Eurythmics
David A. Stewart (b. 9 September 1952, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England) and Annie Lennox (b. 25 December 1954, Aberdeen, Scotland). The worldwide popularity and critical acclaim of one of pop music's leading duos came about by fastidious determination and Stewart's remarkably good ear in being able to write the perfect song for his musical partner Lennox. Both artists rely heavily on each other's considerable talent and, as former lovers, they know better than most their strengths and weaknesses. Stewart met Lennox in London while he was still a member of the folk/rock band Longdancer. She was supplementing her income by waitressing while a student at the Royal College of Music. Together they formed the Tourists, a fondly remembered band that were able to fuse new wave energy with well-crafted pop songs. Following the Tourists’ split, with Lennox and Stewart now embroiled in their much-publicized doomed love affair, they formed the Eurythmics in 1980. The debut IN THE GARDENwas a rigidly electronic sounding album, very Germanic, haunting and cold. The record failed to sell. During one of the low points in their lives, having ended their four-year relationship, the duo persevered professionally and glanced the charts with the synthesizer-based Love Is A Stranger. This gave them the confidence they needed, and the material on the subsequent SWEET DREAMS was superb and bringing deserved success. The album spawned a number of hits, all accompanied by an imaginative series of self-produced videos with the stunning Lennox in countless guises, showing incredible natural confidence in front of a camera. The spooky Sweet Dreams narrowly missed the top of the UK chart, but made the top spot in the USA and was followed in quick succession by a reissued Love Is A Stranger, Who's That Girl (featuring Stewart's future wife Siobhan Fahey from Bananarama in the video), and the celebratory Right By Your Side. TOUCHin 1984 became a huge success, containing a varied mixture of brilliantly accessible pop music. A re-mixed mini-LP of four tracks from TOUCHfollowed before they embarked upon scoring the music for the film 1984, starring John Hurt. The soundtrack was not up to standard and they immediately remedied this by delivering the excellent BE YOURSELF TONIGHT. The album contained less synthesized pop and more rock music, with Stewart using guitar-based songs including a glorious soul duet with Aretha Franklin on Sisters (Are Doin It For Themselves)’ and the earthy Ball And Chain. During 1985 Lennox experienced serious throat problems, which forced the band to cancel their appearance at Live Aid. That same month, however, the group enjoyed their sole UK chart topper, the exuberant, There Must Be An Angel. Lennox made her big-screen debut in REVOLUTIONWITH Donald Sutherland and Al Pacino. Stewart meanwhile became one of the most sought-after record producers, working with Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Feargal Sharkey, Daryl Hall (of Hall And Oates), Bob Geldof and Mick Jagger. The following year another gem, REVENGE, was released, which included Missionary Man, Thorn In My Side and the comparatively lightweight The Miracle Of Love. SAVAGEin 1987 maintained the standard and featured one of Lennox's finest vocal accomplishments with the R&B rocker I Need A Man. In 1988 their performance at the televised Nelson Mandela Concert from Wembley was one of its highlights, and the acoustic You Have Placed A Chill In My Heart was a triumph. Later that year Lennox duetted with Al Green for a rousing and soulful version of Jackie DeShannon's Put A Little Love In Your Heart. WE TOO ARE ONEat the end of 1989 became their most successful album to date, staying at number 1 into 1990. The Eurythmics have gained a mass following by the sheer quality of their songs and have managed to stay favourites with the media. Lennox is one of the most visually striking female performers, with a voice of rare quality. Stewart stays in the background, using his talent as a producer and songwriter. During their hiatus of the early '90s when they both needed to be away from each other, Stewart in addition to his production work made his own SPIRITUAL COWBOYS.In 1992, Lennox issued her debut solo DIVA.