Written by: Alex Green

Chris Cross, the bassist of the legendary new wave outfit Ultravox, has died.

Cross, who died on March 25th, was 71.

As of now, no further details have been given about his death.

Born Chris Allen in London, the young musician played in several local bands before landing in Stoned Rose; he later left the band to pursue his studies in Psychology and Art.

While in school, he formed Tiger Lilly, which was later re-named Ultravox. They put out three albums before new singer Midge Ure joined the fold after John Foxx left the band.

With Ure on vocals, Ultravox enjoyed the commercial success that had so far eluded them. They had a winning run in the early part of the ’80s, with seven Top Ten albums and nearly twenty Top 40 UK singles.

Cross wrote their most successful hit single, 1981’s “Vienna.”

Ure and Cross were fast friends and found themselves directing music videos by Fun Boy Three and Bananarama.

In tribute Ure wrote: “We worked together, we played together, made music and directed videos together. We were instant friends as well as Ultravox comrades. Even after years apart we managed to pick up where we left off like the years in between never existed. You were the glue that held the band together. You were the logic in the madness and the madness in our lives. It was great to know and grow with you. You are loved and missed old friend.”