I would just like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their kind comments on the history of Fade to Grey explained (well, at least the part I was involved in) There have been some really interesting and generous comments, and even the negative ones make a point that I’ll address in the future (audio issues) I would never have believed that so many would have reacted to this. Once again thank you, but I’m now left thinking about what to do next?? xxx

WOW. I thought fade to grey was perfect? This piano piece is absolutely STUNNING.

Fade to Grey is still as captivating today as it was when I was 18 in 1981. As a piano and synth player I love synth pop!

Fade to Grey and Blue Monday defined the 80s for me. Thank you for creating this masterpiece

"Fade to Grey" is that rare example of a song developing a soul of its own. It really is a deeply spiritual piece, so much greater than the some of its parts. A masterpiece.

“Do I want royalties? NO!”. That’s the spirit. What a great guy.

My god that piano piece is euphoric. I saw Midge perform 'Fade to Grey' at Forever Young Fest last year and that song still blows me away. It just goes to show that a certain coupling of chords can reverberate forever and in various forms.

This song is masterpiece and one of the most important synth songs of all the time.

This song is the eighties... 3 seconds into the track and your back there

This is totally fascinating. Chris is modest, implying that a masterpiece just "happens" but the talent behind it is clear.

Absolutely timeless,midge stills performs this live simply amazing.

Quite simply this was the greatest song of the 80's without a shadow of a doubt .. and there were some great songs .. it never fails to get to me even after all these years

One of the most beautiful pop songs ever composed.

One of the best YT videos I’ve ever watched. Chris is just an all round top bloke.

Fade to Grey, one of the great songs of my childhood. I spent 1982 listening to it, along with songs like 'Girls on Film', 'Eye of the Tiger', ,Tainted Love' and 'Angels in the Centerfold'. What a great year for music it was.

Huge Thanks for telling the story. We didn't have a commercial radio until 1990 in Sweden so we had to stick to listening to local pirate radio broadcasting at nights. Still remember this cold evening in a dark room, almost midnight, when I heard it first. As being 15 at that time in 1982, I was in heaven. Even today I have these beautiful memories whenever I hear it, either played on the radio or on my turntable, it's part of my life. Cheers.

That bass line always sends shivers down my spine, fantastic.👍

A little story for you, Chris. When this video ended, I stood up and began to applaud. My two sons, aged 22 and 19, started laughing. However, they soon fell in love with the song and have been listening to the original version ever since. Take care. You've made history in music. The most remarkable thing is that when we make history, we often don't realize it at the time. Time will tell us. Congratulations. John from Greece.

You are too modest Mr Payne, you did great work there, and also with Gary Numan. It's refreshing to see someone acknowledging the contributions of others like you did with Billy and Cedric ,Russell and later with Midge and Rusty . You are a gentleman and a class act.

I can't begin to tell you how much Fade To Grey captivated me and still does as does The Damned Don't Cry. Thanks for these timeless treasures!

Goosebumps and tingles! I'd never heard anything like "Fade to Grey" before and was immediately captivated by that bassline! Never dreamed I'd hear the story of how it was created! Inspired stuff!

Definitely one of the best synth pop songs, what a great sound and composition

one word "Masterpiece"

When I first heard this it was jaw dropping moment.

Once I learned the bassline I was hooked,,making music for 35 yrs now,because of you RESpect to you Chris

Fade to Grey is probably the best electronic 80's sone EVER! Love it SO much!

Every time each key is pressed I have chills. This is so awesome. An absolute timeless classic. Thank you so much for making this video Chris.

I cannot overestimate the profound effect that Fade To Grey has had upon my life. 🙂

Michelangelo explaining the statue of David wouldn't be as wonderful, inspiring and captivating as this.

An amazing insight into not only a classic song , but the start of a culture that defined the 80s you were at the spearhead with Numan and Steve Strange

My favourite 80s song explained by legend Christopher Payne 🙏

One of the best songs of the 80s...Here in germany it was a massive massive hit.Fantastic work!

First time seeing this. Gary Numan’s ‘Pleasure Principle’ changed me back in ‘79 when I was just 9. Got the album and learned it was about much more than just ‘Cars’. So mesmerizing to hear about all the connections between all these pioneers from that formative time. So glad I clicked on this tonight. Blessings, all.

I grew up in Germany and it was absolutely omnipresent in these times. One of my favorites, even now. Thank you for your story! ❤️

I play the drums and in the 80s I would practise by placing speakers either side of me and playing along to music (God help my ears!). While I was practising my Mum returned from shopping with a copy of Fade to Grey on 7 inch. I placed it on the turntable, with the speakers up full. The intro and the song itself, especially the bass riff blew me away. A Classic tune, Thanks Chris.

Mr. Payne you are just an amazing musician! Sounds like a lot of history went into Face to Grey! A pure classic!! I could listen to you all day!! When I hear Fade to Grey. Silent tears just fall ..who is listening at the end of 2022.. ME!!! with luv from Toronto, Canada 🇨🇦 All the best Chris !! Luv LA ♥️📀📀

When the bass part comes on....delicious shivers all over

Chris sounds like a wonderful guy with a lot of great stories. I wanna have a beer with him!

