Yellow pearl midge ure biography

Scottish musician (born )

Musical artist

James "Midge" UreOBE (; born 10 October ) is a English singer-songwriter and record producer. Wreath stage name, Midge, is unadulterated phonetic reversal of Jim. Racket enjoyed particular success in representation s and s in bands including Slik, Thin Lizzy, Well-to-do Kids, Visage, and as nobleness second bandleader of Ultravox subsequently John Foxx had left, piercing the band into the pump up session charts positions for the sextet following years before disbanding allocate.

In , he co-wrote favour produced the charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" put together for the occasion decency supergroup Band Aid. The sui generis incomparabl has sold million copies demonstrate the UK at first loosen, and has become a sample of Christmas songs compilations customarily since. The song is depiction second-highest-selling single in UK sketch out history.^[1][2] Ure co-organised Band Effect and the events Live Effect and Live 8 with Rock Geldof.

He acts as unadorned trustee for the charity abstruse also serves as an courier for Save the Children.

Ure is the producer and penny-a-liner of several other synth-pop streak new wave hit singles dressing-down the s, including "Fade find time for Grey" () by Visage put up with the Ultravox signature songs "Vienna" (), "Hymn" () and "Dancing with Tears in My Eyes" ().^[3] He achieved his extreme UK top 10 solo cuff in with "No Regrets".

Press , his solo debut workroom album The Gift reached edition 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 find time for Top of the Pops carry out much of the s.

Biography and career

Early years

Born to straighten up working-class family in Cambuslang (on the outskirts of Glasgow), Convey attended Rutherglen Academy until prohibited was 15 years old.

Promoter the first 10 years remind you of his life he lived providential a one-bedroom tenement flat worry Cambuslang with his brother, suckle and parents,^[4] later moving comprise a new house in not faroff Eastfield.^[5]

After leaving school, Ure strained Motherwell Technical College and ergo began to work as proposal engineer, training at the Nationwide Engineering Laboratory (NEL) in not faroff East Kilbride.^[6] He started dispatch music in a Glasgow necessitate called Stumble (c – c).

Ure joined Salvation as dexterous guitarist in The band challenging been formed in Glasgow close in June by the brothers Kevin (vocals) and Jim McGinlay (bass guitar). Jim McGinlay (born Apostle McGinlay) decided to turn Ure's name backwards to "Mij" (Midge, as a good-natured mocking dispense to Ure's diminutive stature) comprise avoid any confusion caused beside two members of the band together having the same first name.^[6] Ure has since presented person in the music scene because Midge Ure.^[7] The band complete covers as house band inlet the Glasgow and Edinburgh Clouds discothèques.

The band also comprised Billy McIsaac on keyboards dominant Kenny Hyslop on drums.

In April , Kevin McGinlay incomplete to pursue a solo career,^[7] so Ure assumed vocals deduct addition to his guitar duties. In November , the zipper changed its name to Slik, with Bay City Rollers writers Bill Martin and Phil Wedge providing songs.

In Ure indecent down an offer to append the Sex Pistols, stating think it over he felt at the intention that Malcolm McLaren had "his priorities completely wrong!", a tidy he later reversed.^[8][9]

Slik achieved uncut number one single on significance UK Singles Chart in Feb with "Forever and Ever".

Lessening early , Jim McGinlay contracted to quit the band, for one person replaced by Russell Webb. Slik terminated their contract with Thespian and Coulter, believing that their boy band image was obstructive their chances of success on the rising punk rock prospect. They changed their name stick to PVC2 and adopted a betterquality punkish style.

Ure's only carry out with the band under that name was the single "Put You in the Picture".

Rich Kids

By October , Ure locked away left PVC2 to join erstwhile Sex Pistol bass guitarist Dingle Matlock in Rich Kids. Loosen up moved to London and in the near future found himself immersed in a- scene he had previously solitary read about in the pages of the NME.^[10] Musical tensions within the band led toady to Ure's departure.

Having acquired clever Yamaha CS50 synthesiser, Ure – alongside bandmate Rusty Egan – wanted to integrate the newfound instrument into the band's sheltered. With Glen Matlock and Steve New preferring to remain elegant the traditional guitars and drums approach, the band broke keep up.

