Editing Ultravox (section)

=== Experimental years: 1976–1979 ===
==== ''Ultravox!'' ====
On the strength of their live act, the band signed to [[Island Records]] in 1976. The group had still not finalised their band name, wanting to make a good and lasting choice. In October 1976, while working on the late stages of their debut album, the band conceived the name “Ultravox!” (the exclamation mark was a reference to [[krautrock]] band [[Neu!]], produced by [[Conny Plank]], who later produced three Ultravox albums). At the same time, Leigh chose [[John Foxx]] and Allen chose [[Chris Cross]] as their respective stage names.<ref name="Discog"/> In February 1977, Island released their eponymous debut album, ''[[Ultravox! (album)|Ultravox!]]''.

Like many other bands that formed Britain's [[Punk rock|punk]] and [[New wave music|new wave]] movements, Ultravox! drew inspiration from the art-school side of [[glam rock]]. Musically, Ultravox! were heavily influenced by [[Roxy Music]], the [[New York Dolls]], [[David Bowie]] and [[Kraftwerk]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ultravox-mn0000809266 |title=Ultravox <nowiki>| Music Biography, Streaming Radio and Discography |</nowiki> AllMusic |last=Ankeny |first=Jason |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=25 December 2014}}</ref> Their debut was co-produced by [[Steve Lillywhite]] and [[Brian Eno]] (who next co-wrote and performed with Bowie on ''[[Low (David Bowie album)|Low]]''). ''[[Ultravox! (album)|Ultravox!]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s sales were disappointing, and neither the album nor the associated single "Dangerous Rhythm" managed to enter the UK charts. Relations within the band were on an occasionally tenuous footing during this time as Foxx declared that he intended to live without emotions, a sentiment he wrote into the début album track "I Want to Be a Machine".

Ultravox! returned later in 1977 with the punkier ''[[Ha! Ha! Ha!]]''. Sales of both the album and its lead single, "[[ROckWrok]]", were poor, both failing to register on the UK charts. "ROckWrok" had a punk-lyric chorus, with the words "Come on, let's tangle in the dark/Fuck like a dog, bite like a shark". (Despite this, it got airplay on [[BBC Radio 1]].) Although ''[[Ha! Ha! Ha!]]'' was dominated by guitars and [[electric violin]], the final track, "Hiroshima Mon Amour", was a prototypical [[synthpop]] song. One of the first tracks by a British band to feature a drum machine (a [[Roland Rhythm 77]] (TR-77) with preset patterns) and a tenor [[saxophone]] solo played by "c.c." of the band Gloria Mundi. “Hiroshima Mon Amour” signalled a new direction for Ultravox. The energy, anger and popular appeal of punk was fading in 1978,<ref>{{cite book |last=Reynolds |first=Simon |author-link=Simon Reynolds |date=2004 |title=[[Rip It Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978–1984]]}}</ref> and the more creative UK punk genre talent sought new directions—calling themselves [[New wave music|British new wave]] instead of [[punk rock]] artists. "Hiroshima Mon Amour" remains a critics' and fans' favourite from the group's initial period. Ultravox! also performed it on ''[[The Old Grey Whistle Test]]'' later in 1978.

==== ''Systems of Romance'' and split with John Foxx ====
In early March 1978, Stevie Shears, whose style of guitar playing was considered a limiting factor, was sacked from the band after they toured England<ref name="Cann">{{cite web |url=http://www.discog.info/ultravox-interview2.html |title=Warren Cann/Ultravox Interview |last=Wårstad |first=Jonas |date=27 November 1998 |website=Discog.info |access-date=29 December 2014}}</ref> and joined [[Cowboys International]] in 1980. He was replaced by [[Robin Simon|Robert Simon]] (ex-member of [[Ian North]]'s [[Neo (UK band)|Neo]]), who during his first days with the band changed his performance-name to Robin Simon.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.punk77.co.uk/groups/neo.htm |title=Neo – A Punk History with Pictures. |website=Punk77.co.uk |access-date=29 December 2014}}</ref> Some time in 1978, the group also dropped the exclamation mark, becoming simply "Ultravox". The new line-up performed live at the [[Reading and Leeds Festivals|Reading Festival]] along with [[Radio Stars]], [[Penetration (band)|Penetration]], [[Sham 69]], [[Johnny Kidd & the Pirates|the Pirates]] and [[the Jam]], playing early versions of "Slow Motion" and "Quiet Men" on 27 August 1978.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/reading-78.html |title=Reading Rock Festival.Reading 1978 |website=Ukrockfestivals.com |access-date=29 December 2014}}</ref>

Their third album, 1978's ''[[Systems of Romance]]'', was recorded with producer [[Conny Plank]] (the producer of the first four albums by German electronic outfit [[Kraftwerk]]) and engineer Dave Hutchins at Plank's Studio in rural Germany. Musically, the album was markedly different from Ultravox's earlier work, bringing synthesisers to the forefront of the group's sound. Frustrated by too many opinions of how the band should sound,<ref name="smash hits" /> Foxx decided to leave the band and pursue a purer electronic style already at the initial rehearsals for ''Systems of Romance'', but had to await the band's commitments for that album.<ref name="vice">{{Cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/speaking-to-the-quiet-man-john-foxx-interviewed/ |title=Speaking to the Quiet Man: John Foxx interviewed |author=Doran, John |date=24 May 2013 |publisher=vice.com }}</ref>

Despite some positive reviews<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Hall |first=Philip |title=Ultravox: Systems of Romance |magazine=[[Record Mirror]] |date=30 September 1978 |page=19}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Gill |first=John |title='Vox continental |magazine=[[Sounds (magazine)|Sounds]] |date=2 September 1978 |page=29}}</ref> and initial sales of over 25&nbsp;000 copies, Island dropped the band on 31 December 1978. Ultravox embarked on a self-financed US tour in early 1979 and, to their amazement, received an enthusiastic response by the American audience at several sold out venues.<ref name="smash hits">{{cite magazine |author=Peter Gilbert, Francis Drake |title=Ultravox: A Dangerous Rhythm |magazine=[[Smash Hits]] |volume=2 |issue=14 |page=31 |date=10–23 July 1980}}</ref> But after their final gig near San Francisco in March 1979, Foxx declared his intention to leave the band and pursue a solo career. He gave the remaining members the band name and returned to London.<ref name="vice" />  According to Warren Cann it was a mutual decision between the band and Foxx to part ways after repeated quarrels.<ref name="Cann" /> Simon remained in the US and briefly joined The Futants, a punk band from New York. He later returned to England and teamed up with [[Howard Devoto]] to replace guitarist [[John McGeoch]] in the band [[Magazine (band)|Magazine]]. The remaining members made their way back to a Britain in the midst of the [[Winter of Discontent]]. [[Island Records|Island]] dropped the three Ultravox albums from its catalogue, and released a compilation of highlights from the group's first three albums in 1980, called ''[[Three into One]]''.

Foxx subsequently signed to Virgin Records and released his album ''[[Metamatic]]'' in January 1980. By this time, Billy Currie had been recruited by the rising star [[Gary Numan]] in 1979 to do a performance at ''[[The Old Grey Whistle Test]]'' show with his band [[Tubeway Army]]. Numan had been a fan of Ultravox and Currie was also asked to play on Numan's début solo album, ''[[The Pleasure Principle (Gary Numan album)|The Pleasure Principle]]'', and its subsequent tour. Warren Cann went to work for [[Zaine Griff]], while Chris Cross did some shows with [[James Honeyman-Scott]] (of [[The Pretenders]]) and Barrie Masters (from [[Eddie and the Hot Rods]]).{{cn|date=May 2024}}