Midge Ure

Midge Ure (b. James Ure, 10 October 1953) is a British singer, musician, songwriter and recording artist from Lanarkshire, Scotland. Although most noted for his role as frontman of the group Ultravox from 1980, and as a solo artist from 1982 onwards, he had also previously played in and written songs for various groups including Slik, Rich Kids, Thin Lizzy and Visage. He also founded the Band Aid charity supergroup project with Bob Geldof in 1984 and co-wrote the song Do They Know It's Christmas?.

As a solo artist he scored a number one hit in the UK in September 1985 with If I Was and no.2 parent album The Gift. More albums were written and recorded with Ultravox after that, and after the group dissolved in 1988 Ure continued as a solo artist, finding particular success in Europe. An Ultravox reunion in 2008 brought him back to live performances with the band and the release of one last studio album Brilliant.

In more recent years he has played live with supporting musicians, performing songs from his extensive back catalogue. In October 2023, Ure celebrated his 70th birthday with a concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London. 

Songs

 * Ultravox - co-writer on all songs, 1980-1986, 2012
 * Visage - Fade to Grey (co-writer), Visage (album)
 * Yellow Pearl - TOTP theme tune and hit single, with Phil Lynott
 * After a Fashion - single with Mick Karn
 * Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas? (co-writer)
 * If I Was - solo no.1 hit
 * Breathe - solo single

Albums

 * Ultravox - Vienna (Sleepwalk, ..), Rage In Eden, Quartet, Lament, U-Vox, Brilliant
 * Visage - Visage (album)
 * The Gift (1985), Pure (1991), Breathe (1995),...
 * Orchestrated (hits compilation re-arranged for orchestra, 2017)

Related artists

 * Steve Strange
 * Billy Currie