Marc Almond

Soft Cell singer/songwriter Marc Almond also enjoys a prolific solo career as a multi-dimensional theatrical and musical persona, known for completely inhabiting songs with his reedy, resonant voice. Between 1982 and 1987, his three albums with the Willing Sinners -- including the internationally acclaimed Stories of Johnny -- depicted him as a prewar European cabaret singer. 1988's The Stars We Are was a hit return to dance-pop. Between 1995 and 2000, Almond offered sleazy, emotionally wrought pop on albums like Fantastic Star and Open All Night. 2003's Russian-themed Heart on Snow was recorded in Moscow, and 2009's Orpheus in Exile: Songs of Vadim Kozin paid tribute to the persecuted Russian songwriter. The ten-disc Trials of Eyeliner retrospective appeared in 2016 as Almond worked in Los Angeles with producer/multi-instrumentalist Chris Braide on what would become 2020's Chaos and a Dancing Star. Soft Cell reunited for 2022's Happiness Not Included.