Visage 'Fade to Grey' explained. 

I would just like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their kind comments on the history of Fade to Grey explained (well, at least the part I was involved in) There have been some really interesting and generous comments, and even the negative ones make a point that I’ll address in the future (audio issues) I would never have believed that so many would have reacted to this. Once again thank you, but I’m now left thinking about what to do next?? xxx

WOW. I thought fade to grey was perfect? This piano piece is absolutely STUNNING.

Fade to Grey and Blue Monday defined the 80s for me. Thank you for creating this masterpiece

Fade to Grey is still as captivating today as it was when I was 18 in 1981. As a piano and synth player I love synth pop!

"Fade to Grey" is that rare example of a song developing a soul of its own. It really is a deeply spiritual piece, so much greater than the some of its parts. A masterpiece.

Quite simply this was the greatest song of the 80's without a shadow of a doubt .. and there were some great songs .. it never fails to get to me even after all these years

This is totally fascinating. Chris is modest, implying that a masterpiece just "happens" but the talent behind it is clear.

This song is the eighties... 3 seconds into the track and your back there

A little story for you, Chris. When this video ended, I stood up and began to applaud. My two sons, aged 22 and 19, started laughing. However, they soon fell in love with the song and have been listening to the original version ever since. Take care. You've made history in music. The most remarkable thing is that when we make history, we often don't realize it at the time. Time will tell us. Congratulations. John from Greece.

You are too modest Mr Payne, you did great work there, and also with Gary Numan. It's refreshing to see someone acknowledging the contributions of others like you did with Billy and Cedric ,Russell and later with Midge and Rusty . You are a gentleman and a class act.

This song is masterpiece and one of the most important synth songs of all the time.

One of the most beautiful pop songs ever composed.

Fade to Grey, one of the great songs of my childhood. I spent 1982 listening to it, along with songs like 'Girls on Film', 'Eye of the Tiger', ,Tainted Love' and 'Angels in the Centerfold'. What a great year for music it was.

My god that piano piece is euphoric. I saw Midge perform 'Fade to Grey' at Forever Young Fest last year and that song still blows me away. It just goes to show that a certain coupling of chords can reverberate forever and in various forms.

Fade to Grey is probably the best electronic 80's sone EVER! Love it SO much!

“Do I want royalties? NO!”. That’s the spirit. What a great guy.

One of the best YT videos I’ve ever watched. Chris is just an all round top bloke.

Huge Thanks for telling the story. We didn't have a commercial radio until 1990 in Sweden so we had to stick to listening to local pirate radio broadcasting at nights. Still remember this cold evening in a dark room, almost midnight, when I heard it first. As being 15 at that time in 1982, I was in heaven. Even today I have these beautiful memories whenever I hear it, either played on the radio or on my turntable, it's part of my life. Cheers.

one word "Masterpiece"

I can't begin to tell you how much Fade To Grey captivated me and still does as does The Damned Don't Cry. Thanks for these timeless treasures!

I cannot overestimate the profound effect that Fade To Grey has had upon my life. 🙂

Goosebumps and tingles! I'd never heard anything like "Fade to Grey" before and was immediately captivated by that bassline! Never dreamed I'd hear the story of how it was created! Inspired stuff!

That bass line always sends shivers down my spine, fantastic.👍

My favourite 80s song explained by legend Christopher Payne 🙏

Every time each key is pressed I have chills. This is so awesome. An absolute timeless classic. Thank you so much for making this video Chris.

With the absolute greatest of respect, I fundamentally disagree that Midge made a good song a great song. He’s wonderful. You were a major part of the architecture of one of the greatest songs in modern music. When we hear the words ‘fade to grey’, we think of that baseline, Steve’s vocal, and that wonderful french interlude. But the absolute backbone of the song is yours. Unequivocally. It’s always been in my top 3 favourite songs ever (with Enola Gay by OMD and Music by John Miles). A majestic masterpiece and your work defined an era. What a contribution to music history!

I grew up in Germany and it was absolutely omnipresent in these times. One of my favorites, even now. Thank you for your story! ❤️

I know steve didn't have the strongest voice, but it suited this track so well, he was a wonderful and generous friend, obviously got no royalties from it, but he made the song, not one single nice word on the comments. Love you Steve RIP

Once I learned the bassline I was hooked,,making music for 35 yrs now,because of you RESpect to you Chris

I can only say WOW. Brilliant. You effortlessly created one of the best songs of all time.

Michelangelo explaining the statue of David wouldn't be as wonderful, inspiring and captivating as this.

An amazing insight into not only a classic song , but the start of a culture that defined the 80s you were at the spearhead with Numan and Steve Strange

I am no musician. I can’t play a single instrument. But I have loved music for ever. I love hearing how this song morphed from your collection of chords to the masterpiece that it become. It’s amazing how the ‘what do I do now?’ Moment become an iconic part as well as how the missing mini moog changed the sound probably for the better. Thank you Chris for a great breakdown.

