An artist who has received Ivor Novello
Grammy BASCAP awards along with a flotilla
of gold and platinum records really needs very
little introduction Musical success is seldom
measured in time spans of more than a few
years if not Andy Warhol's often quoted
"fifteen minutes" so the fact that by the time
Midge's single "If I Was" went to No in
he
had already crammed several musical
lifetimes into a
year professional career
speaks volumes Slik The Rich Kids Thin Lizzy
Visage Ultravox and of course the most famous
one off group in musical history Band Aid had
by then all had the guiding hand of his musical
navigation
Then you have to take account of Midge's
musical directorship of a series of rock
concerts for The Prince's Trust Night of the
Proms Wicked Women for Breakthrough and
in honour of Nelson Mandela; record
production for Phil Lynott Steve Harley and
countless others; his video direction of
memorable hits by the Fun Boy Three
Bananarama and others or a whole swathe of
landmark singles by Ultravox; TV theatre and
film music credits ranging from 'Max
Headroom' to stage and big screen
Midge appeared to the wider public in a
moment of heady teen success with Slik Their
sway along single 'Forever And Ever' took
over at No in the UK from Abba's 'Mamma
Mia' on Valentine's Day
Soon
outgrowing Slik's pop dimensions Midge was
snapped up by ex Sex Pistol Glen Matlock the
following year for his new outfit the Rich
Kids who charted amid an avalanche of press
with a self titled EMI single early in
By
with his name being added to many
musicians' contact book Ure had been asked
by Billy Currie Chris Cross and Warren Cann
to become the new frontman in Ultravox
The band was a major influence on the new
romantic and electro pop movements of the
early '
s Their successful trademark was
combining Midge's powerful guitar riffs with
sweeping synthesiser motifs enigmatic
imagery and state of the art visuals Tracks
like 'Reap the Wild Wind' 'Dancing With
Tears in My Eyes' 'Love's Great Adventure'
and
's timeless 'Vienna' were all massive
hits the world over as they charted with
awesome regularity not only on single but
with seven consecutive top ten albums in just
six years
r
gg
since
1995
OCT
04
Midge Ure - Breathe Again Tour – Wulfrun Hall 4th October 2015
midge ure
www midgeure co uk
RGG August 2015 - p.20
