Massive Ego

Massive Ego are a United Kingdom electronic and synth-pop group, formed in 1996. The original line-up is Marc Massive and Andy Thirlwall, and over time the group goes through several membership changes while Marc remains the constant frontman.

Sound and style

The group develops a distinctive high-energy, trance-influenced sound that later moves further into elektro-pop territory. Their work sits within dance music, with releases and activity that also connect them to darkwave, industrial and futurepop scenes. They build a following in the gay community and play club-focused shows and Pride events.

Members and collaborators

Marc Massive is central to the group’s identity and image. He works as a model, appearing in campaigns for Dolce and Gabbana, Paul Smith, Levis and Nikos, and in videos for artists including Elton John, Take That and Holly Johnson. He also works with model agency Storm & So Dam Tuff, appears on magazine covers, and becomes known for his androgynous look. Before Massive Ego, he works as a dancer for Boy George’s Jesus Loves You and for MC Kinky, also known as The Infidel.

Other members and contributors include producer Ross Alexander and former PWL producer Barry Stone, both linked to the band’s sound. Dan Black plays live guitar early in the group’s history, Barnaby appears on early live line-ups on lead and bass guitar and drums, Steady joins from Minty, Dean Bright comes from Deana-lina and has previously played keyboards for Dead or Alive, and new keyboardist Olly joins in 2004. Olly also works with Marc on art and club events.

Live activity and events

Massive Ego tour UK clubs extensively and appear at venues including Heaven, The Fridge, Sound, Ghetto, Flamingo’s and NG1. They also play major Pride and community events such as Manchester Mardi Gras, Euro Pride, Brighton Pride, Summer Rites and Big Gay Out in Finsbury Park. The group supports Sigue Sigue Sputnik on tour, appears at Steve Strange’s book launch in London, and is shown on television programmes including The Salon and Celebrity Big Brother’s Little Brother.

Marc Massive also runs the Friday-night club residency Pop Cell, focused on 1980s music, electro and NRG, and DJs at venues including Church at Café de Paris, The Black Cap, 2 Too Much, The Green, Cuckoo Couture and Stonewalls. He also curates art-and-club events under the ACT ART banner with Olly, including ACT ART 3: Public Disordar, ACT ART 4: Memoirs of a Merkin, ACT ART 5: Till Death Us Do Art and ACT ART 6: Dying For It!, which feature artists from film, performance, live art, sculpture and photography.

Recordings and releases

The group issues UK singles on Academy Street Records, Klone Records and Pop One, with releases in Japan on Avex Trax and in Australia on Pro-DJ. Their recording work includes covers and reinterpretations such as Adventures’ “Broken Land” with The Infidel, Bobby O’s “A Whisper To A Scream” with Dusty O, and Cerrone’s “Supernature”. They also record original tracks including “Never Felt As Good”, “Sweet Harmony”, “Sex Drive” and “Hallo Spaceboy”.

In 2004 they release a limited-edition EP with nine 12-inch mixes, and shoot a promo for “Planet Earth”, which later appears on DVD compilations in the United States. In 2007 Klone Records issues their debut album Nite Klub Skewl, an enhanced CD that includes the videos for “Planet Earth” and “Supernature” as well as several previously unreleased original tracks. In 2009 the album is licensed to Dance Street/ZYX Records in Germany, repackaged as Master & Servant, and expanded with three additional tracks: “I Like Boys”, “Hallo SpaceBoy” and “Sex Drive”.

Later developments

After the death of band member Steady, the group pauses before returning to recording and filming. Their visual promo for “Supernature” is screened in clubs, bars and malls across America through Club Vision. Massive Ego continues to present a highly visual, club-oriented approach while moving through changing line-ups and continuing to record and perform.