Midge Ure is a Scottish singer, guitarist and songwriter from Cambuslang, born in 1953. He begins his career in pop rock with Slik, and later performs with Rich Kids and, for a time, Thin Lizzy. He is also known by the stage name Midge, a phonetic reversal of his real name, Jim.

Ultravox and Visage

Ure becomes the singer of Ultravox in 1979, replacing John Foxx. The group then has a major UK hit with “Vienna” and remains one of Britain’s best-known new wave acts for several years. Later in 1979, he also forms Visage. His work with Ultravox places him at the centre of 1980s electronic and new wave music, and the band’s songs continue to be popular with electronic music listeners.

Songwriting and solo work

In 1980, Ure co-writes “Yellow Pearl” with Thin Lizzy leader Phil Lynott; a re-recorded version of the song appears as the theme for Top of the Pops. In 1984, he co-writes “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” with Bob Geldof for Band Aid, and he is one of the few featured artists on the recording who does not sing solo. The following year, he has his only solo UK number one with “If I Was”, which becomes closely associated with him, and releases the album The Gift. His solo career continues through the 1990s with intermittent success, and “Breathe” becomes an international hit after use in a Swatch watch advertising campaign.

Later work and recognition

Ure later helps organise the Live 8 concerts with Bob Geldof, with the stated aim of pressing G8 leaders to act on global poverty. In 2005 he is made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to music and charity. He is married twice, first to actress and writer Annabel Giles, with whom he has a daughter, Molly, and then to Sheridan Ure, with whom he has three daughters: Kitty, Ruby and Flossie. Molly Ure also works in music as a guitarist and vocalist in The Faders.