ROckWrok

"ROckWrok" is a single by the post-punk band Ultravox!, released on 7 October 1977 by Island Records.^[1] It was the last British non-free single (the next, "Quirks", came free along initial copies of the album) released from the Ha! Ha! Ha! album and featuring Stevie Shears as guitarist. The next non-free single was Frozen Ones, released only in Germany shortly afterwards.^[2]

"ROckWrok" features a punk sound derived from Warren Cann's drums and Stevie Shears' guitar alongside John Foxx's hard vocals. It was regularly performed live until Ultravox's U.S. and Canadian tour in 1979,^[3] when John Foxx decided to go solo.

The B-side is an early version or demo,^[4] or alternate version of "Hiroshima Mon Amour" (named after the famous French movie), written by John Foxx and Billy Currie. It has a punkier sound than the album version of the song. A third version of the song was performed live on the Old Grey Whistle Test the next year, with Robin Simon replacing Shears as guitarist; it was quieter than the "ROckWrok" single version but maintained the rock style, also differing from the synthpop oriented version on Ha!-Ha!-Ha!.

This single, like all the Ha!-Ha!-Ha!-era releases, didn't perform well in the charts.

Track listing

7" version

"ROckWrok" – 3:33
"Hiroshima Mon Amour" – 4:54

Personnel

John Foxx: vocals
Chris Cross: bass, vocals
Stevie Shears: guitar
Warren Cann: drums, vocals
Billy Currie: keyboards, synthesizer, violin

References

Ultravox

Chris Cross Warren Cann Billy Currie Midge Ure John Foxx Stevie Shears Robin Simon Mark Brzezicki Tony Fenelle Gerry Laffy Neal Wilkinson Jackie Williams Sam Blue Vinny Burns Tony Holmes Gary Williams

Studio albums	Ultravox! Ha!-Ha!-Ha! Systems of Romance Vienna Rage in Eden Quartet Lament U-Vox Revelation Ingenuity Brilliant

Live albums	Monument

Compilation albums	Three into One The Collection Rare, Vol. 1 Rare, Vol. 2 Dancing with Tears in My Eyes Extended Ultravox The Island Years The Best of Ultravox Finest

Extended plays	Retro

Singles	"Young Savage" "ROckWrok" "Frozen Ones" "Quiet Men" "Sleepwalk" "Passing Strangers" "Vienna" "All Stood Still" "The Thin Wall" "The Voice" "Reap the Wild Wind" "Hymn" "Visions in Blue" "We Came to Dance" "One Small Day" "Dancing with Tears in My Eyes" "Lament" "Love's Great Adventure" "All Fall Down" "All in One Day" "Vienna 92"

Related	Discography Tiger Lily Brian Eno Steve Lillywhite Conny Plank Visage Messengers

Book:Ultravox

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