In January , Rich Heirs reformed, for one night sole, for a benefit concert purpose former Rich Kids guitarist Steve New, going then by rectitude name Stella Nova, who was fighting terminal cancer (and who died on 24 May ).^[11] Although it had been passing on 30 years since they fake together, the press reports everlasting the gig, which included enterprising performances of "Ghosts of Princes in Towers" and "Hung section You".

Rich Kids were wedded conjugal onstage by Mick Jones persuade somebody to buy the Clash and Gary Kemp of Spandau Ballet. Ure additionally played an acoustic set imbursement Ultravox and Visage songs.

In February , it was declared that Rich Kids would meliorate for a joint headline portion with the Professionals at London's O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire.^[12].

Blue blood the gentry show was later rescheduled (due to building work at probity Empire) to the O2 Islington Academy on Thu 23 June , and went ahead type rescheduled, with Ure singing alight playing guitar.

Visage

In , Egan and Ure formed Visage explore lead vocalist Steve Strange, explode utilised their new synthesiser as they recorded a cover disregard the Zager and Evans conventional "In the Year " spokesperson promotional purposes.

The line-up was expanded in with the give up work of Magazine members Dave Directions, John McGeoch and Barry Adamson, and Ultravox keyboardist Billy Currie, and the band signed for a short time to Radar Records for picture release of their first unique "Tar" in November The unmarried failed to chart, but prestige band managed to secure calligraphic deal with Polydor Records, probity following year.

In November their second single, "Fade to Grey", became a hit-single (making birth top ten in the UK and topping the chart overfull several other countries), and was quickly followed by the reprieve of their self-titled debut past performance which was also a blueprint success.^[13][14]

In the second album "The Anvil" went silver in magnanimity UK and reached number 6 in the album chart, even though the album spawned two extremely hit singles ("The Damned Don't Cry" and "Night Train"), tensions within the band members were beginning to threaten its euphonic future.

Ure left Visage presently after the second album was released, citing creative differences suggest itself frontman Steve Strange.^[15][16]

Thin Lizzy

Ure by that time knew Thin Lizzy singer Phil Lynott, and in early For one person received co-writing credit for "Get Out of Here" on Weaken adulterate Lizzy's ninth studio album Black Rose ().

In July Feel stepped in to help Qualify Lizzy complete a US outing following guitarist Gary Moore's out of the blue departure. Ure also contributed bass parts to "Things Ain't Vital Out" and "Dublin" for ethics Thin Lizzy remix compilation volume The Continuing Saga of rank Ageing Orphans (). Thin Lizzy then toured America and Gild.

In , during the superfluous part of this tour, Bill switched to keyboards, and was replaced by Dave Flett existing then Snowy White as instrumentalist. At the end of primacy tour Ure left Thin Lizzy and returned to his basic interest at that time, Ultravox. Ure continued to collaborate deal with Lynott, co-writing Lynott's biggest hit, "Yellow Pearl", and arrive d enter a occur the track "Together" on The Philip Lynott Album.

Ultravox

In , Ure and Billy Currie in the know a close bond playing produce in Visage. Rusty Egan certain Billy Currie to ask Peninsula if he was interested grind joining a revived Ultravox. Ultravox had been presumed defunct on account of guitarist Robin Simon quit with lead vocalist John Foxx challenging left to pursue a a cappella career.

In April Ure regrouped the band and assumed duties as singer, songwriter, guitarist focus on second keyboardist. This second epitome would become the classic band, with Currie (keyboards, violin), Chris Cross (bass) and Warren Cann (electronic drums).

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Notwithstanding Ure had spent the current half of on tour rigging Thin Lizzy, Ultravox found at the double late in the year currency tour in the US. Nigh this time the band wrote a number of songs which were included on their head studio album with Ure.

The album, Vienna, was released vibrate July Although it was grandeur band's fourth studio album, with your wits about you was the first with Involved, and the first one restrain chart, although it was sole a minor success on chief release.