With the absolute greatest of respect, I fundamentally disagree that Midge made a good song a great song. He’s wonderful. You were a major part of the architecture of one of the greatest songs in modern music. When we hear the words ‘fade to grey’, we think of that baseline, Steve’s vocal, and that wonderful french interlude. But the absolute backbone of the song is yours. Unequivocally. It’s always been in my top 3 favourite songs ever (with Enola Gay by OMD and Music by John Miles). A majestic masterpiece and your work defined an era. What a contribution to music history!

I’m in my mid 50’s and always hit the night clubs in Leeds at the weekends when in my teens and 20’s. There was a certain club that always played mainly electronic and this song was always been played. I have a son who is 18 and I got him and his mates into visage, numan, ultravox, yazoo, etc...and now if you get into his car and go out, he has mainly all the greats from the 80’s belting out....happy days.

Heard this song whilst still in high school 1981 for the first time on a friend's dad BMW 745i tape deck ! One of my best songs of all times. Greetings from Pretoria South Africa.

I can only say WOW. Brilliant. You effortlessly created one of the best songs of all time.

Internet age gives so much Legends in person. Head spins.

Really interesting stuff, Fade to Grey has to be one, if not the best electronic synth song of the 80s, and still sounds amazing today in 2021

I know steve didn't have the strongest voice, but it suited this track so well, he was a wonderful and generous friend, obviously got no royalties from it, but he made the song, not one single nice word on the comments. Love you Steve RIP

I could play this song a million times in a row and never get tired of hearing.

i was 6 when fade to grey appeared, it hit me even back then and has always stuck with me, one of the songs of all time

I am no musician. I can’t play a single instrument. But I have loved music for ever. I love hearing how this song morphed from your collection of chords to the masterpiece that it become. It’s amazing how the ‘what do I do now?’ Moment become an iconic part as well as how the missing mini moog changed the sound probably for the better. Thank you Chris for a great breakdown.

Love KZfaq for the random recommendations. Love fade to grey, never knew the story behind such a iconic song, grew up in the 80’s and work in Chichester 😃

A masterpiece that still sounds great on the dancefloor today

Chris, you and Billy are absolute legends.The passion you both have for your craft is palpable. Thank you for all you have done.

Mr. Christopher Payne you are just an amazing musician 🎶🎶 absolutely brilliant!! Been following you since Gary Numan days!! 1979 , all the best to you and your family !! Luv from Toronto , Canada 🇨🇦 LA 2021 Fade to Grey is a brilliant song!! Love it always will!!!

omg I am so happy to hear this background on a song that haunted me since I first heard it as a teen in the early 80's. Christopher Payne you are a cultural ICON and Legend, thank you so much, YOU ROCK!

Hi Chris - I remember hearing this for the first time when it came out, and it sounded so amazing and original. Like from another world. It still gives me that feeling.

*As a synth musician, I really enjoyed watching this, but that's another story!* ⭐😃👍

One of my favorite songs, which defined the era it was made, and has proved timeless. It's cinematic, filled with longing and regret. The piano is beautiful. First time I've heard it. A masterpiece.

Hi Chris, I can’t even begin to tell you what a fan I am of your work. I started listening to Numan in 1981 and his best stuff was when you were in the band. I have so many great memories of that time and I thank you for being part of it. 👍

A timeless Masterpiece...feel the rain like an English summer...R.I.P. Steve

thank you for making this tune, you are a part of history , never take that for granted

Amazing tune....My older brother and I loved Visage...

“Sorry too be so animated!?” That’s the stuff of life. I’m sorry if I move way from animation. Look where it got you. You are brilliant.

Nice to see the face behind what is quintessentially THE song of the 80’s. Nothing will ever better it. They will wheel my coffin in to this playing !

First heard this song in 1985, I was 15 years old listening to college radio out of Davidson College WDAV which played classical music all day but had the Flipsides radio show from midnight til 2am, I would record as much music as I could from that 2 hour show, didn't hear this song again for many years, there were a few songs I had recorded that I never found out what they were, lost in time

When i close my eyes and signal back my memories growing up as a teenager feeling like an outsider, that bass line has remained the soundtrack that has been part of the patterns that hold my fields of my memories. ❤

Wow, that's so great to give us the inside of such a great track. I was not even aware that the musicians of Numan's band and Ultravox was that way in friendship. Thank you very much, Chris! Oh, I forget to say, that in my point of view, you did the major part of the track, sure!

What a brilliant idea, deconstructing such an iconic track. Thanks for this, Chris. Steve&Cedric RIP 💞

Fade to Grey est ma chanson favorite, toutes catégories confondues. Je l'écoute depuis plus de 42 ans sans m'en lasser . C'est un chef-d'œuvre pop ! Tout est parfait et je suis étonné qu'elle n'est pas été n°1 ..... Merci pour ces explications, c'est extrêmement intéressant. Merci !!

So great to hear the story of one of the best or THE BEST synthpop songs of the very early days. One of my top favorites ! Well done Chris ! So interesting.

One of The classic songs of the New Romantic synth era. Very arresting music.

