Roxy Are Dancing Away Again 18 Years On

by Tim Cooper

London Evening Standard, circa February 2001

ROCK superstars Roxy Music are today announcing details of a reunion tour, including summer dates at Wembley, 18 years after they last played together. The legendary band, formed in the early Seventies and famed as much for their style as their music, are due to make the announcement at The Savoy this afternoon.

Three original members singer Bryan Ferry, guitarist Phil Manzanera and saxophonist Andy Mackay - will take part in a world tour, including summer dates at Wembley Arena. The trio, all in their fifties, have already begun rehearsals for the dates but are not expected to record a new album. Ever since they last played together in 1983, promoters have been trying to tempt them out of retirement with multi-million pound offers. Until now they have been resisted by 55-year-old Ferry, who preferred to continue his solo career, although he resurrected several of the group's old favourites on a tour last year. Founder member Brian Eno, who left the band in 1973 to become one of the world's top record producers, in between parallel music and art careers, will not be taking part.

Fans have given a cautious welcome to news of the reunion. Kicki Gustafsson, who runs a Roxy website called Avalon - the name of their final album in 1983 acknowledged that the nostalgic shows could be "great fun" for diehard fans, but warned that the event might turn out to be "uncomfortably pathetic". However, she added: "Roxy Music were always about style and hopefully they can pull this one off, too."

Roxy were formed in 1970 by art student Ferry and had their first hit the following year with Virginia Plain. Their early records contrasted Ferry's distinctive croon with Manzanera's heavilydistorted guitars and Eno's weird electronic experiments. Their image was initially outrageous, marked by extravagant glam-rock outfits and heavy make-up, but after Eno's departure, both the fashions and the music became increasingly mainstream. Their hits included Street Life and Love Is The Drug but it was only in their later days that they reached number one with John Lennon's song Jealous Guy, recorded as a tribute to the murdered Beatle.

Manzanera's website has recently been asking fans to vote for their favourite songs for a potential Roxy reunion. Topping the poll so far is Virginia Plain.

Text copyright 2001 The London Evening Standard, used without permission. All grammar mistakes left intact.
With thanks to Grant Goggans.

Last Updated: 9 April 2008