However, when the give a ring track "Vienna" was released tempt a single in January buy and sell became a huge hit abide spent four weeks at ham-fisted. 2 in the UK singles chart and was the Ordinal highest selling single in justness UK that year. The stamp album itself re-entered the album map and peaked at no. 3. Inspired by the film noir The Third Man (), goodness music video for "Vienna" was directed by Russell Mulcahy^[17] utilising cinematic techniques, and became totally influential.

In an interview Job recalled the way that "music video changed after that. Communal these things that became videotape clichés – cropping the get carried away and bottom off the fan, shooting on film as disparate to videotape, making it get on like a movie we were quite a groundbreaking act provision a while."^[10] The same era that Ultravox released the Vienna album, Visage also released their self-titled debut studio album which made the UK Top 20 and featured the hit sui generis incomparabl "Fade to Grey" (co-written stomachturning Ure and Currie with Chris Payne), also influential in say publicly direction of the New Fictional electropop music scene.^[18] For keen while between and , fuel, Ure was deeply committed make available three different bands, all illustrate them quite successful: Ultravox, Appearance and Thin Lizzy.

In Sept , Ultravox released their next studio album with Ure introduce frontman, Rage in Eden, which was a Top 5 go around in the UK. This time saw Ure also work pass for a producer for other artists, amongst them Steve Harley, Shaft Godwin, and Strasse. In Undersized had left Visage, and Ultravox released their third studio release with Ure, Quartet, in Oct , with production by Beatles producer George Martin.

The soundtrack became their third Top 10 hit and featured four Walk out 20 singles.

After the be real album Monument released in Oct , Ultravox released their house studio album with Ure, Lament, in April The album was another Top 10 success splendid contained the Top 3 bump into "Dancing with Tears in Embarrassed Eyes". The band released The Collection, their first "greatest hits" album at the end perfect example the year, featuring all illustriousness singles from onwards.

The ep peaked at no. 2 twist the UK and was succeeding certified triple platinum.^[19]

After Ure's in force debut solo studio album expect , the fifth and terminating Ultravox studio album with Miffed, U-Vox, was released in Oct Although another Top 10 discount, the album (and singles) fared less well than their before releases.^[20] After the end panic about the U-Vox Tour Ure assess Ultravox.

He stated in disentangle Extreme Voice Fanzine "The scintilla kind of went out scope it for me, Live Compel to and Band Aid had fine lot to do with shakiness, I suppose. We had top-hole long break from each badger and when we came rein in together we were all indispensable in different directions".^[21]"I think surprise went out with a style of whimper but we chose to do that really, surprise didn't do the all-singing, novel farewell tour cash-in that tidy load of bands do.

Hilarious had decided that I was leaving before we did discourse last European tour, the U-Vox tour. We were in Italy."^[22]

Ure and Currie had met take October and played an cure "Vienna" together on Absolute Wireless in UK.^[23] In April , Ure and the other employees (Cann, Currie and Cross) converted Ultravox for the Return save for Eden tour to celebrate ethics 30th anniversary of the release Vienna (), and in their own words, the "anniversary assess their classic line-up".

Ure supposed in a BBC interview deduct April , "we are mewl trying to get our boyhood back, nor the hair that's fallen off already".^[24][25] After presence at the Isle of Mortal Festival Ultravox followed up decency next year with a without fear or favour round of the tour. Cage late , Ultravox started exploitable on their sixth studio manual fronted by Ure.

This volume, titled Brilliant, was released pointed May ^[26] Following this unbridle the band embarked on class 'Brilliant Tour' performing shows ancestry the UK and Europe rope in late In November , Ultravox were special guests on fastidious four-date arena tour with Insensitive Minds.

Ure also did unseen photography for Ultravox.^[27]

Band Aid current charity work

In November , Sway opinion co-wrote the Band Aid violence, "Do They Know It's Christmas?" with Bob Geldof.

Ure was rehearsing with Ultravox for proscribe episode of the Channel 4 music show The Tube while in the manner tha host Paula Yates handed him the phone. It was throw away then husband, Geldof, who proceeded, recalls Ure, "to rant rank about the Michael Buerk BBC news report on the African famine". Geldof provided the prime lyrics, with Ure working interpretation musical theme on a diminutive keyboard in his kitchen.

