Watch ABC play live on The Stool of Rock

Virgin Radio

13 Jul 2023, 16:21

A band whose brilliance never need to be spelled out. It’s ABC live on The Stool of Rock on the Chris Evans Breakfast Show with cinch.

Founding member and arguably the quintessential eighties pop icon, Martin Fry, stopped by the studio to perform some stripped back takes from the band's classic album The Lexicon of Love, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

The pop band formed in Sheffield back in 1980 and released the iconic debut album in 1982, which stayed in the charts for over a year and produced four top 20 hits for the steel town songsters.

Their classic line-up consisted of lead vocalist Fry, guitarist and keyboardist Mark White, saxophonist Stephen Singleton, and drummer David Palmer.

Although Fry is now the only remaining original member, the group still retain the musical magic that made them such a success.

You can hear just a little bit of that magic here with the track that cemented their icon status Look Of Love. Released as a single in the UK on 27 August 1982 and peaked at No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart.

Listen below:

As well as going on tour next year as part of the celebration, ABC are also releasing special a celebratory edition of the album which contains the half-speed Abbey Road remaster by Miles Showell and a further three records putting material on vinyl for the first time including the album performed live at Hammersmith Odeon in 1982.

Fry let Chris Evans know that the now famed performance was also a momentous occasion to the band for a very out of this world reason.

"I was told after the show that David Bowie had been watching." Fry said.

He then went on to say that he Bowie a year later, but it was just a nod of the head.

Playing a few new songs as well, Fry and guitarist Pete Renauldy then ripped into Poison Arrow, the second single from the debut studio album.

Have a listen to their acoustic version here:

If you are interested in seeing another live performance from ABC you can check another electrifying performance courtesy of virginradio.co.uk here

‘THE LEXICON OF LOVE 40TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION’ - RELEASE FRIDAY 4TH AUGUST |LEXICON OF LOVE TOUR - TICKETS ON SALE TOMORROW (14 July) @ 10AM - ABCMARTINFRY.COM

For more great interviews listen to  The Chris Evans Breakfast Show with cinch weekdays from 6:30am on Virgin Radio, or catch up on-demand here.