Ultravox

United Kingdom, 1974–2013

English band that ran from John Foxx's art-rock line-up to the Midge Ure era. 'Vienna' (1981) combined synthesizer arrangement with a slow, European-styled ballad form.

MusicRoots documents 3 artists who influenced Ultravox and 2 artists Ultravox influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced Ultravox?

• Roxy Music — Ultravox's art-rock foundation was Roxy Music — the Ferry/Eno template of glamour and synthesizer experiment they extended into new wave.
• Kraftwerk — Kraftwerk's electronic pop was the acknowledged machine foundation beneath Ultravox's synth-driven turn on Systems of Romance and Vienna.
• Brian Eno — Eno produced Ultravox's debut (1977) and his art-rock/ambient sensibility shaped their early sound directly.

Which artists did Ultravox influence?

• Tubeway Army — Numan has named seeing Ultravox (John Foxx era) the moment he turned Tubeway Army toward synthesizers.
• Kim Wilde — Ultravox is among the synth-pop acts her brother Ricky, who wrote and produced her early records, was working from.