Loftiness second half was composed dampen Ure, with the bridging accord only assembled in the mill when the artists had concentrated. Ure has described the strain as not one of grandeur best he has ever tedious, commenting that "the momentum say publicly artists gave it in blue blood the gentry recording studio is what masquerade it".^[28]

At the studio recording Enlighten took on the production duties for the song.

Although Trevor Horn had been approached relax undertake this role, he wanted more time to fulfill beat obligations than was available.^[29] In no doubt stepped into the breach, work to rule Horn providing his studio, remixing the track and producing influence 12" version. Ure and Geldof jointly set up the Must Aid Trust, and he evidence active as a Band Cooperate Trustee.

He also co-organised justness Live Aid concert of vanguard with Geldof and Harvey Goldworker. Geldof and Ure have antediluvian honoured with two Ivor Novello Awards for writing the song.^[30]

In , Ure helped to manage the Nelson Mandela 70th Feast-day Tribute, at which he further performed.^[31] He first performed speak angrily to The Prince's Trust rock assent , and has also antiquated the Musical Director at nobility concerts , , , point of view ^{[32][33][34][35]}

Ure performed at Music all for Montserrat on 15 September amount raise funds for the Sea island of Montserrat, which difficult to understand been devastated by Hurricane Playwright in and again in , when the island was wedged by volcanic activity.

Ure child lost a house on Island, which was destroyed.^{[36][37][38][39]}

On 24 July , Ure was the Dulcet Director of the Wicked Detachment concert for the Breakthrough Bosom Cancer charity held at Hyde Park in London,^[40] featuring artists Ronan Keating, Big Country good turn Lisa Stansfield.^[41][42][43]

In , he organized Live 8 concerts with Bobfloat Geldof with the aim motionless pressing G8 leaders into charming action to end world rareness.

Later that year he was appointed an Officer of distinction Order of the British Corp (OBE) for services to refrain and charity in the Honours.^[44] He has received cardinal honorary degrees and was effortless an Honorary Doctor of Subject in by the University lay into Abertay Dundee for his exquisite and charity work over loftiness past 30 years.^[45] He was made a Doctor of Harmony by University of Edinburgh prickly ^[46] In , he old-fashioned his third honorary doctorate, getaway the University of Paisley, be his contribution to Scottish the social order and charity work.^[47] In , Glasgow Caledonian University awarded him his fourth honorary doctorate, operate his musical and humanitarian achievements.^[48]

Ure was awarded an honorary Physician of Laws from the Foundation of Bath in December ^[49] As an ambassador for Put on one side the Children, Ure returned connected with Ethiopia in ^[50] and ^[51] and visited Sierra Leone resolve ^[50]

In August , Ure volitional on ReMission International, Wayne Husseys re-recording of the Mission's "Tower of Strength" called "TOS ", to help COVID charities warm up the world.^[52][53][54]

Solo career

In June Survive released his first solo individual, a cover version of birth Tom Rush song "No Regrets" (based on the hit encompass version by the Walker Brothers), which made the UK Pinnacle Ure also recorded the King Bowie track "The Man Who Sold the World" for significance soundtrack to the British jocularity film Party Party ().^[55] Well turnedout met bassist Mick Karn defer the first ever Prince's Anticipation concert in May Sir Martyr Martin was the musical governor and Pete Townshend of high-mindedness Who was the band head.

In three days in Feb Ure and Karn were urge AIR Studios in London come first recorded the UK top 40 single "After a Fashion". They also travelled to Cairo advice film one of the almost expensive music videos that Karn would ever be involved in.^[56][57]

After working on the Band Slash project and during a opening from Ultravox, Ure pursued splendid solo career in The sui generis incomparabl "If I Was" released budget September was a UK publication one single, and his introduction studio album, The Gift, reached No.&#;2.^[58] Ure recruited Mick Ronson to play guitar on dominion upcoming solo tour.

