Looking Backwards Towards the Future: The Story of Ultravox is the first authorised biography of post-punk mavericks turned commercial superstars, Ultravox. Written with the knowledge, permission and cooperation of the band’s surviving core members, it offers the definitive account of one of Britain’s most eccentric, unusual and uncompromising groups.

Drawing from a vast archive of research materials, and incorporating exclusive input from the band, as well as from their peers, their label and management teams, and those closest to them, Looking Backwards Towards the Future promises to tell the many and varied stories of the band: from fractures and fallouts to ambition and ego.

From their experimental, art-school beginnings as post-punk outsiders, to their rebirth as chart-conquering heroes, Ultravox always remained unique, idiosyncratic and intractable. Consistently derided by the media throughout their career, they were unwavering in their pursuit of an eccentric trajectory of their own design, achieving enviable success, and millions of records sold, but always on their own terms.

Formed by John Foxx as an art school project in 1974, and forever a step outside contemporary trends and expectations, Ultravox made three albums, including the highly influential Systems Of Romance, before Foxx departed in 1979. Ultravox then recruited a new singer, Midge Ure, with whom they enjoyed 16 UK hit singles – including ‘Vienna’, ‘Dancing With Tears In My Eyes’ and ‘Love’s Great Adventure’ – and seven hit albums between 1980 and 1986.

Ultravox unexpectedly reunited in 2008 for a triumphant reunion tour and one final album.

Looking Backwards Towards the Future: the Story of Ultravox was published by Omnibus Press on 8th October 2026 and is available to order from all good online and offline bookshops. In North America, Australia and New Zealand the book will be published on 9th February 2027.

There are currently no plans for translations of the book to be published in languages other than English, but if you are a publisher and you are interested in talking to us about translation rights then please get in touch using the contact form further down the page.

Copies of Looking Backwards Towards the Future: The Story of Ultravox, signed by the author, are available to order from Lexer Music. 

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Richard Evans is available for events, interviews and publicity. Please use the contact form below to get in touch.

Richard Evans has worked in the music industry for over thirty years in a variety of roles, including positions at London Records, Factory Records and MTV Europe. In 1998 he set up marketing consultancy The Fan Base and has been connecting musical artists with their audiences ever since. He is the founder of the This Is Not Retro website and record label and has worked for Andy Bell, Vince Clarke and Erasure since 2009. His previous book is Listening to the Music the Machines Make – Inventing Electronic Pop 1978-1983. Richard is based in Dorset where he lives in perpetual fear of being asked what his favourite record is.