i couldn't find this anywhere online and this doc made me cry like 38 times minumum so here you go and enjoy warren drinking a crisp can of dr pepper (all footage compiled by ultravox and lee curran, from the ultravox return to eden dvd)
This band and their music guided me through my youth and the later years... and still love them up to this day. Thanks to them that they still have their class and style, even though we have passed our 60's...
I love the civilised and ORDINARY process of watching a maturing Ultravox prepare for rehearsal. Being a musician is not about image, shoulder pads and lipstick (as Nick Rhodes likes to present it as being).....most often it's fixing gear, trying out equipment, solving issues, practicing, putting up with niggles and getting over little doubts. Most of all, it's waiting around. I love the bit around 22:48 where Midge is talking with an hour and a half to go before going on stage. There's a strange depletion of energy with an hour or so to go....almost as if the body goes weak to counter the nerves and adrenalin. I know thst feeling so well. I also love programmes like this. To younger viewers (if there are any) these men will look retired teachers. I can see their younger selves under the grey hair, stubble and thick prescription glasses. Believe it or not I haven't got ONE song by Ultravox in my music collection even though I'm fond of several. After fifty years of collecting I might just start getting some. :)
Saw them @Manchester Apollo & adored this - same place saw them in 1981 & 1982 ❤❤. Awesome. Lovely the ‘normalness’ of this. The nervousness, anxiety and the reality of meeting each other for the first time in years & it being good. Great example of maturity.
Words cannot describe my love for this band. Ultravox is one of the most influential and inspirational bands for me as a synth player/composer. I may have arrived late, having discovered them when I was 15 or so (so like... 2006) but man oh man, I bought all their albums and to this day I can honestly say that they're responsible for a huge chunk of the type of sound I'm after. Long live Ultravox! All that's left is to see them live (fat chance), but hey..... I never thought I'd see Men Without Hats live, and I did.... even met the band, so who knows.....
Here in Czech Republic there are also top synth composers and art rock performers who were in 80's influenced by Ultravox. I am an amateur keyboard player and I aim to perform Ultravox songs.
Totally cool guys and what musicians! Having only seen Ultravox once for the Quartet Tour at Massey Hall in Toronto in 1982 they were just mind-blowingly good. If you get a chance to see them do NOT hesitate!
I still can't believe Chris is no longer with us. Taken far too soon. I'm so privileged to have seen the band that is my all time favourite. I really love the documentary of Return to Eden and Brilliant. What a privilege to have lived in the era of their prime and their reformation.
we the fans never left....went to two concerts back then 81-83...got the same feeling whatching this and the return to eden dvd i bought....thanx for the music and memories
Just like I love guitar, bass and drum sounds from certain era’s, there’s something timeless and magical about synth sounds from 77- 83, maybe even starting a few years earlier. A lot of movie soundtracks from then also had fantastic synth scores.
I totally agree. I think those old, analogue sounds have become as familiar to us as pianos and guitars, etc. We hear them again now and all is well with the world.
They maybe quite mature or maybe I should say old but they still have plenty to show to the world. Isaw them live on this tour. My oh my, they were from the different galaxy. I remember crying hearing the very first notes of Astradyne on this gig. They really are the Gods of music. Let's hope Billie will change his mind and I will hear these guys at least once again.
I just wish music like this would come round again. Loved this band back in the early 80s. I always loves different styles of music but I just can’t stick today’s music it’s so meaningless and all sounds the same. I mean take a single from this band like visions in blue it’s a masterpiece and so much soul went into it. Bands took synths to a new level back then. You just don’t see this today the synths have got better but they just don’t do nothing with them at all just press a few keys. Synths was harder then to use but they pulled it off doing so much with them. Good music,good band and fucking amazing music. Sorry for my language I just can’t think of a better word. Down to earth guys.
I am a fan of this era of music - lots of childhood memories. But some of us are out there synthing it out and making what we feel is our best, without pandering to the masses. You just have to look a little bit :)
NO!! Midge did a tour with no plans to continue Ultravox but immediately went out and played the tracks from Brilliant...which upset Billy and was disrespectful.
Wow what memories !! Saw ULTRAVOX in Toronto, Canada 🇨🇦 in 1982 or 83 ... I still have my ticket stub somewhere!! They were just brilliant .. then a couple of years later saw Midge Ure in a club, got to meet him!!! I was almost floored , such a nice man ♥️this documentary is amazing , just seeing them all together🎶 it is to bad they broke up, but we. all know things in life change, and people change , that is just life!! Brilliant albums📀📀 brilliant band!! I could see how they were reacting to so technology changes... everything is on the MAC BOOK🎹🎹luv them to death!! With luv from Toronto, Canada 🇨🇦 📀pure gold !!! Stay safe everyone♥️♥️LA 2022
Wished I’d been on the ball in 2009 and gone and seen them....and now they have called it a day again - can’t blame them as they are “ getting on a bit “
Not going to happen. After the release of their last studio album 'Brilliant', May of 2012 (uploaded on RU-vid) Midge Ure (and Billy Currie) have stated they will no longer go on tour. Ultravox as a band has officially come to an end.