Love this tune. Never gets old.

Fascinating insight to iconic masterpiece

Lovely video showing the magic when talented musicians work together

Fascinating, certainly no small contribution from you Chris! The bassline is THE driving force behind the track. Very interesting to finally get The full story on the song and not least your particular part in it!

"Small part"... master of understatement Chris! I just love hearing the name checks and cross-pollination here... Gary Numan... Magazine... Ultravox... Human League. A truly amazing time musically, that I doubt will ever happen again.

Dear Christopher, I have ALWAYS adored "Fade to grey". I put it up there with "Good Vibrations", "I am the Walrus", "Light my Fire" and any classic where the piece is lifted with an amazig piano structure. "Fade to grey" and "I am the Walrus" have some similar lyrics. Music has power. And, what you created is immortal. Thank you for giftig us magic. RIP Steve Strange. David

Fade to grey was one of my favourite tracks from Visage, thanks for running through it's conception.

First single I ever bought. Absolute classic. Still one of my favorites to this day. Thank you so much for the music and thanks for sharing the story

Incredible, just an incredible song. I was 13 and going through one of the worst periods of my life when I first heard Fade to Grey, and it just made things better. Everyday for over a year I would rush home from school so I could just lose myself in the melody. I could never explain how much it helped... Thank you...

Fade to Grey got me into 80s music. I especially love the orchestral remix of it.

Just pure magic as soon as he begins to play.

Pop music had its orgasm in the 80s. And the best came from Britain. Nowadays there is only crap and disease. Regards from Germany.

Fade to Grey was a turning point in New wave, he is the ulmitate hit new wave !!!

This is fantastic, I have always wanted to know how Fade To Grey developed - at the time I was aware it was based on something Chris wrote in the soundchecks so having it fully explained is wonderful (especially 40-odd years later!). Stumbled on this video by accident (thank you youtube, usually I despise your recommendations, but why it was recommended when I was looking for the cheesy mash-up someone did years ago with Joy Division's No Love Lost and some 70s dancers is anybody's guess). I digress - thanks Chris!

Thank you gentleman, this is still such a great song after 40 years. Both great as a dance track and also very emotional.

The strangest thing about this, at the time, futuristic piece of music, is that it was created around when Midge Ure was a stand-in live tour guitarist for Thin Lizzy!!!

7:27 this is so written into my system. I think it won't fade to grey even within 2000 years from now on. Well done Sir Payne, you helped writing an immortal song.

A defining track of the 80’s. Thankyou 🙏

"fade to grey" is one of the rare songs which speaks to my soul. i do not like eighties music but thanks a lot for having made this song. it will fascinate me until my daying day.

Fantastic. Simple and great piece. History And when Chris load the strings an began to play the pad I immediately beat with my foot and hummed the melody. Then he played the "bass" and I whistle the rising synth... These "electro synth Brits" of this era are my heros!

That original first edition of fade to grey, from before it was. That is hauntingly beautifull. Slam on a couple of cello's and one violin.

🔥🔥🔥Love this. Fade to Grey is a perfect song. ❤❤❤

That was fascinating, especially hearing it from Chris Payne!! 👏👏👏

Man I stumbled on this song sometime around 2006. Absolutely loved it, seems like it was so far ahead of its time

Fade to Grey Visage (Devenir gris) One man on a lonely platform One case sitting by his side Two eyes staring cold and silent Shows fear as he turns to hide Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey) Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey) (Un homme dans une gare isolée) (Une valise à ses côtés) (Des yeux fixes et froids) (Montrent de la peur lorsqu'il) (Se tourne pour se cacher) Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey) Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey) (Sens la pluie comme un été Anglais) (Entends les notes d'une chanson lointaine) (Sortant de derrière d'un poster) (Espérant que la vie ne fut aussi longue) Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey) Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey) Feel the rain like an English summer Hear the notes from a distant song Stepping out from a back shop poster Wishing life wouldn't be so long (Devenir gris) Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey) Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey) Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey) (Devenir gris) Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey) (Devenir gris) Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey) Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey) (Devenir gris) Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey) Aaah, we fade to grey (fade to grey) Songwriters: Ure James, Payne Christopher John, Currie William

Am I the ONLY one geeking out to the sound of the hard drive in the background? Stuff of legend - love the story, love the creativity, and that "Studio" magic (PANIC!) Congrats Chris!!!

Amazing story. Thank you ! That song made my teenage days...

Fantastic video. It is nice to see the history explained by you. That saw sound with fast release made that bassline unique and powerful. Those synth sounds and the way synth musicians looked like back in late 70's (so serious when performing, in a Cold wave-style), got me into synths. Thanks. DX5

Born in 72, this masterpiece will never get old ! Even know that bRass line give me goosebumps as it did on the first day. We owe you a great deal Chris !

I used to listen to this cassette on my walkman in the fall trudging through fallen leaves on a wet sidewalk in the bitter cold in North Western Pennsylvania it just fit ever so perfect , God take me back to this discovery of those days past . Dave at 54.

This was my Teenage anthem way down here in Southern Australia, this was a MASSIVE dance floor hit and also Chart topper