Marc Almond
Marc Almond (born Peter Mark Sinclair Almond on 9 July, 1957 in Southport, Lancashire) is a popular English vocalist, and recording artist, who originally found fame as half of the seminal Synthpop/New Wave duo Soft Cell.
Life and works
He has also recorded albums with his band, Marc Almond and the Willing Sinners, and as a member of Marc and the Mambas alongside The The's Matt Johnson and Annie Hogan, with whom Almond would later collaborate on his later solo records. In addition, he has also collaborated with Kelli Ali of the Sneaker Pimps, Neal X on the album "Fantastic Star", Marie France, Agnes Bernelle, P.J. Proby, Nico, Lydia Lunch, Nick Cave,Gene Pitney on a #1 UK single Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart, Siouxsie Sioux, 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.
Although Soft Cell disbanded in 1984 just before the release of their third album, This Last Night In Sodom, the duo have since reunited for a new album (2002's Cruelty Without Beauty).
His work runs the gamut from electronica and dance music to traditional piano ballads, as exhibited in his latest album, "Heart On Snow." He claims to be influenced by David Bowie, a childhood hero of his, as well as early 60's Northern Soul and disco. Another major influence was Scott Walker from the Walker Brothers. Topics confronted in his lyrics are generally dark and include transvestism, drug addiction, prostitution and murder. He also operates a record label, Blue Star Records, 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 homosexuality, and drug addiction, for which he was hospitalized in 1994.
Almond is considered to be a gay icon, though he has stated that he wishes not to be seen as a gay artist, whose work is solely intended for other gay men. Nevertheless, his music is ambiguous and not necessarily homo- or heterosexual, and he can generally be taken any way the listener wishes.
On 17 October, 2004, Almond was critically injured in a motorcycle accident in which he was a pillion passenger in London. Although the initial prognosis was considered poor, he was discharged from the hospital on 8 November 2004 and said to be making a "remarkable" recovery.
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.
Almond is currently working on his new album of cover songs which will be released on 22 January 2007. He also appears on the 2006 album Black Ships Ate the Sky by Current 93.
Discography
Albums
- 1982 "Untitled" (as Marc & The Mambas) #41 UK
- 1983 "Torment & Toreros" (as Marc & The Mambas) #28 UK
- 1984 "Bite Black And Blues" (As Raoul and the Ruined)
- 1984 "Vermin in Ermine" (with The Willing Sinners) #6 UK
- 1985 "Stories of Johnny" (with The Willing Sinners) #14 UK
- 1986 "Violent Silence" (Mini Album)
- 1986 "A woman's story" (mini album)
- 1987 "Mother Fist and Her Five Daughters" (with The Willing Sinners) #8 UK
- 1987 "Singles 1984 - 1987"
- 1987 "Slut" (as The Flesh Volcano)
- 1988 "The Stars We Are" (with La Magia) #2 UK #144 US
- 1989 "Jacques"
- 1990 "Enchanted" #9 UK
- 1991 "Memorabilia: The Singles" (Soft Cell/ Marc Almond)
- 1991 "Tenement Symphony" #17 UK
- 1992 "A Virgin's Tale - Volume I"
- 1992 "A Virgin's Tale - Volume II"
- 1993 "Twelve years of tears (live at the Royal Albert Hall)"
- 1993 "Absinthe: The French album"
- 1995 "Treasure Box" (b-sides and rarities compilation)
- 1996 "Fantastic Star"
- 1998 "Marc Almond And La Magia Live In Concert"
- 1999 "Open All Night" #112 UK
- 2000 "Liverpool Philharmonic Hall"
- 2001 "Stranger Things"
- 2001 "Live At The Union Chapel"
- 2002 "Little Rough Rhinestones Volume 1"
- 2003 "The Willing Sinner"
- 2003 "Marc Almond In Session Volume 1"
- 2003 "Heart on Snow"
- 2003 "Marc Almond In Session Volume 2"
- 2006 "Little Rough Rhinestones Volume 2"
Singles
- 1982 "Sleaze" (as Marc and the Mambas)
- 1983 "Black heart" (as Marc and the Mambas) #28
- 1983 "Torment" (as Marc and the Mambas) #32
- 1984 "The boy who came back" #9
- 1984 "You have" #13
- 1984 "Tenderness is a weakness" #20
- 1985 "I Feel Love" (medley) (Bronski Beat with Marc Almond) #3
- 1985 "Skin" (With Guy Chambers as The Burmoe Brothers)
- 1985 "Stories of Johnny" #23
- 1985 "Love letter" #68
- 1986 "The house is haunted (by the echo of your last goodbye) #58
- 1986 "A woman's story" #47
- 1986 "Ruby red" #41
- 1987 "Melancholy rose" #71
- 1987 "Mother Fist" #19
- 1987 "This House is a House of Trouble" (With Sally Timms (Mekon) and The Drifting Cowgirls)
- 1988 "Tears Run Rings" #26
- 1988 "Bitter Sweet" #20
- 1989 "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart" (feat. Gene Pitney) #1
- 1989 "Only the Moment" #15
- 1990 "A Lover Spurned" #29
- 1990 "The desperate hours" #45
- 1990 "Waifs and strays" #~
- 1991 "Say Hello Wave Goodbye '91" (with Soft Cell) #18
- 1991 "Tainted Love" (with Soft Cell) #5
- 1991 "Jacky" #17
- 1992 "My Hand Over My Heart" #33
- 1992 "The Days of Pearly Spencer" #4
- 1993 "What make a man a man" #60
- 1995 "Adored and Explored" #25
- 1995 "The idol" #41
- 1995 "Child star" #47
- 1996 "Out there/Brilliant creatures"
- 1996 "Yesterday has gone" (with P.J. Proby) #57
- 1998 "Black kiss"
- 1999 "Tragedy (take a look and see)"
- 1999 "My love"
- 2001 "Please Stay" (With Mekon)
- 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"
- 2004 "Face Control EP" (Replicant & Marc Almond)
- 2005 "Delirious"
- 2005 "Prime Evil"
- 2005 "Perfect Honey"
- 2005 "Baby's on Fire"
Books
- 1988 The Angel of Death in the Adonis Lounge (poems)
- 1999 Beautiful Twisted Night (poems, lyrics and prose)
- 1999 Tainted Life (autobiography)
- 2001 The End of New York (poems and prose)
- 2004 In Search of the Pleasure Palace - Disreputable Travels (autobiography)