ABC

ABC formed in 1980 in the city of Sheffield, in South Yorkshire, after Martin Fry, a music journalist, interviewed the band Vice Versa for his fanzine Modern Drugs. They adopted Fry as lead vocalist and changed their name to ABC. The revamped band were pigeon-holed as part of the New Romantic movement of the time, which included the likes of Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet. Although the band would offer many stylistic spins within its career, it is best known for combining synthesizers with orchestra to produce a polished, bright pop-oriented sound. The first single, "Tears Are Not Enough", made the UK Top 20 in 1981. Soon afterwards, David Robinson left the band and was replaced by drummer David Palmer.