James “Midge” Ure, OBE was born on 10 October 1953 in Cambuslang, Lanarkshire, Scotland. His stage name, Midge, is a phonetic reversal of Jim, the diminutive form of his given name. Ure enjoyed particular success in the 1970s and ’80s in bands including Slik, Thin Lizzy, Rich Kids and Visage, and most notably as frontman of Ultravox.
In 1984 Ure co-wrote and produced the charity single “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”, which has sold 3.7 million copies in the UK. The song is the second highest selling single in UK chart history. Ure co-organised Band Aid, Live Aid and Live 8 with Bob Geldof. Ure acts as trustee for the charity, and serves as ambassador for Save the Children. Ure is known for being the producer and writer of several synthpop/new wave hit singles of the 1980s, including ‘Fade To Grey’ (1980) by Visage and the Ultravox signature songs ‘Vienna’ (1980) and ‘Dancing with Tears in My Eyes’ (1984), for which he was also on lead vocals.
In 1982, Midge Ure appeared on stage with Kate Bush – along with Pete Townsend, Mick Karn and Phil Collins – while she performed The Wedding List live on stage during the Prince’s Trust Rock Gala.
Ure released his debut solo album The Gift in 1985, featuring the hit single ‘If I Was’. His second album, Answers To Nothing, featured the track Sister And Brother, a duet with Kate Bush.
Midge Ure about Kate Bush
I remember having a conversation with Kate Bush about twenty years ago when she was talking about giving up music and I said to her ‘You can’t give up music because if you give it up, I give it up and someone else gives it up and mediocrity wins and you’ve got to fight your corner’.
Beverley Lyons, ‘Beyonce almost made me leave the music industry’: Scots star Midge Ure reveals he contemplated quitting. Daily Record, 6 June 2015
