Midge Ure facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Midge Ure
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Ure in 2024
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| Birth name | James Ure |
| Born | 10 October 1953 Cambuslang, Scotland |
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| Years active | 1969–present |
James "Midge" Ure is a Scottish singer, songwriter, and music producer. He was born on 10 October 1953. His stage name, Midge, is "Jim" spelled backwards. Midge Ure became very famous in the 1970s and 1980s. He was part of several popular bands like Slik, Thin Lizzy, Rich Kids, and Visage. He also led the band Ultravox, helping them achieve many hit songs.
In 1984, Midge Ure helped write and produce the famous charity song "Do They Know It's Christmas?" for the supergroup Band Aid. This song sold millions of copies and is still a Christmas favorite. He also helped organize the huge charity concerts Live Aid and Live 8 with Bob Geldof. Midge Ure continues to work for charity, including being an ambassador for Save the Children.
Midge Ure also wrote and produced other big hits in the 1980s. These include "Fade to Grey" by Visage and Ultravox's well-known songs like "Vienna" and "Dancing with Tears in My Eyes". In 1985, his solo song "If I Was" became a number-one hit in the UK. He also co-wrote "Yellow Pearl" for Phil Lynott, which was used as the theme song for the TV show Top of the Pops.
Contents
Biography and Music Career
Early Life and First Bands
Midge Ure grew up in Cambuslang, Scotland, near Glasgow. He came from a working-class family. He left school at 15 and trained to be an engineer. But his real passion was music.
Around 1969, he started playing guitar in a Glasgow band called Stumble. In 1972, he joined another band called Salvation. To avoid confusion with another band member named Jim, his name was playfully reversed to "Mij," which became "Midge." This is how he got his famous stage name.
In 1974, Salvation changed its name to Slik. They had a number-one hit song in the UK in 1976 called "Forever and Ever." Slik later tried a more punk rock style, changing their name to PVC2.
Joining Rich Kids
In 1977, Midge Ure left PVC2 and moved to London to join the band Rich Kids. He played with bass guitarist Glen Matlock. Midge Ure wanted to use new electronic instruments like synthesizers in the band's music. However, the other members preferred a more traditional rock sound. Because of these musical differences, Midge Ure left the band.
The Rich Kids reunited for a special concert in 2010 to help their former guitarist, Steve New. They also played together again in 2016.
Forming Visage
In 1978, Midge Ure and his bandmate Rusty Egan formed the band Visage. They used synthesizers to create a new electronic sound. Their lead singer was Steve Strange. In 1980, Visage released their second single, "Fade to Grey," which became a big hit. Their first album was also very successful.
Midge Ure left Visage after their second album in 1982. He felt he had different musical ideas than Steve Strange.
Working with Thin Lizzy
Midge Ure knew Thin Lizzy's singer, Phil Lynott. In 1979, Midge Ure helped write a song called "Get Out of Here" for Thin Lizzy's album Black Rose. He also helped Thin Lizzy on a tour in the US when their guitarist left. He played guitar and later keyboards for them. Midge Ure continued to work with Phil Lynott, co-writing the hit song "Yellow Pearl."
Leading Ultravox
In 1979, Midge Ure joined Ultravox as the new singer, songwriter, and guitarist. The band had almost broken up, but Midge Ure helped bring them back to life. This new version of Ultravox became very famous.
Their album Vienna was released in 1980. The title song, "Vienna," became a massive hit in 1981, reaching number two in the UK charts. The music video for "Vienna" was very creative and influenced many other music videos at the time. For a while, Midge Ure was busy with three successful bands: Ultravox, Visage, and Thin Lizzy.
Ultravox released more successful albums like Rage in Eden (1981) and Quartet (1982). Their album Lament (1984) included the hit song "Dancing with Tears in My Eyes." Ultravox also released a "greatest hits" album called The Collection, which was very popular.
Midge Ure left Ultravox in 1986 after their album U-Vox. He felt the band's energy had changed, partly because of his work with Band Aid. However, in 2009, Midge Ure and the original members of Ultravox reunited for a tour to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Vienna album. They also released a new album called Brilliant in 2012.
Band Aid and Helping Others
In November 1984, Midge Ure co-wrote the famous Band Aid song, "Do They Know It's Christmas?" with Bob Geldof. Bob Geldof was inspired by news reports about a famine in Ethiopia. Midge Ure helped create the music for the song. He also produced the song in the studio.
Midge Ure and Bob Geldof created the Band Aid Trust charity. Midge Ure is still involved as a trustee. They also organized the huge Live Aid concert in 1985, which raised a lot of money for famine relief. They later organized the Live 8 concerts in 2005 to encourage world leaders to help end poverty. Midge Ure has received awards for his songwriting and charity work, including being appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). He also works as an ambassador for Save the Children.
Midge Ure has helped organize and perform at other charity events. These include the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute in 1988 and Music for Montserrat in 1997. He also helped organize the Wicked Women concert for the Breakthrough Breast Cancer charity in 1999.
Solo Music Career
In 1982, Midge Ure released his first solo song, "No Regrets," which became a UK Top 10 hit. After his work with Band Aid, he focused more on his solo career. In 1985, his song "If I Was" became a number-one hit in the UK. His first solo album, The Gift, also did very well.
His second solo album, Answers to Nothing (1988), included a duet with Kate Bush. The song "Dear God" helped him gain fans in America. His album Pure (1991) featured the UK Top 20 song "Cold, Cold Heart."
In 1993, a collection of his solo and Ultravox hits called If I Was was released. His album Breathe (1996) had a Celtic sound. The song "Breathe" became a hit in Europe in 1998 after it was used in a TV advertisement.
Midge Ure released his fifth solo album, Move Me, in 2000. In 2008, he released 10, an album of his own versions of songs that inspired him. His album Fragile was released in 2014. In 2015, his recording of "The Man Who Sold the World" was used in the video game Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.
In 2017, he released Orchestrated, which featured orchestral versions of his songs. Midge Ure continues to tour and perform his music. In 2020, he started a "Backstage Lockdown Club" online, where he performed acoustic songs and answered questions for fans. In 2021, he released the song "Das Beat" with Band Electronica.
To celebrate his 70th birthday, Midge Ure performed a special concert at the Royal Albert Hall in October 2023.
Personal Life
Midge Ure lives near Bath with his wife, Sheridan Forbes. They married in 2003 and have three daughters.
He was previously married to television presenter Annabel Giles from 1985 to 1989. They had one daughter, Molly Lorenne.
Midge Ure appeared on the TV show Celebrity MasterChef in 2007 and reached the final.
Solo discography
- The Gift (1985)
- Answers to Nothing (1988)
- Pure (1991)
- Breathe (1996)
- Move Me (2000)
- 10 (2008)
- Fragile (2014)
- Orchestrated (2017)
See also
In Spanish: Midge Ure para niños
