

★ 1999 ''Open All Night'' #112 UK

★ 2000 ''Liverpool Philharmonic Hall'' (Fan club only release)

★ 2001 ''Stranger Things'' #186 UK

★ 2001 ''Live at the Union Chapel'' (Fan club only release)

★ 2002 ''Little Rough Rhinestones Volume 1'' (Fan club only release)

★ 2003 ''The Willing Sinner'' Live in Berlin

★ 2003 ''Marc Almond in Session Volume 1'' (BBC)

★ 2003 ''Heart on Snow''

★ 2003 ''Marc Almond in Session Volume 2'' (BBC)

★ 2006 ''Little Rough Rhinestones Volume 2'' (Fan club only release)

★ 2007 ''Stardom Road'' (covers album, released 4 June 2007) #53 UK

★ 2007 ''All the A's'' (CD & DVD compilation, release date tbc)

Singles

★ 1982 "Sleaze" (as Marc and the Mambas, fan club only release)

★ 1983 "Black Heart" b/w "Your Aura" (as Marc and the Mambas) #49 UK

★ 1983 "Torment" b/w "You'll Never See Me on a Sunday" (as Marc and the Mambas) #90 UK

★ 1984 "The Boy Who Came Back" b/w "Joey Demento" #52 UK

★ 1984 "You Have" b/w "Split Lip" #57 UK

★ 1984 "Tenderness Is a Weakness" b/w "Love for Sale" #88 UK

★ 1985 "I Feel Love" (medley) (Bronski Beat with Marc Almond) #3 UK

★ 1985 "Skin" (With Guy Chambers as The Burmoe Brothers)

★ 1985 "Stories of Johnny" #23 UK

★ 1985 "Love Letter" #68 UK

★ 1986 "The House Is Haunted (By the Echo of Your Last Goodbye)" #55 UK

★ 1986 "A Woman's Story" #41 UK

★ 1986 "Ruby Red" #47 UK

★ 1987 "Melancholy Rose" #71 UK

★ 1987 "Mother Fist" #93 UK

★ 1987 "This House Is a House of Trouble" (With Sally Timms (Mekon) and The Drifting Cowgirls)

★ 1988 "Tears Run Rings" #26 UK, #67 US

★ 1988 "Bitter Sweet" #40 UK

★ 1989 "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart" (feat. Gene Pitney) #1 UK

★ 1989 "Only the Moment" #45 UK

★ 1990 "A Lover Spurned" #29 UK

★ 1990 "The Desperate Hours" #45 UK

★ 1990 "Waifs and Strays" #88 UK

★ 1991 "Say Hello Wave Goodbye '91" (with Soft Cell) #38 UK

★ 1991 "Tainted Love '91" (with Soft Cell) #5 UK

★ 1991 "Jacky" #17 UK

★ 1992 "My Hand Over My Heart" #33 UK

★ 1992 "The Days of Pearly Spencer" #4 UK

★ 1993 "What Make a Man a Man" #60 UK

★ 1995 "Adored and Explored" #25 UK

★ 1995 "The Idol" #44 UK

★ 1995 "Child Star" #41 UK

★ 1996 "Out There" / "Brilliant Creatures" #76 UK

★ 1996 "Yesterday Has Gone" (with P.J. Proby and the My Life Story Orchestra) #58 UK

★ 1998 "Black Kiss" #97 UK

★ 1999 "Tragedy (Take a Look and See)" #144 UK

★ 1999 "My love"/"Threat of Love" (with Siouxsie)

★ 2001 "Please Stay" (With Mekon) #91 UK

★ 2001 "Glorious"

★ 2001 "Total Eclipse" (Rosenstolz, Marc Almond & Nina Hagen)

★ 2001 "Soul on Soul" (System F & Marc Almond)

★ 2003 "Gone But Not Forgotten"

★ 2004 "Vanity Poverty Revenge/Neo Burlesque" (Punx Soundcheck featuring Marc Almond)

★ 2004 "Sheherezade" (limited edition, vinyl only)

★ 2004 "Face Control EP" (Replicant & Marc Almond)

★ 2005 "Delirious" (limited edition)

★ 2005 "Prime Evil" (limited dance release)

★ 2005 "Perfect Honey" (limited dance release)

★ 2005 "Baby's on Fire" (T-Total featuring Marc Almond)

★ 2007 "I Close My Eyes and Count to Ten" (with Sarah Cracknell) #43 UK (download only)

Other contributions

★ Vocals on "Discipline" & "Stolen Kisses" by Psychic TV from album ''Force the Hand of Chance''.

★ Vocals for "The Dark Age of Love" by Coil, from ''Songs of the Week''.

★ Vocals for cover version of "Who By Fire" by Coil, from ''Horse Rotorvator''

★ Vocals for "Idumea" by Current 93, from ''Black Ships Ate the Sky''.

Books

★ 1988 ''The Angel of Death in the Adonis Lounge'' (poems)

★ 1999 ''Beautiful Twisted Night'' (poems, lyrics and prose)

★ 1999 ''Tainted Life'' (autobiography, reprinted in paperback in 2000)

★ 2001 ''The End of New York'' (poems and prose, including spoken word CD)

★ 2004 ''In Search of the Pleasure Palace - Disreputable Travels'' (autobiography)

DVDs

★ 1982 ''Soft Cell's Non-Stop Exotic Video Show'' (released 2004)

★ 1983 ''Live at the Duke Of York's Theatre'' (to be announced by Some Bizarre)

★ 1987 ''A Lover Spurned - Live at the Astoria, London 1987'' (released 2002)

★ 1991 ''The Willing Sinner - Live at the Berlin Passionchurch 1991'' (released 2002)

★ 2000 ''Live at the Lokerse Festeen 2000''

★ 2000 ''Live at the Union Chapel Dec 2000'' (released 2003)

★ 2002 ''Soft Cell Live in Milan''

★ 2005 ''Sin Songs, Torch and Romance - Live at the Almeida Theatre 2004''

★ 2007 ''Twelve Years of Tears - Live at the Royal Albert Hall 1992''

External links

★ Official website

★ Stardom Road website

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