A collaboration over 30 years in the making.
Massive Ego founder member and singer Marc Massive, his first taste
for performing was as a dancer for Boy George’s 1990 side project,
Jesus Loves You, on his own label More Protein.
“It was an incredibly influential time for me, having only arrived in
London a few years prior, when I was plucked from obscurity,
straight from the dancefloors of gay clubs into performing on TV
shows alongside one of the most famous 80s pop stars. Only a few
years earlier, I would flick through music magazines like Smash
Hits, never imagining I’d one day be working for one of the most
flamboyantly famous faces from that decade”
Marc reminises. This experience helped shape what
Marc’s own musical journey with his band Massive Ego,
which he started in 1996.
It was inevitable that these two colourful chameleons
would one day come together on a collaboration.
Their first musical encounter came in the form of a
track called Let Go, written by George especially for
the band’s 2017 critically acclaimed album
Beautiful Suicide, their debut album for Berlin-
based label Out Of Line Music.
But it wasn’t until recently that Marc approached
George with the idea of joining forces vocally on a
demo the band had written, that the song was born.
People say to me, ‘You turn everything
into a song,’ and I do. Every word
already exists, so you have no excuses.
Google it. Use your imagination. Write
everything down. You will only ever
end up with your interpretation of
something that already exists. You are
the context, and everything is about
context. Even your haircut or how tight
your trousers are. Or how you walk
into a room”
“I’m always searching for simplicity and a hint of surrealism. I
think our collaboration is a good example. You sent me the track,
and it was called ‘Broken Tomorrow’, but that lyric was nowhere
in the song. Often it’s just staring you in the face. I love the
deadpan lyrical approach of bands like The Human League,
Morrissey and The Pet Shop Boys.
“The track came together very organically. Lloyd and Porl had
come up with a beautifully moving piece of music that had a feel
of The Crying Game, complete with the twangy guitar sound, and
I instantly heard George’s voice on it, so I decided to approach
him with it. Although George liked my original lyrics, he ended
up writing a supremely better song around my original title of
Broken Tomorrow, the mood just fitted the music more, although
I think he was worried how I’d take the changes, but I’m not
precious over my lyrics, if someone writes something that works
better, as George had, then it was a no brainer to go with his
ideas, plus you don’t argue with someone with that legacy and
back catalogue of successful songs!”
Marc remembers the writing process after sending the early demo
Following on from George’s recent duet with the Godfather of Goth,
Peter Murphy, this new collaboration continues the gothic vibe, with
its timely release marking the 30th anniversary of Massive Ego. One
of the highlight tracks from their anticipated new album SYMPHONY
OF FLIES, due for release in 2026 through Out Of Line Music.
With a stunning video and ACTORS Remix of the track, and an
appearance at this year’s Out Of Line Weekender, the celebrations
are in full swing.
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