First time seeing this. Gary Numan’s ‘Pleasure Principle’ changed me back in ‘79 when I was just 9. Got the album and learned it was about much more than just ‘Cars’. So mesmerizing to hear about all the connections between all these pioneers from that formative time. So glad I clicked on this tonight. Blessings, all.

i was 6 when fade to grey appeared, it hit me even back then and has always stuck with me, one of the songs of all time

Internet age gives so much Legends in person. Head spins.

One of the best songs of the 80s...Here in germany it was a massive massive hit.Fantastic work!

Really interesting stuff, Fade to Grey has to be one, if not the best electronic synth song of the 80s, and still sounds amazing today in 2021

"My role in Fade to Grey” - as you say - is the crucial piece of the puzzle for me. When the bass riff starts, I still get goosebumps. Thanks for this iconic masterpiece!

Hi Chris, I can’t even begin to tell you what a fan I am of your work. I started listening to Numan in 1981 and his best stuff was when you were in the band. I have so many great memories of that time and I thank you for being part of it. 👍

Fascinating insight to iconic masterpiece

Mr. Payne you are just an amazing musician! Sounds like a lot of history went into Face to Grey! A pure classic!! I could listen to you all day!! When I hear Fade to Grey. Silent tears just fall ..who is listening at the end of 2022.. ME!!! with luv from Toronto, Canada 🇨🇦 All the best Chris !! Luv LA ♥️📀📀

Definitely one of the best synth pop songs, what a great sound and composition

omg I am so happy to hear this background on a song that haunted me since I first heard it as a teen in the early 80's. Christopher Payne you are a cultural ICON and Legend, thank you so much, YOU ROCK!

thank you for making this tune, you are a part of history , never take that for granted

“Sorry too be so animated!?” That’s the stuff of life. I’m sorry if I move way from animation. Look where it got you. You are brilliant.

Love RU-vid for the random recommendations. Love fade to grey, never knew the story behind such a iconic song, grew up in the 80’s and work in Chichester 😃

Wow, that's so great to give us the inside of such a great track. I was not even aware that the musicians of Numan's band and Ultravox was that way in friendship. Thank you very much, Chris! Oh, I forget to say, that in my point of view, you did the major part of the track, sure!

Chris, you and Billy are absolute legends.The passion you both have for your craft is palpable. Thank you for all you have done.

Incredible, just an incredible song. I was 13 and going through one of the worst periods of my life when I first heard Fade to Grey, and it just made things better. Everyday for over a year I would rush home from school so I could just lose myself in the melody. I could never explain how much it helped... Thank you...

I love how the break was actually completely unplanned and yet you’d never know by listening to the song. This also explains why this song works equally well just as an instrumental, because it was originally written that way!

What a brilliant idea, deconstructing such an iconic track. Thanks for this, Chris. Steve&Cedric RIP 💞

I could play this song a million times in a row and never get tired of hearing.

I grew up loving early 80s music but was too young to have heard this one. It’s basically perfect. You guys made a minimalist masterpiece

Roughly something like this: Proceeds to play insanely beautiful melody Talk about understated 😂 ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

I play the drums and in the 80s I would practise by placing speakers either side of me and playing along to music (God help my ears!). While I was practising my Mum returned from shopping with a copy of Fade to Grey on 7 inch. I placed it on the turntable, with the speakers up full. The intro and the song itself, especially the bass riff blew me away. A Classic tune, Thanks Chris.

Heard this song whilst still in high school 1981 for the first time on a friend's dad BMW 745i tape deck ! One of my best songs of all times. Greetings from Pretoria South Africa.

When I first heard this it was jaw dropping moment.

Chris sounds like a wonderful guy with a lot of great stories. I wanna have a beer with him!

A masterpiece that still sounds great on the dancefloor today

One of my favorite songs, which defined the era it was made, and has proved timeless. It's cinematic, filled with longing and regret. The piano is beautiful. First time I've heard it. A masterpiece.

Dear Christopher, I have ALWAYS adored "Fade to grey". I put it up there with "Good Vibrations", "I am the Walrus", "Light my Fire" and any classic where the piece is lifted with an amazig piano structure. "Fade to grey" and "I am the Walrus" have some similar lyrics. Music has power. And, what you created is immortal. Thank you for giftig us magic. RIP Steve Strange. David

Fantastic. Simple and great piece. History And when Chris load the strings an began to play the pad I immediately beat with my foot and hummed the melody. Then he played the "bass" and I whistle the rising synth... These "electro synth Brits" of this era are my heros!

"fade to grey" is one of the rare songs which speaks to my soul. i do not like eighties music but thanks a lot for having made this song. it will fascinate me until my daying day.

When the bass part comes on....delicious shivers all over

Fade to grey was one of my favourite tracks from Visage, thanks for running through it's conception.

Nice to see the face behind what is quintessentially THE song of the 80’s. Nothing will ever better it. They will wheel my coffin in to this playing !

"Small part"... master of understatement Chris! I just love hearing the name checks and cross-pollination here... Gary Numan... Magazine... Ultravox... Human League. A truly amazing time musically, that I doubt will ever happen again.

Fade to Grey got me into 80s music. I especially love the orchestral remix of it.

Fade to Grey was a turning point in New wave, he is the ulmitate hit new wave !!!

