Vicious Pink
Encyclopedia
Vicious Pink was a synthpop
duo
formed in Leeds
, England
in 1981, and active until 1986. With a catchy sound and a penchant for highly provocative and sexualized lyrics, the band aimed for success in clubs rather than commercial hits. Vicious Pink consisted of two members, English
/French
singer
Josephine Warden and keyboardist
Brian Moss. The duo began as backing vocalist
s for Soft Cell
, then known as the Vicious Pink Phenomenon.
Vicious Pink are remembered for four dance
singles
: "8:15 to Nowhere ", "CCCan't You See", "Fetish", and "Take Me Now", produced
by Tony Mansfield
of New Musik fame. Vicious Pink were one of a few bands in the early 1980s that could be described as having a techno sound, and can be credited for coining the term for describing music on 27 March 1982, long before it was used by Detroit DJs
in 1986.
Vicious Pink backed Soft Cell
at The Warehouse in Leeds. The American
owner of The Warehouse, Mike Wiand, was their manager
. Wiand was also a key factor in the success of the 1980s dance track "Let the Music Play" by Shannon
, which was produced by his Warehouse Records label
. Vicious Pink played live at The Ritz in New York
in December 1984.
Vicious Pink were able to briefly attain a cult
level of success without ever breaking into the mainstream
. Although they had started releasing music in 1982, they failed to attract much attention until the release of the single "CCCan't You See" (UK
#67) and its instrumental
b-side
"8:15 To Nowhere" in 1984. Over the next two years, both sides of this single accrued play in clubs
on both sides of the Atlantic
. However, it was their only issue to appear in the official UK Singles Chart
. Their later single "Fetish" was not as successful.
The duo recorded two unreleased demo
album
s in 1983, Blue and The Tape Gallery, and a self-titled album released in 1986, after they had ceased recording
. This album was a collection of previously released singles.
Warden later married
a London
based music lawyer, and Moss continued his music career; he is now the keyboardist for the artist
, Mirazma.
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
duo
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
formed in Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1981, and active until 1986. With a catchy sound and a penchant for highly provocative and sexualized lyrics, the band aimed for success in clubs rather than commercial hits. Vicious Pink consisted of two members, English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
/French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
singer
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
Josephine Warden and keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
Brian Moss. The duo began as backing vocalist
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
s for Soft Cell
Soft Cell
Soft Cell are an English synthpop duo who came to prominence in the early 1980s. They consist of vocalist Marc Almond and instrumentalist David Ball. The duo is most widely known for their 1981 worldwide hit version of "Tainted Love" and platinum debut Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret...
, then known as the Vicious Pink Phenomenon.
Vicious Pink are remembered for four dance
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
: "8:15 to Nowhere ", "CCCan't You See", "Fetish", and "Take Me Now", produced
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
by Tony Mansfield
Tony Mansfield
Tony Mansfield, born May 28, 1943, Salford, England, is an English songwriter, musician and record producer. Mansfield was the main songwriter/producer for New Musik, a synthpop band that performed from 1979 to 1982.-References:...
of New Musik fame. Vicious Pink were one of a few bands in the early 1980s that could be described as having a techno sound, and can be credited for coining the term for describing music on 27 March 1982, long before it was used by Detroit DJs
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
in 1986.
Vicious Pink backed Soft Cell
Soft Cell
Soft Cell are an English synthpop duo who came to prominence in the early 1980s. They consist of vocalist Marc Almond and instrumentalist David Ball. The duo is most widely known for their 1981 worldwide hit version of "Tainted Love" and platinum debut Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret...
at The Warehouse in Leeds. The American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
owner of The Warehouse, Mike Wiand, was their manager
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
. Wiand was also a key factor in the success of the 1980s dance track "Let the Music Play" by Shannon
Shannon (singer)
Shannon is an American singer. She is best known for her 1983 million-selling record, "Let the Music Play". The record re-defined the electro funk sound that would eventually be called freestyle music.-Biography:...
, which was produced by his Warehouse Records label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
. Vicious Pink played live at The Ritz in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in December 1984.
Vicious Pink were able to briefly attain a cult
Cult
The word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
level of success without ever breaking into the mainstream
Mainstream
Mainstream is, generally, the common current thought of the majority. However, the mainstream is far from cohesive; rather the concept is often considered a cultural construct....
. Although they had started releasing music in 1982, they failed to attract much attention until the release of the single "CCCan't You See" (UK
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#67) and its instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
b-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
"8:15 To Nowhere" in 1984. Over the next two years, both sides of this single accrued play in clubs
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
on both sides of the Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
. However, it was their only issue to appear in the official UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. Their later single "Fetish" was not as successful.
The duo recorded two unreleased demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s in 1983, Blue and The Tape Gallery, and a self-titled album released in 1986, after they had ceased recording
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
. This album was a collection of previously released singles.
Warden later married
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
a London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
based music lawyer, and Moss continued his music career; he is now the keyboardist for the artist
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, Mirazma.
Singles
- "My Private Tokyo" (1982)
- "Je T'aime" (1983)
- "8:15 to Nowhere" (1984)
- "Cccan't You See" (1984) (UK#67)
- "Fetish" / "Spooky" (1985)
- "Cccan't You See" (remixRemixA remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
) (1985) - "Take Me Now" (1986)