Visage

As glamorous, gothic synth pop cult heroes, Visage were at the birth of the New Romantic movement with their startling look and grandiose, 1980s electro anthems. Growing out of a London club night hosted by Steve Strange and Rusty Egan, the former punks took inspiration from the glam rock of David Bowie and the early electronica of Kraftwerk and were at the forefront of the sub-culture as bands such as Ultravox, Gary Numan and Soft Cell started to emerge. With his white face paint, lipstick and flouncy haircuts, Strange became a charismatic front man as the band shot into the Top 10 with debut album Visage (1980) and to Number 8 with their classic, landmark single Fade To Grey. Follow-up The Anvil (1982) produced the club hits The Damned Don't Cry and Night Train but, after third album Beat Boy (1984) flopped, the band split in 1985. Still an inspiration to new generations of artists such as Nine Inch Nails, La Roux and Fischerspooner, Visage reformed in 2004 and celebrated their 30th anniversary in 2010.