| Vicious Pink | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Leeds, England |
| Genres | Synthpop, technopop, New Wave |
| Years active | 1981–1986 |
| Labels | Parlophone Capitol Records |
| Website | Vicious Pink website |
| Past members | |
| Josephine Warden Brian Moss |
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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 vocalists 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[1]) 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 albums 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.
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