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Chris Cross

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This article is about the English musician. For the American rap duo, see Kris Kross. For the American musician, see Christopher Cross.
For other people named Chris Cross, see Chris Cross (disambiguation).

Chris Cross
Cross in 2009
Cross in 2009
Background information
Birth nameChristopher Thomas Allen
Also known asChris St. John
Born(1952-07-14)14 July 1952
Tottenham, London, England
Died25 March 2024(2024-03-25) (aged 71)
Genres
OccupationMusician
Instruments
  • Bass
  • keyboards
Years active
  • 1973–1989
  • 2009–2013
Formerly of

Christopher Thomas Allen (14 July 1952 – 25 March 2024), known professionally as Chris Cross,[1] was an English musician, best known as the bass guitarist in the new wave band Ultravox. After starting his music career with Stoned Rose, a band in Preston, Lancashire, he was one of the founding members of the band Tiger Lily in 1973, before the band was renamed Ultravox three years later. The band's most successful single, "Vienna", was released in 1981.

Cross left Ultravox in 1989, several years after the band's studio album U-Vox was released in 1986. He rejoined the band after their revival in 2009 with a tour, and Ultravox released Brilliant, another studio album, three years later. Cross died in 2024 at the age of 71.

Biography

Early years

Christopher Thomas Allen was born in Tottenham, London, England, on 14 July 1952.[2] He went to Belmont Secondary Modern School and William Forster Comprehensive.[3] He began his music career playing in different bands, with his major early influences being Small Faces, Desmond Dekker and The Crazy World of Arthur Brown.[3]

Later he joined Stoned Rose, in Preston, Lancashire, but also decided to go to college to study psychology, a longstanding interest.[3]

Tiger Lily and Ultravox

After his time at college he returned to London to apply at the Royal College of Art.[4] Meanwhile, after answering an advertisement, the band Tiger Lily was created in 1973, with the founding members consisting of Cross (then identified as Chris St. John),[5] singer Dennis Leigh, guitarist Stevie Shears, drummer Warren Cann, and violinist/keyboardist Billy Currie.[3][6] After playing gigs from 1974 to 1976, in the latter year the band renamed themselves Ultravox! and signed to Island Records.[7][8]

In 1979, after three commercially unsuccessful but influential albums – Ultravox! (1977), Ha!-Ha!-Ha! (1977) and Systems of Romance (1978) – original vocalist John Foxx and guitarist Robin Simon, who had replaced Stevie Shears a year before, left Ultravox.[7][9][10]

Midge Ure joined Ultravox in 1979, and the band released their commercially successful Vienna album a year later.[8] By that time Cross and Ure were close friends; they together directed music videos such as Bananarama's "Shy Boy" and "The Telephone Always Rings" by Fun Boy Three.[11] The band then produced another few successful albums: Rage in Eden (1981), Quartet (1982), Monument (1983) and Lament (1984).[7][12] After U-Vox, a studio album released in 1986, Cross left Ultravox in 1989 and pursued a career as a psychotherapist.[3][7][13] Before Cross's departure, Ure had also left the band to perform as a solo artist before rejoining, but Cross noted the band "fell apart" after Ure rejoined, also stating "it was like everyone lost interest".[3]

Ultravox revival

A new wave band playing at an entertainment district in London, the capital city of England and the United Kingdom in 2012.
Ultravox performing at The O2 in London in 2013

In April 2009, Ultravox embarked on the "Return to Eden" tour, which included two festivals and a Best of Ultravox CD/DVD being released by EMI.[14][15]

The 2012 album release, Brilliant, included Cross as co-writer with Billy Currie and Midge Ure on all tracks.[1] The album was promoted with a UK theatre tour and a series of European dates.[15] Ultravox made their final performance in 2013, at The O2 in London.[16]

Death

Cross died on 25 March 2024, at the age of 71.[17] His death was announced on 1 April by Ultravox member Midge Ure, who did not specify Cross's cause of death.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b McLaughlin, Charlotte (2 April 2024). "Midge Ure in tribute to 'friend' and Ultravox star Chris Cross after death at 71". PA Media. Archived from the original on 8 April 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024 – via Yahoo News.
  2. ^ "Chris Cross obituary: writer of the 1981 hit single Vienna". The Times. 4 April 2024. ISSN 0140-0460. Archived from the original on 8 April 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Chris Cross, Ultravox bassist who co-wrote their biggest hit, Vienna – obituary". The Daily Telegraph. London. 5 April 2024. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 7 April 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  4. ^ Brown, August (2 April 2024). "Chris Cross, Ultravox bassist and "Vienna" co-writer, dies at 71". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 6 April 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  5. ^ Fu, Eddie (2 April 2024). "Chris Cross, Ultravox Bassist, Dead at 71". Consequence. Yahoo News. Archived from the original on 8 April 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  6. ^ a b Rigotti, Alex (2 April 2024). "Midge Ure pays tribute to Ultravox bassist Chris Cross, who has died aged 71". NME. Archived from the original on 3 April 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d Ewing, Jerry (2 April 2024). "Ultravox bassist Chris Cross has died, aged 71". Louder Sound. Archived from the original on 8 April 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  8. ^ a b Reilly, Nick (2 April 2024). "Chris Cross: Ultravox star and 'Vienna' writer dead at 71". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 8 April 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  9. ^ "Monumental: A history of Ultravox". Record Collector Magazine. 28 February 2009. Archived from the original on 8 April 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  10. ^ O'Connor, Roisin (2 April 2024). "Ultravox star who co-wrote hit Vienna dies aged 71". The Independent. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  11. ^ Lindores, Mark. "Vienna Ultravox". Classic Pop Magazine. Archived from the original on 8 April 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  12. ^ "Monument – Ultravox | Album". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 May 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  13. ^ "Huddersfield-born star reveals band split". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England. 16 September 1989. p. 15. Archived from the original on 8 April 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Want List: The 40th Anniversary Boxed Set of God of Ultravox's "Vienna" Is Nearing Launch". Post-Punk Monk. 10 August 2020. Archived from the original on 8 April 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  15. ^ a b "ULTRAVOX Brilliant". Electricityclub.co.uk. 15 May 2012. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  16. ^ Jones, Andy (2 April 2024). ""You were the glue that held the band together": Ultravox bass player and Vienna co-writer Chris Cross dies aged 71". MusicRadar. Archived from the original on 5 April 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  17. ^ Leo, Frank (1 April 2024). "Chris Cross Ultravox Death, London, Uk Musician And Bass Guitarist For Ultravox Band has died". pixelpulsepost.com. Archived from the original on 1 April 2024. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
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