Marc Almond

Marc Almond (2008)

Peter Mark Sinclair Almond OBE (born  July 9, 1957 in Southport , Lancashire ) is a British singer and songwriter .

Career

Together with David Ball he founded the music group Soft Cell in 1979 , the first successful electro duo in Great Britain. Her great successes include a. Tainted Love from 1981.

In the days of Soft Cell, he released two albums as Marc and the Mambas (including with Matt Johnson from The The ) between 1982 and 1984. With this project he is once again considered to be the pioneer of a form of music in which an entire orchestra flows into pop music (in the studio and also at concerts).

Together with David Ball and his wife Gini Ball, Almond also took part in 1982 on the first LP by the British post-industrial cult band Psychic TV .

Marc Almond began his solo career after the dissolution of Soft Cell in the spring of 1984. a. his duets with Kelli Ali , Gene Pitney , Nico , Siouxsie Sioux , PJ Proby , Nina Hagen , Jimmy Somerville and Rosenstolz . He also worked with other bands from the London scene at the time, such as Foetus and Coil .

Almond celebrated his greatest success as a solo artist in the spring of 1989 with the number 1 hit Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart , his version of a song by Gene Pitney , who had a top 5 hit with it in 1967 and who also appeared as a duet partner on this song .

In 1999 he was introduced to the Church of Satan by industrial musician Boyd Rice , which he also writes about in his autobiography Tainted Life . Compared to the newspaper Die Welt , he described the introduction as "wonderful", but denied being a member. He “didn't believe in any religion”, but was fascinated by Anton Szandor LaVey's books and liked his views on music and film.

In 2001 Almond appeared together with his old colleague David Ball as soft cell in London's Ocean Club for its inauguration. After a best-of compilation by Soft Cell, a new studio album was even released in 2002, followed by a concert tour. In 2004 another soft cell DVD was released - Non-Stop Exotic Video Show .

On October 17, 2004, Almond was critically injured as a passenger in a motorcycle accident in London . He was in intensive care for eleven days; however, after several operations, he recovered from his injuries.

In 2007 his album Stardom Road was released, which contains only cover versions except for a single song and was enthusiastically celebrated by the press.

In 2008 Almond released the CD Gabriel & The Lunatic Lover with Michael Cashmore ( Current 93 ) with two poems set to music by the poet Count Eric Stenbock .

In March 2009 he gave eight concerts in Germany as part of his Stardom Road Continued Tour .

In 2010 he celebrated his 30th stage anniversary with a European tour.

In 2012 he performed in the German cities of Leipzig, Berlin and Cologne, among others.

He describes himself as homosexual , but does not want to be called a “homosexual artist”, since, in his opinion, this can be understood to mean that his work is only of interest to homosexuals.

In 2018 Marc Almond was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to art and culture .

On May 4, 2019, he appeared on an episode of the music show Privatkonzert .

Discography

Albums

year	title	Top ranking, total weeks / months, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, rankings, weeks / months, awards, notes)					Remarks
		DE	AT	CH	UK	US
1984	Vermin in Ermine	-	-	-	UK36 (2 weeks) UK	-	First published: October 1984 with The Willing Sinners
1985	Stories of Johnny	-	-	-	UK22 (3 weeks) UK	-	First published: September 1985
1987	Mother Fist and Her Five Daughters	-	-	-	UK41 (2 weeks) UK	-	First published: April 1987 with The Willing Sinners
1988	The Stars We Are	DE9 (17 weeks) DE	AT15 (2½ months) AT	CH5 (9 weeks) CH	UK41 silver (5 weeks)UK	US144 (11 weeks) US	First published: September 1988
1990	Enchanted	DE73 (4 weeks) DE	-	-	UK52 (1 week) UK	-	First published: June 1990
1991	Memorabilia - The Singles	-	-	-	UK8 (13 weeks) UK	-	First published: April 1991 with Soft Cell
	Tenement Symphony	-	-	-	UK39 (3 weeks) UK	-	First published: October 1991
1996	Fantastic star	-	-	-	UK54 (1 week) UK	-	First published: February 1996
2007	Stardom Road	-	-	-	UK53 (1 week) UK	-	First published: June 2007
2015	The Velvet Trail	-	-	-	UK62 (1 week) UK	-	First published: March 9, 2015
2017	Hits and Pieces - The Best of	-	-	-	UK7 (5 weeks) UK	-	First published: March 10, 2017 with Soft Cell
	Shadows and Reflections	-	-	-	UK14 (1 week) UK	-	First published: September 22, 2017
2018	A Lovely Life to Live	-	-	-	UK61 (1 week) UK	-	First published: November 23, 2018 with Jools Holland
2020	Chaos and a Dancing Star	-	-	-	UK35 (1 week) UK	-	First published: January 31, 2020

