Bassist and an Ultravox songsmith
Chris Cross
Musician
BORN JULY 14, 1952 – DIED MARCH 25, 2024, AGED 71
CHRIS Cross, the bassist with British new wave band Ultravox, co-wrote some of their most memorable songs, including the haunting 1981 smash hit Vienna. Cross, who was born Christopher Thomas Allen in north London, was studying art and psychology at college when he answered an advert to join a new band called Tiger Lily.
By the time they signed a deal with Island Records in 1976, they had changed their name to Ultravox! (the exclamation mark was later dropped) and had released a debut album of the same name.
Influenced by the likes of Roxy Music, New York Dolls, David Bowie and Kraftwerk, they started as a glam rock act before morphing into new wave and synth pop.
Record sales were poor until Midge Ure joined the band in the late 1970s and brought it muchneeded commercial success.
Along with bandmates Warren Cann and Billy Currie, Ure and Cross co-wrote many of Ultravox’s most famous singles, including Dancing With Tears In My Eyes, Hymn and Reap The Wild Wind.
They had seven UK Top 10 albums, and 17 Top 40 singles. Although Vienna was kept off the No.1 spot – by Joe Dolce’s novelty song Shaddap You Face – it remains their most notable success.
In 1985, buoyed by Ure’s role as co-writer of Band Aid hit Do They Know It’s Christmas?, Ultravox played at Live Aid, but the group fizzled out shortly afterwards.
The band reformed in 2008 and performed a series of shows in 2009 and 2010. An album released in 2012 reached 21 in the UK charts.
In 2013, Ultravox were special guests on a four-date tour with Simple Minds. But by 2017 Ultravox had run its course.
In an emotional tribute, 70-yearold Ure explained: “We were instant friends as well as Ultravox comrades. Even after years apart we managed to pick up where we left off – like the years in between never existed.
“You were the glue that held the band together.You were the logic in the madness and the madness in our lives. It was great to know and grow with you.You are loved and missed, old friend.”
Ultravox posted a message on its Facebook page, saying: “Chris was a sweet, kind and funny man who continually exuded a sense of peace and calm. He would welcome you into his home with a cup of tea, a big smile and bigger hug, and happily chat for hours about life, the universe and everything (oh and a bit of Ultravox).”
Cross never disclosed whether he had a family. It is believed he was married to Lynne Allen, as reported by a Midge Ure Facebook fan page.
His cause of death is unknown.