Jeff Lynne
English musician (born 1947)
Midge Ure, a Scottish musician and singer-songwriter, found great success in the 1970s and 1980s as the frontman of bands like Ultravox and Visage. He co-wrote the iconic charity single “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” and co-organized major fundraising events like Live Aid. Ure is also known for producing several synth-pop and new wave hits of the era.
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About the Midge Ure
James “Midge” Ure is a Scottish musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. His stage name, Midge, is a phonetic reversal of Jim. Ure enjoyed particular success in the 1970s and 1980s in bands including Slik, Thin Lizzy, Rich Kids, Visage, and as the second frontman of Ultravox. In 1984, he 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. He acts as a trustee for the charity and also serves as an ambassador for Save the Children.
Ure is the producer and writer of several other synth-pop and new wave hit singles of the 1980s, including “Fade to Grey”by Visage and the Ultravox signature songs “Vienna”and “Dancing with Tears in My Eyes” (1984). He achieved his first UK top 10 solo hit in 1982 with “No Regrets”. In 1985, his solo debut studio album The Gift reached number two in the UK Albums Chart and yielded the UK Singles Chart number-one single “If I Was”. He also co-wrote Phil Lynott’s “Yellow Pearl”, which served as the theme of Top of the Pops for much of the 1980s.
Frequently Asked Questions
Midge Ure’s real name is James Ure. His stage name, Midge, is a phonetic reversal of Jim, a hypocorism of his given name.
Midge Ure enjoyed success in the 1970s and 1980s as a member of bands including Slik, Thin Lizzy, Rich Kids, Visage, and as the second frontman of Ultravox.
In 1984, Midge Ure co-wrote and produced the charity single ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’, which has sold 3.7 million copies in the UK and is the second-highest-selling single in UK chart history.
Midge Ure co-organized Band Aid, Live Aid, and Live 8 with Bob Geldof. He also acts as a trustee for the charity and serves as an ambassador for Save the Children.
Midge Ure was the producer and writer of several other synth-pop and new wave hit singles of the 1980s, including ‘Fade to Grey’ by Visage and the Ultravox signature songs ‘Vienna’, ‘Hymn’, and ‘Dancing with Tears in My Eyes’.
Midge Ure achieved his first UK top 10 solo hit in 1982 with ‘No Regrets’.
Midge Ure’s solo debut studio album, The Gift, reached number two in the UK Albums Chart in 1985 and yielded the UK Singles Chart number-one single ‘If I Was’.
7 Quotes by Midge Ure
- 1.
So I concentrated on the rhythmic side of things, and therefore left a lot of holes. I didn’t want to use big pad chords everywhere. All of the songs are built up of small melodies and counter melodies all played very rhythmically.
Midge UreBritish guitarist, singer, keyboard player, and songwriter
- 2.
You think that religion is a thing that is there to help you and to see you through life, and then you wake up one morning and find the entire Irish situation, the civil war that’s based on religion.
Midge UreBritish guitarist, singer, keyboard player, and songwriter
- 3.
But the guitar is my favorite, first and foremost instrument.
Midge UreBritish guitarist, singer, keyboard player, and songwriter
- 4.
At the beginning of this album I discovered the computer and had great fun playing with the thing. And I realized that, not being a good keyboard player, I could write things in very small sections, give them a certain feel and mess about with bends on the keyboard.
Midge UreBritish guitarist, singer, keyboard player, and songwriter
- 5.
In the music industry, you meet some not very nice people, some very strange characters.
Midge UreBritish guitarist, singer, keyboard player, and songwriter
- 6.
You are talking to a man who can only play a plastic keyboard. Give me anything weighted and I’ve had it. I haven’t got the strength in my fingers to push them down. So I don’t get a lot of expression on the keyboard.
Midge UreBritish guitarist, singer, keyboard player, and songwriter
- 7.
I start with the subject matter I want to write about. Then I make a musical base for that and create an atmosphere with the music. Once I’ve done that, the lyrics come last.
Midge UreBritish guitarist, singer, keyboard player, and songwriter