more albums

• 1986: Violent Silence (mini-album with 5 tracks)
• 1989: Jacques
• 1993: 12 Years of Tears
• 1993: Absinthe - The French Album
• 1998: Live in Concert (with Le Magia)
• 1999: Open All Night
• 2000: Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
• 2001: Stranger Things
• 2001: Live at the Union Chapel
• 2003: Heart on Snow
• 2003: The Willing Sinner: Live in Berlin
• 2004: Live at the Lokerse Feesten 2000
• 2008: In 'Bluegate Fields' Live at Wilton's Music Hall
• 2009: Orpheus in Exile - Songs of Vadim Kozin (with Alexei Fedorov)
• 2009: Marc Mix
• 2009: Live at the London Palladium Soho Jazz Festival 1986
• 2010: Variety show
• 2011: Live in Barcelona at the Apollo 2007 - A Blue Star Official Bootleg
• 2011: Feasting with Panthers (with Michael Cashmore )
• 2014: The Tyburn Tree (Dark London) (with John Harle )

Compilations

• 1987: Singles 1984-1987
• 1991: Memorabilia - The Singles (with Soft Cell)
• 1992: A Virgin's Tale - Volume 1
• 1992: A Virgin's Tale - Volume 2
• 1995: Treasure Box
• 1997: Violent Silence / A Woman's Story
• 1997: Flesh Volcano / Slut (with fetus )
• 1997: Violent Silence / Flesh Volcano (with fetus)
• 1998: Torch (Soft Cell feat. Marc Almond)
• 2002: Little Rough Rhinestones - Volume 1 (2 CDs)
• 2003: In Session Volume One
• 2003: In Session Volume Two
• 2006: Little Rough Rhinestones - Volume 2
• 2008: A Virgin's Tale - Volume 1 & 2 (2 CDs)

