Midge Ure
|
|
Midge Ure OBE (born James Ure on October 10 1953 in Cambuslang, Lanarkshire, Scotland) is a rock and roll guitarist, singer and songwriter from Scotland, who had particular success in the 1970s and 1980s.
Beginning his career with bubblegum pop-rock band Slik, he would go on to play in The Rich Kids and Thin Lizzy before replacing John Foxx as singer of electronic new wave band Ultravox in 1979. Shortly afterwards, they had a huge UK hit with "Vienna", and became one of Britain's top bands for several years.
In 1984, Ure co-wrote, with Bob Geldof, the Band Aid hit, "Do They Know It's Christmas?". He was one of few of the featured stars who did not sing solo on the recording. The following year Ure scored his one and only solo UK number one single with "If I Was", which was followed by an album The Gift. With Ure's mind clearly on other matters, Ultravox took second place and soon dissolved.
Ure's solo career continued into the 1990s with less success, although "Breathe" was an international hit single, helped by its inclusion in a TV advertising campaign for Swatch watches.
He is currently organising the Live 8 concerts with Bob Geldof with the aim of pressuring G8 leaders into following his recipe for ending world poverty. In 2005 he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to music and charity.
Ure has been married twice: to actress and writer Annabel Giles (with whom he as one daughter) and to Sheridan Ure (with whom he has two daughers).
Midge Ure OBE (born James Ure on October 10, 1953 in Cambuslang, Lanarkshire, Scotland) is a rock and roll guitarist, singer and songwriter from Scotland, who had particular success in the 1970s and 1980s.
Beginning his career with bubblegum pop-rock band Slik, he would go on to play in The Rich Kids and Thin Lizzy before replacing John Foxx as singer of electronic new wave band Ultravox in 1979. Shortly afterwards, the group had a huge UK hit with "Vienna", and became one of Britain's top bands for several years.
In 1984, Ure co-wrote, with Bob Geldof, the Band Aid hit, "Do They Know It's Christmas?". He was one of few of the featured stars who did not sing solo on the recording. The following year Ure scored his one and only solo UK number one single with "If I Was", which was followed by an album The Gift. With Ure's mind clearly on other matters, Ultravox took second place and soon dissolved.
Ure's solo career continued into the 1990s with less success, although "Breathe" was an international hit single, helped by its inclusion in a TV advertising campaign for Swatch watches.
He is currently organising the Live 8 concerts with Bob Geldof with the aim of pressuring G8 leaders into following his recipe for ending world poverty. In 2005 he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to music and charity.
Ure has been married twice: to actress and writer Annabel Giles (with whom he as one daughter, Molly) and to Sheridan Forbes (with whom he has three daughers, Kitty, Ruby, and Flossie).