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Marc Almond

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Marc Almond is an English singer and songwriter, born in Southport in 1957. As a teenager he listened to John Peel on the radio and became a great fan of Marc Bolan, after whom he began to spell his first name, and of David Bowie. Through Bowie he discovered the chansons of Jacques Brel, who became a major influence on him. At the art college in Leeds he made performance art and met fellow student Dave Ball. In 1977 they formed the synthesizer duo Soft Cell together.

Music and breakthrough

In 1981 they recorded Tainted Love, a cover of a northern soul song by Gloria Jones. It became a number 1 hit in England and many other countries, stayed in the American charts for a long time and became one of the defining records of synth-pop. Hits such as Bedsitter, Say Hello, Wave Goodbye and Torch followed, and the albums Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret (1981) and The Art of Falling Apart (1983), recorded in New York. There Almond came into contact with the underground art scene and with Andy Warhol. In 1984 Soft Cell broke up. As a solo artist Almond made albums such as Vermin in Ermine (1984) and Mother Fist and Her Five Daughters (1987), and in 1989 he had a number 1 hit with Gene Pitney with Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart. He also recorded records of songs by Brel and French chansons.

Influence

Almond is known for his emotional, soulful voice and his androgynous appearance. He brought cabaret, chanson and torch songs together with electronic pop. In this way he was among the artists who in the 1980s made room for the visibility of gay musicians in pop music.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Tainted Love by Soft Cell and notice the bare electronic accompaniment: a synthesizer, a drum machine and two short, dry taps that keep returning. Hear how Almond's voice above it sounds plaintive and theatrical, like an old soul record in a new coat.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

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See also

Categories: Artists