Singles

year	Title album	Top ranking, total weeks / months, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, album , rankings, weeks / months, awards, notes)					Remarks
		DE	AT	CH	UK	US
1984	The Boy Who Came Back Vermin in Ermine	-	-	-	UK52 (5 weeks) UK	-	First published: May 1984
	You Have / Split Lip Vermin in Ermine	-	-	-	UK57 (4 weeks) UK	-	First published: August 1984
	Tenderness is a weakness	-	-	-	UK88 (2 weeks) UK	-	First published: November 12, 1984
1985	I Feel Love / Johnny Remember Me (Medley) The Age of Consent	DE16 (12 weeks) DE	-	CH23 (3 weeks) CH	UK3 (14 weeks) UK	-	First published: April 1985 with Bronski Beat
	Stories of Johnny Stories of Johnny	-	-	-	UK23 (6 weeks) UK	-	First published: August 1985
	Love Letter Stories of Johnny	-	-	-	UK68 (4 weeks) UK	-	First published: October 1985
1986	The House Is Haunted Stories of Johnny	-	-	-	UK55 (4 weeks) UK	-	First published: December 1985
	A Woman's Story (Some Songs to Take to the Tomb - Compilation One)	-	-	-	UK41 (5 weeks) UK	-	First published: May 1986
	Ruby Red Mother Fist and Her Five Daughters	-	-	-	UK47 (3 weeks) UK	-	First published: October 1986 with The Willing Sinners
1987	Melancholy Rose Mother Fist and Her Five Daughters	-	-	-	UK71 (3 weeks) UK	-	First published: February 1987
	Mother Fist	-	-	-	UK93 (1 week) UK	-	First published: March 1987
1988	Tears Run Rings The Stars We Are	DE32 (18 weeks) DE	-	-	UK26 (7 weeks) UK	US67 (8 weeks) US	First published: August 1988
	Bitter Sweet The Stars We Are	-	-	-	UK40 (4 weeks) UK	-	First published: October 1988
1989	Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart The Stars We Are	DE1 gold (20 weeks)DE	AT2 (4 months) AT	CH1 (14 weeks) CH	UK1 gold (12 weeks)UK	-	First published: January 1989 with Gene Pitney
	Only the Moment The Stars We Are	DE60 (4 weeks) DE	-	-	UK45 (3 weeks) UK	-	First published: March 1989
1990	A Lover Spurned Enchanted	DE61 (10 weeks) DE	-	-	UK29 (4 weeks) UK	-	First published: February 1990
	The Desperate Hours Enchanted	-	-	-	UK45 (2 weeks) UK	-	First published: May 1990
	Waifs and strays	-	-	-	UK88 (1 week) UK	-	First published: November 12, 1990
1991	Jacky Tenement Symphony	-	-	-	UK17 (6 weeks) UK	-	First published: September 1991
1992	My Hand over My Heart Tenement Symphony	DE56 (8 weeks) DE	-	-	UK33 (5 weeks) UK	-	First published: December 1991
	The Days of Pearly Spencer Tenement Symphony	DE21 (16 weeks) DE	AT16 (2 weeks) AT	-	UK4 (7 weeks) UK	-	First published: April 1992
1993	What Makes a Man a Man (Live) 12 Years of Tears	-	-	-	UK60 (2 weeks) UK	-	First published: March 1993
1995	Adored and Explored Fantastic Star	-	-	-	UK25 (3 weeks) UK	-	First published: March 1995
	The Idol Fantastic Star	-	-	-	UK44 (2 weeks) UK	-	First published: July 1995
	Child Star Fantastic Star	-	-	-	UK41 (2 weeks) UK	-	First published: December 1995
1996	Yesterday Has Gone Legend	-	-	-	UK58 (4 weeks) UK	-	First published: December 1996 with PJ Proby
1998	Black Kiss	-	-	-	UK84 (1 week) UK	-	First published: October 1998
2001	Total Eclipse cash poison	DE22 (7 weeks) DE	-	-	-	-	First published: March 2001 with Rosenstolz
	Please stay	-	-	-	UK91 (1 week) UK	-	First published: July 14, 2001 Mekon feat. Marc Almond

more singles

• 1984: My Death (Flexi single)
• 1986: Your Aura (Flexi single)
• 1987: In Your Bed
• 1988: Kept Boy
• 1989: I'm coming
• 1991: Say Hello Wave Goodbye '91 (with Soft Cell)
• 1991: Bedsitter / Torch
• 1991: Tainted Love '91 (with Soft Cell)
• 1992: Dancing in a Golden Cage (A Reflection in a Golden Eye)
• 1992: Madame de la luna
• 1992: Christmas in Vegas (Flexi single)
• 1995: Out There
• 1996: Marie et Marc (with Marie France)
• 1998: Black Kiss
• 1999: Tragedy (Take a Look and See)
• 1999: My Love
• 2000: Please Stay (Mekon feat. Marc Almond)
• 2001: Soul on Soul ( System F feat. Marc Almond)
• 2001: Glorious
• 2003: Gone But Not Forgotten / Gosudariunia (EP)
• 2003: Dark Age of Love (with Mad Drivers)
• 2004: Fuck the DJ EP (Punx Soundcheck feat. Marc Almond)
• 2004: Sheherezade
• 2004: Face Control EP (Replicant feat. Marc Almond)
• 2005: Delirious / Theater of Dreams
• 2005: Perfect Honey (Temptation) (Loverush UK! Feat. Marc Almond)
• 2005: Prime Evil (King Roc feat. Marc Almond)
• 2005: Baby's on Fire / Take Me Away (T-Total feat. Marc Almond)
• 2005: Berlin Moon (Punx Soundcheck feat. Marc Almond)
• 2005: Fur Remixed (Replicant feat. Marc Almond)
• 2007: I Close My Eyes and Count to Ten (with Sarah Cracknell )
• 2008: Smoke & Mirrors Rmx EP (Starcluster feat. Marc Almond)
• 2008: Gabriel & the Lunatic Lover (with Michael Cashmore )
• 2008: Brel Extras
• 2010: Nijinski Heart EP
• 2013: Burn Bright / The Dancing Marquis
• 2014: Tasmanian Tiger EP