Of course I love Midge-san, but it was great to see so many of the other members of Ultravox. I wonder if it was like this behind the scenes at RAJh last time (October 2023)?❤️🎶 38:48
Just a side note: At 5:25 you see the camera pull up quick to capture the first time Midge and Warren had met since live aid in 1985 so I believe (correct if wrong). The reason the camera pulled up as it did was because I had told Midge to give me fair warning he was walking in to the building so I would be ready with the camera.. He forgot! I heard his voice as he came in but in those days shooting on tape meant that the camera needed a few seconds to reach servo lock before it would record. I knew this was a one off event so was really annoyed I had no warning. In the end I think the way it was captured actually help with the effect so all not lost.
Lee Curran first time they met since ‘86, whereas live aid in ‘85 was the last time they shared the stage together! anyways, this is such a fascinating story, thanks for sharing!
I just KNEW from around ten minutes in we wouldn't. It's a study of the four men returning to what they used to do with a determined idea NOT to show them performing.....and of course the dying seconds of it with the closing credits has what sounds like the beginning of the gig. Tasteful, I think.
Whilst I enjoy the sort of mundane ambience of this film a lot, I feel it could've done with more probing interviews with the band and explanation of how they coped with the radically different set-up of gear from the early 80s. Vienna and Rage in Eden are masterpieces though.
Can you imagine preparing for a reunion tour after twenty-three years and someone suggesting the idea of a probing interview?.....no thanks! When you're busy you don't need it. I think we were lucky to get what we got. They're not obliged to be a pop star like Duran Duran.
Well that was a bit interesting. For me Ultravox was much better with the original lineup (they started out as Tiger Lily, and had a couple of other names): Founder and frontman: John Foxx, Stevie Shears: guitar (later replaced by Robin Simon), Chris Cross: bass guitar, keyboards, synths and backing vocals, Billy Currie: keyboards, synths, keyboards, violin and viola, Warren Cann: drums, drum machine(s) used on first recording on the 2nd album Ha!-Ha!-Ha! Ha! I saw Ultravox in March of 1979 with John Foxx and Robin Simon at the Whiskey A-Go-Go in West Hollywood, CA. Excellent concert! After John Foxx left Ultravox, so did Robin Simon. Therefore it was Billy Currie that decided to bring in Midge Ure to replace John Foxx (on vocals and Robin Simon (on guitar). Instead of having 5 members Ultravox became 4 members. With the new lineup they recorded (officially) their 4th album Vienna. That is a good album and I did buy it when it was first released in 1980. But after that for me Ultravox went downhill with their albums (some OK songs and some good electronic music on some of those albums, but overall not the best) after Vienna. And by all means Billy Currie, Chris Cross and Warren Cann are excellent musicians, but for me Midge Ure took them towards more of a pop oriented direction. Just like Phil Collins did with Genesis after Steve Hackett left. For me, Genesis was much better when Peter Gabriel was with them.
I agree to s degree. Yes Systems of Romance' is a timeless masterpiece. But I think 'Rage in Eden' is also a superb album. Yes they went a bit pop but it gave them commercial success and loads of wonga. So good luck to them. Ure's cheesy 80's lyrics though...🤢
for the life of me I dont see why they dropped a whole bunch of new tech and computers on a band that hadnt used the gear to setup woth hiring some rehearsal techs to assist each to setup and program ,
Very much a documentary for the committed fan rather than someone with just a passing interest like me. They need to introduce the band members- otherwise you don’t know which one of these old men is which. The whole thing is a little unstructured for the casual viewer.
I can't help but think they're making a bit of a deal with this. Why not just play your instruments? Also, how come they are not mates? After all those years why have they not kept in touch?
blakeyonthebuses They kicked Warren out in 1986, or 1987 (?) I think and hadn't spoken to him since and then the whole band just kind of imploded after awhile
Midge became a control freak and very nasty towards the rest of his bandmates, and he became a heavy alcoholic. (Clean and sober now for many years.)The reason why Warren Cann was fired was because he wanted to continue using electronic percussion and drum machines on a full time basis. The rest of the members wanted to go back to basics for Warren playing the drums. So he was fired and hurt by that. Afterall, Warren Cann was an original member of Ultravox way before Midge Ure replaced John Foxx, original founding member. Later Midge, Chris Cross quit, and Billy Currie was the only original member left and he reformed Ultravox a few times, recorded a couple of albums with new members, but those albums did not do very well.
