Just discovered from following Midge Ure on Facebook that Ultravox bassist Chris Cross has died, aged 71.
Such a shame. I don’t think he got the credit he deserved for his rock-steady playing, and I’ll always remember him playing a storming synth bassline with one hand while keeping his other hand in his pocket. He couldn’t have looked more relaxed – a man completely in his element.
As Midge pointed out, he also played a key role in pulling together many of their always-interesting videos.
I will be now be listening to Vienna (greatest song of all time, no argument) a few times and thinking about their reunion gig that was one of the best gigs I ever saw.
RIP.
https://www.loudersound.com/news/ultravox-bassist-chris-cross-has-died-aged-71
Has a witing credit for Sleepwalk – the single for me that defines/kick starts the “80s sound”. Yes as much as Video Killed The Radio Star.
Vienna? Good song, but a bit dull
(cue incoming missiles and shouts of “what are you on about”)
Sleepwalk over Vienna any time Rigid. It’s a great song.
Sleepwalk doesn’t muck about. It was the first Ultravox song I heard and I loved it immediately.
Aw that is sad news. Ultravox were my first proper gig, Blackpool Opera House on the Set Movements tour. What I loved about Chris is that while all around were sucking their cheeks in to be achingly cool, he always had a mischievous twinkle in his eye.
You’re quite right there. CC seemed to be one of those people that was cool because he didn’t try to be cool. In the same vein as Gary Numan’s drummer, Cedric Sharpley, also RIP, sadly.
Ah, that’s a shame. I was introduced to the John Foxx era Ultravox by my neighbour’s elder brother and followed him into the Midge era.
The 12″ of Reap the Wild Wind has one of the biggest bass “wallops” on vinyl.
Strangely, the ‘normal’ version of that has just turned up on a Spotify random thingy. It does indeed have a big fat bass sound. Fun to play I reckon.