Fade to Grey is still one of the most incredible songs I've ever heard. 40 years later and I love it as the first time hearing it. 🔆

First single I ever bought. Absolute classic. Still one of my favorites to this day. Thank you so much for the music and thanks for sharing the story

Absolutely timeless,midge stills performs this live simply amazing.

A timeless Masterpiece...feel the rain like an English summer...R.I.P. Steve

Absolutely superb video you made about fade to grey synthetic music of the 80s was the best keep up the good work 👍

7:27 this is so written into my system. I think it won't fade to grey even within 2000 years from now on. Well done Sir Payne, you helped writing an immortal song.

So great to hear the story of one of the best or THE BEST synthpop songs of the very early days. One of my top favorites ! Well done Chris ! So interesting.

Hi Chris - I remember hearing this for the first time when it came out, and it sounded so amazing and original. Like from another world. It still gives me that feeling.

Mr. Christopher Payne you are just an amazing musician 🎶🎶 absolutely brilliant!! Been following you since Gary Numan days!! 1979 , all the best to you and your family !! Luv from Toronto , Canada 🇨🇦 LA 2021 Fade to Grey is a brilliant song!! Love it always will!!!

Fascinating, certainly no small contribution from you Chris! The bassline is THE driving force behind the track. Very interesting to finally get The full story on the song and not least your particular part in it!

Thank you gentleman, this is still such a great song after 40 years. Both great as a dance track and also very emotional.

Fade to Grey Visage (Devenir gris) One man on a lonely platform One case sitting by his side Two eyes staring cold and silent Shows fear as he turns to hide Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey) Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey) (Un homme dans une gare isolée) (Une valise à ses côtés) (Des yeux fixes et froids) (Montrent de la peur lorsqu'il) (Se tourne pour se cacher) Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey) Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey) (Sens la pluie comme un été Anglais) (Entends les notes d'une chanson lointaine) (Sortant de derrière d'un poster) (Espérant que la vie ne fut aussi longue) Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey) Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey) Feel the rain like an English summer Hear the notes from a distant song Stepping out from a back shop poster Wishing life wouldn't be so long (Devenir gris) Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey) Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey) Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey) (Devenir gris) Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey) (Devenir gris) Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey) Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey) (Devenir gris) Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey) Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey) Songwriters: Ure James, Payne Christopher John, Currie William

When i close my eyes and signal back my memories growing up as a teenager feeling like an outsider, that bass line has remained the soundtrack that has been part of the patterns that hold my fields of my memories. ❤

*As a synth musician, I really enjoyed watching this, but that's another story!* ⭐😃👍

Imo...the grandfathers of the synthpop era. As a kid growing up in South Africa in 70s/80s. This was my introduction into the "dance music "scene coming out of UK and Germany. Was fascinated by the electronic sounds.how this one keyboard could mimic hundreds of instruments and sounds. FADE TO GREY was always a banger on the dance floor. Thank you for sharing this insight ..i love tha bass riff❤ Kraftwerk Jean-Michel Jarre Tangerine Dream Gray Newman (Tubeway Army) Some of my favorite groups.

'A small part in it'... Such modesty. Great to see the genius behind probably the best synth-pop record ever, and that hook has me still going back to this song for my fix on a regular basis all these years later. Thank you Christopher.

thank you, thank you so much. in 1981, fado to grey and visage , has changed my musical direction. At this moment, i knew , that will be my life .

One of The classic songs of the New Romantic synth era. Very arresting music.

Amazing story. Thank you ! That song made my teenage days...

Absolutely brilliant!” An amazing insight into the creation process of one of the greatest songs ever recorded!

Fascinating to learn and see how things come together. Great post. I adore Fade to Grey.

In the 90s, Midge set up an intimate session in a tiny venue near Luton, just him, a guitar, and a small group of us. He talked about the history of a few songs and his involvement with them, answering questions and singing the ones where the vocals weren't "too high!". This was one he talked about, and it's fascinating to hear the story from a different perspective.

a song much loved in Italy too. 44 years later I perfectly remember the emotion of the first time I heard it

Love this tune. Never gets old.

This is fantastic, I have always wanted to know how Fade To Grey developed - at the time I was aware it was based on something Chris wrote in the soundchecks so having it fully explained is wonderful (especially 40-odd years later!). Stumbled on this video by accident (thank you youtube, usually I despise your recommendations, but why it was recommended when I was looking for the cheesy mash-up someone did years ago with Joy Division's No Love Lost and some 70s dancers is anybody's guess). I digress - thanks Chris!

Man I stumbled on this song sometime around 2006. Absolutely loved it, seems like it was so far ahead of its time

Very interesting video about one of the most beautiful, nostalgic, romantic, melodic track ever composed. Endless love for "Fade to grey"

That bass line is so iconic

Excellent stuff and congratulations on your part in it all. I’ve subscribed for more. Incidentally, that Visage album was and is A Masterpiece. The Anvil, Night Train and of course Fade to Grey. Thanks so much for sharing this piece of History.

Probably one of the most honest and filling appraisals of a song ever. A genius in his own right. Thanks Chris, that’s was so incredibly inspiring.