Marc Almond

Marc Almond (born Peter Marc Almond) is a popular singer and recording artist who originally found fame as half of the seminal synthpop/new wave duo Soft Cell. He has also recorded albums wi

Marc Almond (born Peter Marc Almond) is a popular singer and recording artist who originally found fame as half of the seminal synthpop/new wave duo Soft Cell. He has also recorded albums with his band, Marc Almond and the Willing Sinners, and as a member of Marc and the Mambas alongside The The's Matt Johnson and Annie Hogan, with whom Almond would later collaborate on his later solo records. In addition, he has also collaborated with Kelli Ali of the Sneaker Pimps, Marie France, Agnes Bernelle, PJ Proby, Nico, Gene Pitney on a #1 UK single Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart, Siouxsie Sioux, Foetus (a.k.a. J. G. Thirlwell), Jimmy Somerville of the Communards and Bronski Beat, Psychic TV, Coil, Mekon, King Roc, John Cale and David Johansen of the New York Dolls. Although Soft Cell disbanded in 1984 just before the release of their third album, This Last Night in Sodom, the duo have since reunited for a new album (2002's Cruelty Without Beauty) and a new world tour, which includes a stop on the prestigious gay-themed Wotapalava tour.

His work runs the gamut from electronica and dance music to traditional piano ballads, as exhibited in his latest album, "Heart On Snow." He claims to be influenced by David Bowie, a childhood hero of his, as well as early 60's Northern Soul and disco. Topics confronted in his lyrics are generally dark and include transvestism, drug addiction, prostitution and murder. He also operates a record label, Blue Star Records, on which he has released many of his solo and collaborative records in the UK. In 1999 he recieved attention and accolades in the US for his autobiography, entitled Tainted Life, which confronts details of his early life, creative ventures, his homosexuality, and drug addiction, for which he was hospitalized in 2002.