Mark Almond

30 Year Celebration – “My Best Bits: Hits and A sides”

John Wannenburgh of SkunkWorks Promotions:
“As part of Marc’s 30th Anniversary Tour, he will appear at the Royal Hall and perform on 30th November. As this tour of 24 UK dates celebrates his 30 years in music, Marc will be singing only hits and singles, and with the support of a nine-piece band including baby grand piano, this promises to be a very special evening. Marc Almond is quite simply a legendry singer and British icon and this show will span his entire career – showcasing the best of his three decades in the music business. A perfect end to the year and a must see concert for every fan. The tour coincides with the release of his Best Of Album.”

There can’t be many who don’t know Marc’s rollercoaster career. From Soft Cell, the first successful British electro-duo in partnership with Dave Ball, with a string of international hits ('Bedsitter', 'Numbers', ‘Torch’, ‘Say Hello Wave Goodbye' and, biggest of all, their version of northern soul classic 'Tainted Love', while ‘Memorabilia’ is cited as the first techno record ever). Ten million-plus worldwide record sales later, Soft Cell are a British icon, influencing several subsequent generations of musicians - from Pulp, The Pet Shop Boys and Suede, to Goldfrapp and onto Antony Hegarty of Antony & The Johnsons fame.

Marc’s solo career has equally glittered; from Vermin In Ermine and The Stars We Are, which spawned the UK number one (and international hit) 'Something’s Gotten Hold Of My Heart', a duet with the late Gene Pitney. From the Trevor Horn-produced Tenement Symphony, which included another cover smash, 'The Days Of Pearly Spencer', to his tribute album Jacques to Jacques Brel. From duets with Siouxsie Sioux and former Sneaker Pimp Kelly Dayton to a big band version of ‘Say Hello, Wave Goodbye’ for Jools Holland’s Big Band, Small World album. From his poem/lyric anthology A Beautiful Twisted Night to a limited edition spoken word CD/book The End Of New York. From his first autobiography, 1999’s Tainted Life to his second, 2004’s In Search Of The Pleasure Palace. Not to forget Soft Cell’s reunion in 2001 for concerts and the Cruelty Without Beauty album, or Marc’s burgeoning DJ career, in his role as godfather of Electroclash.

Yet Marc hasn’t only survived the vagaries of fashion and trends, solo voyages and band reunions, creative highs and writers-block lows, acceptance and rejection, love affairs, the death of loved ones and collaborators, and the passing of time. He has lived, alright. But Marc also survived that near-fatal motorbike crash on 17 October 2004 that put him in a coma for two weeks, including emergency surgery and a protracted, agonising but triumphant recovery from critical injuries.

As part of his ongoing recovery, Marc made some short appearances, the first since his accident being Antony & The Johnson’s sensational debut London show in 2005. The standing ovation when Marc walked out of the wings, and the nape-hair-raising version of Antony’s ‘River Of Sorrow’ (“it’s such a poignant song for me,” says Marc, “as it’s about a near-death experience”), displays exactly the love that the audience has for Marc, and vice-versa. In 2006, Marc sung two Brecht songs at Patti Smith's London Meltdown Festival and then popped up in St. Petersburg, backed by the naval choir of 60 sailors and accompanied by the legendary Boris Grebenshikov on guitar and Mikhail Apteman on piano.

Marc has fought back to regain much of his previous status as a singer and songwriter and though he realises that many aspects of his life will never be the same again, he retains his unique way of looking at life through his humour and optimism. There is clearly more to come from this unique, captivating character; some drama, some exhilaration and probably some tears, but at least Marc knows what it is to be alive.

The show is held in association with Manx Radio.

Tickets (from £22.50) will be available through the Villa Marina Box Office from Saturday 27 March 2010. Telephone 01624 600555 and www.villagaiety.com or in person at the Villa Marina Reception and the Welcome Centre at the Sea Terminal.