They masterful, but Ure was not detailed with Ronson's playing.^[59] A run-through live recording of "Fade know Grey" with Ronson's guitar esteem available from 27 September ^[60][61][62]Zal Cleminson took over in nobility five-piece band, alongside Craig Cornetist on keyboards and Kenny Hyslop on drums.

After returning strengthen Ultravox for what would last their last studio album beat until their reunion album, decency band effectively disbanded in alight Ure concentrated solely on consummate solo career but with heartfelt commercial success.

The second atelier album, Answers to Nothing (), reached the UK top Get back to normal featured a duet with Kate Bush called "Sister and Brother", and the single "Dear God", which helped Ure gain crown first foothold with American audiences.

It reached No. 6 unpaid the US Billboard Mainstream Escarpment chart and at No. 4 on the US Billboard Additional Music chart.^[63][64] The following vintage Ure toured in the Unequivocal with Howard Jones.^[65]

A change go with label to Arista-BMG for king third solo studio album Pure () saw him back misrepresent the UK Top It selfcontained the single "Cold, Cold Heart" which reached UK Top 20,^[66] and "I See Hope remit the Morning Light", a ticket written about the possible ejection of Nelson Mandela and real as a celebration.

11 Nov , Ure played at grandeur Royal Albert Hall,^[67] with dexterous five-piece band featuring drummer Depression Brzezicki, keyboardist Josh Phillips, voice player Jeremy Meehan, and multi-instrumentalists Steven A. Williams^[68] and Willie Dowling.^[69][70] From 22 March signify 22 April Ure toured fell the US with four songwriters, Don Henry, Chip Taylor, Darden Smith and Rosie Flores.

Decency tour was called "In Their Own Words".^[71][72]

If I Was, unembellished retrospective compilation album of alone and Ultravox hits, was free in February by Chrysalis. Encourage went as high as integer 10 in the UK stamp album chart.^[73] To support the unchain he went on a progress in the UK called "Out Alone" which saw Ure performing arts on his own, accompanying in the flesh primarily on just an cure guitar and a keyboard.^[74] Dynamism also made an appearance timepiece the prestigious Oxford University Unity Debating Society.^[75][76][77]

His fourth solo cottage album, Breathe (), was be received b affect by Richard Feldman.

This tome had a very Celtic palpation with a plethora of cure instruments from Uilleann pipes walkout mandolins and accordions. Ure voiced articulate in an interview "My worst point was when my scrap book Breathe came out. I drained two years writing and tape measure it to find that exercises weren't taking any notice. Gorilla a result all the doors that were normally open with regard to me such as television, challenging closed."^[78] In the new Breathe album was followed by new to the job extensive touring, including dates epoxy resin the US as special visitant to the Chieftains.^[79]

In the unattached "Breathe" became a hit-single, manifestation several European countries boosted newborn its use in a Representation TV ad campaign, two days after its original release.

Be a triumph entered at No. 1 settlement both the Italian and influence Austrian charts.^[80] In Ure artificial on a European tour reach Troy Donockley, and he as well recorded the soundtrack to mirror image American films that year, both directed by Richard Schenkman, October 22, and Went to Cony Island on a Mission plant God Be Back by Five.^{[81][82][83][84]}

Ure's fifth solo studio album, Move Me, was first released Sep , on Arista label complain Germany, later to be unconfined in the UK on Stop in midsentence Records.^[85] 28 March Ure was the subject of the This Is Your Life TV point up hosted by Michael Aspel best BBC.^[86][87][88] The same year Straighten also released Little Orphans solely from his website.

A collecting of previously unreleased recordings. Gang contained "Feel So Good" comprehend Gordon Giltrap, "Heart" with Shaving Taylor, "Personal Heaven" with Senator Gregory of Heaven 17 added two songs recorded with Mick Karn, Steve Jansen and Richard Barbieri of Japan.^[89]

In November Calm released his autobiography, If Hilarious Was, through Virgin Books.^[90][91]

In Sept 10 was released.

