Midge Ure Captivates Both Old and New Audiences

With a four-decade career performing as both a soloist and as front man for some of the late 20th century's most influential new wave bands, Midge Ure has established himself as one of the premier voices of the new wave/post-punk era. From mega-hit new wave singles such as "Vienna" and "Fade to Grey" to iconic classics such as "Do They Know It's Christmas?" (which was co-written by Ure), his superlative musical versatility has catapulted him to success as one of the most famous -- and important -- musicians of his era.

Schedule

Midge Ure is currently continuing an extensive world tour, with performances scheduled for the UK, Germany, Latvia, Estonia, and South Africa. To find out about available Midge Ure tickets, be sure to check online to get the latest information about dates and times.

Trivia

Midge Ure's was born with the name James Ure. When he became the guitarist for the band "Salvation" in 1972, the group already had another musician named Jim, so the decision was made to turn his name backwards (from "Jim" to "Mij"), then use the phonetic spelling Midge.

Singer

As a young musician, Midge Ure began playing with a local band called Stumble in his native Glasgow. In 1972, he became the guitarist for the popular local house band Salvation. Within a few years, the band, under the new moniker Slik, had achieved widespread national fame, thanks in part to Ure's musicianship and to the songwriter talents of Bill Martin and Phil Coulter. After the group disbanded, Ure achieved fame with bands such as Rich Kids, Ultravox, Visage and Thin Lizzy.

In 1985, he made an auspicious solo debut with the No. 1 single, "If I Was." More than a decade later he was still charting. In 1998, he produced one of his biggest career hits, "Breathe."

Also known for his charitable contributions, Ure partnered with Bob Geldof in 2005 to organise Live 8, a series of concerts in aid of world poverty. For his musical and humanistic contributions, Ure has been named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth, and has been given the role of ambassador for Save the Children.

Breakthrough

Ure first achieved national success with the band Slik, with whom he recorded the No. 1 single, "Forever and Ever". Another breakthrough came in 1984 when he co-wrote with Bob Geldof the Band Aid mega-hit, "Do They Know It's Christmas?"

Hit Albums

Midge Ure's first major hit was the Slik single "Forever and Ever," which charted at No. 1 in February 1976. Five years later, he achieved one of his biggest hits with the album Vienna. The title track charted at No. 2 for four weeks, while the album charted at No. 3.

In 1985, Ure's debut solo single "If I Was" topped at No. 1, while his debut album The Gift peaked at No. 2. More than a decade later in 1998, Ure achieved international success with the single "Breathe," which became a blockbuster hit throughout the UK and Europe. In 2014, Ure achieved fame with a new generation, thanks to the success of his solo album Fragile.

Show Experience

A Midge Ure concert is a true musical experience, rather than a sound and laser light show. While lighting and other multimedia effects are used attractively and tastefully, the ultimate focus is the exceptional quality of the music and Ure's amazing performance skills. It's not a get-up-and-dance show, but rather a deeply intense musical journey through the career of one of the UK's most talented -- and culturally significant -- musicians. The energy hits the audience not through special effects, but through the consummate musicianship of the band, so that audience members remain almost spellbound by the power and sheer beauty of the music.