guest

• Guiltless and Stolen Kisses on the Psychic TV album "Force the Hand of Chance" (Nov 1982)
• The Hungry Years on the compilation "The Whip" (1983)
• Burning Boats on the Annie Hogan album "Plays Kickabye" (1985)
• I Feel Love / Johnny Remember Me, remake of the 1977 Donna Summer hit, with Jimmy Somerville of the British band Bronski Beat (April 1985)
• Skin on the The Burmoe Brothers EP "Skin" (July 1985)
• Love Amongst the Ruined on the various artists album "If You Can't Please Yourself, You Can't Please Your Soul" (Sept. 1985)
• Slut, 12 ″ together with JG Thirlwell under the project name Flesh Volcano (1987)
• Man in Black on the tribute album for Johnny Cash "'til Things Are Brighter" (1988)
• Sings the backing vocals on the track Who by Fire on the album "Horse Rotorvator" by the band Coil
• Shivers in Red on Melinda Miel's album "The Law of the Dream" (April 1992)
• Like a Prayer on the compilation "Ruby Trax" (November 1992)
• Paint It Black , Rolling Stones cover on the compilation " Philharmania ", produced by Mike Batt
• Idumæa on the Current 93 album "Black Ships Ate the Sky" (2006)

bibliography

• 1988 The Angel of Death in the Adonis Lounge ( ISBN 0-85449-079-5 )
• 1999 A Beautiful Twisted Night ( anthology of his poems and lyrics, ISBN 1-899858-86-5 , ISBN 1-84166-023-X )
• 1999 Tainted Life ( Autobiography , ISBN 0-283-06340-8 , ISBN 0-330-37201-7 )
• 2001 The End of New York ( ISBN 1-84166-057-4 )
• 2004 In Search of the Pleasure Palace (Disreputable Travels) ( ISBN 0-283-07313-6 )

swell

1. ^ Soft Cell. Entry on Rate Your Music (English).
2. ↑ Marc Almond ( Memento from July 22, 2012 in the web archive archive.today ). Church of Satan website .
3. ↑ Boyd Rice Interview from Bizarre. In: Boyd Rice's website. Archived from the original on October 4, 2007 ; accessed on February 1, 2010 (English). 
4. ↑ Max Dax: Marc Almond: "I had to say things like 'Heil Satan!'" In: Die Welt. July 22, 2007, accessed February 1, 2010 . 
5. ^ Marc Almond on the Mend. New Musical Express , October 28, 2004 (English).
6. ^ OBE for 'little bit' anti-establishment Marc Almond. Irish Independent , December 19, 2017 (English).
7. ↑ ^{a b} Chart sources: Singles / Albums / Billboard 200 / Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart / UK
8. ↑ ^{a b} Awards for Music Sales: DE , UK

Web links

Commons : Marc Almond  - Collection of Images

• Official website
• Marc Almond at Allmusic (English)
• Marc Almond at Discogs (English)
• Marc Almond at laut.de
• Marc Almond at 45cat.com (English)
• Marc Almond at Rate Your Music (English)