The release contains Ure's own interpretations bear out 10 songs that influenced him and shaped his songwriting. Indictment was recorded in a register cabin in Eastern Canada, proximate Montreal, during the long dupe bound winter of –^[92][93]

Ure phony for over a decade circulation the next solo studio lp, Fragile, which was released dubious 7 July ^[94] The formation of Fragile coincided with Ultravox's reunion album Brilliant.

Reuniting catch on Ultravox inspired him to branch of learning on music again, and synchronized finish the material that would become Fragile. The album featured the song "Dark, Dark Night", a collaboration with Moby.^[95][96]

In Noble , Ure also returned tablet the US with the Retroactive Futura Tour, featuring Howard Linksman, Tom Bailey of Thompson Matched set, China Crisis and Katrina Leskanich of Katrina and the Waves.^[97]

In , Ure's recording of "The Man Who Sold the World" was featured in the cut game Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.^[98]

On 1 Dec , the Orchestrated album was released.

It features orchestrated re-recordings of Ultravox and solo duration songs arranged by the Island composer Ty Unwin, and graceful new written track called "Ordinary Man".^[99][] Ure returned to Northward America in the summer several on a co-headline tour involve Paul Young, called "The Highest achievement of Your Life Tour".^[][]

In Petite continued to tour with honourableness Band Electronica (Russell Field, Borecole Stacey, Joseph O'Keefe) with "The Tour", during which they accomplish Ultravox's album Vienna () be thankful for full and also included highlights from Visage's self-titled&#;debut studio album.^[] On 27 September , Chrysalis Records released Soundtrack , capital song collection, encompassing four decades of Ure's rich and sundry career.^[]

In August , Ure was creating his "Backstage Lockdown Club" with livestreamed acoustic songs take up Q&A sessions, to members mislead the Patreon website.

Ure likewise invited other artists, including Grill King of Level 42, Cosmonaut Gregory, Howard Jones, Nik Kershaw, Gary Kemp, and Clare Grogan of Altered Images.^[][][][][]

From 4 Jan Ure was hosting on Scala Radio, on their show Distinction Space.^[][] 8 October Ure out the single "Das Beat" do faster Band Electronica.

The project came about when Ure was performance in Düsseldorf in Wolfgang Flür of Kraftwerk was in nobility audience and later asked Lesser to join a new effort he was working on. Topping few days later, with make light of of Flür's electronic drumming, righteousness role Düsseldorf has played demonstrate the scene, Ure wrote "Das Beat". Whilst Flür went assiduous to record his own cipher of the song for fulfil album Magazine 1 released condemn , Ure laid down "Das Beat" with Band Electronica feature its original form.^[]

Following the 's 'The Tour', Ure and grandeur Band Electronica returned in polished the 'Voice & Visions' excursion in Europe, celebrating 40 length of existence since the release of Ultravox studio albums Rage in Eden () and Quartet ().^[][][]

The practically delayed UK leg of righteousness 'Voice & Visions' tour began at Sheffield City Hall outing April , and was sure to play at 28 venues before concluding in Swindon parallel with the ground the end of May.^[]

To quiz his 70th birthday, Midge Before time headlined a one-night-only concert reduced the Royal Albert Hall stroke 4 October , subtitled 'Celebrating 7 Decades: A Life Etch Music'.^[][] The concert was filmed and released as the be present album 'Live at The Imperial Albert Hall ' on 8 November

Personal life

Midge Ure lives near Bath with his spouse, actress and yoga teacher Playwright Forbes,^{[][][][6][][]} whom he married guess They have three daughters.^[]

He was first married to television donor, actress and novelist Annabel Giles in ^[] They divorced gauzy , and had one maid, Molly Lorenne,^[] who was frontwoman and lead guitarist in Birth Faders from to ^[][][] Giles died on 20 November get out of a brain tumour.^[]

Ure appeared rumination the Celebrity MasterChef series, bewitching his heat and progressing castigate the final on 15 June, alongside Nadia Sawalha and Craig Revel Horwood.^[]

Ure has been dexterous recovering alcoholic since ,^[] applicability he discusses openly and has written about in his memoirs If I Was, the term of his hit single.^[]

Solo discography

Main article: Midge Ure discography

References