Shameless Fashion by Visage

Founding fathers of the New Romantics and pioneers of the 80s sound Visage, return with a new album "Hearts And Knives" due for release in May 2013. Visage began in 1978 when Steve Strange and Blitz Club partner-in-crime Rusty Egan joined forces with Midge Ure to create a futuristic, synthesizer-led group where style and fashion were matched by experimental but accessible music. The group was soon Magazine and Billy Currie. They recorded their first single Tar with Martin Rushent at his Genetic Studio in 1978 (shortly to become the birthplace of the Human League Dare album). Their breakthrough track "Fade To Grey" became a European hit and reached number 1 in 8 countries in 1980. As the public face of the band Steve Strange shot to stardom throughout Europe and beyond.

Steve Strange has been through his own share of highs and lows in the past 29 years. His emergence as a fashion and style icon of the 80s and beyond is one of the many highs. Steve had always believed that Visage had not yet reached its endpoint. Slowly the circumstances and pieces started falling into place to enable a new album to come to fruition. Firstly Steve reconnected with Steve Barnacle (a Visage band member from the 1984 Visage album "Beatboy") and began writing songs once more. This was augmented when ex Ultravox guitarist Robin Simon joined into the equation bringing not only a large slice of shared musical DNA (that "Visage sound") to the project but also his own distinctive style and ethereal musicianship. Lauren Duvall joined adding not only her sultry vocal ability but also a slice of the classic Visage glamour. Secondly the environment and interest in 80's fashion, style and music continues on unabated. The phone continues to ring for shows, television, news and exhibitions. Later in 2013 Steve Strange is the subject of a large format coffee table book "Blank Canvas" in conjunction with AAC books and the V&A museum.

Visage has also been one part Fashion & Style and one part music. With the first single from the album "Shameless Fashion" encapsulates both those components. The subject matter addresses some of the darker sides of the Fashion industry. It's a world that Steve Strange has lived and breathed. It can burn with the brightness of lights but it also has the painfully-sweet dark underbelly as well. Sound wise the track takes a production template from the bands 1982 hit the "The Anvil" . Raucous Synth-bass and (real) drums provide the body to the song. These are augmented with distorted hooky guitars which power the chorus along. Visage in the past have added in some international language variations and with "Shameless Fashion" is no exception. The package features German, French, Italian and Japanese flavored versions.

The new Visage album "Hearts and Knives" is due for release in May 2013.

Pioneers of the New Romantic movement, the synth pop group Visage emerged in 1978 from the London club Blitz, a neo-glam nightspot which stood in stark contrast to the prevailing punk mentality of the moment.

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