Chris Cross, band member of Ultravox, who co-wrote their hit Vienna, has died at 71 years old.
Cross, whose real name was Chris Allen, passed away on March 25, but the news was only announced late last night.
His Ultravox co-star and the group’s frontman Midge Ure paid tribute on Facebook, writing: ‘We worked together, we played together, made music and directed videos together. 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,’ he signed off.
No cause of death has been shared.
Cross was one of Vienna’s founding members, forming in 1974 as Tiger Lily with singer Dennis Leigh, guitarist Stevie Shears, drummer Warren Cann and violinist/keyboardist Billy Currie.
In 1976, they changed their name to Ultravox and three albums followed in the next two years – Ultravox!, Ha!-Ha!-Ha! and Systems of Romance – although none broke through to mainstream success.
After a few personnel changes in the line-up and exits from guitarist Robin Simon and lead singer John Foxx, Midge Ure came on board to join a revived Ultravox in 1979.
Ultravox became Cross, Ure, Cann and Currie and this second iteration is considered the group’s classic line-up.
They began working on their breakthrough album, Vienna, which was released in July 1980.
Although it initially charted as a minor hit at the time, the release of the single of the same name in January 1981 was a massive success, spending four weeks at number two in the charts and becoming the fifth highest-selling single in the UK that year.
Cross and Ure also collaborated through their work directing music videos together, including Bananarama’s Shy Boy, while Cross also took part in the Band Aid video, a project which was co-founded by Ure and Sir Bob Geldof.
Ultravox produced five more albums during the 1980s: Rage in Eden, Quartet, Monument, Lament and U-Vox.
After drifting apart to focus on other work, they reunited in 2009 for a tour.
Their final album, Brilliant, came in 2012 and had Cross as co-writer on all songs alongside Ure and Currie.
Fans also paid tribute to Cross online, while sending their condolences to Ure.
‘So sorry for your loss Midge. Chris and you guys were the soundtrack of my youth and still love you guys to bits,’ wrote Steve Pearson on X.
‘It's a huge surprise and a great loss. My deepest condolences go out to Chris’s family and friends.’
‘Oh, no. It's very sad to read this – my condolences to family and friends,’ Lisa added.
‘I will always remember his influence on my musical learning. Rest In Peace, Chris.’
‘I am so saddened. He was such a crucial part of Ultravox,’ Melanie Canwell shared, while Diane Seabourne posted: ‘I am so sad to hear about the passing of Chris – I adored Ultravox. I constantly played your music.
‘It was everything to me when I was 14/15 years old, listening to Vienna & Rage in Eden when they were first released; still is. My love & thoughts to you & Chris’s family & friends.’
