James “Midge” Ure is a Scottish singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer whose career helped define the sound and spirit of the early 1980s. Before fronting Ultravox, he scored a UK No. 1 with Slik’s “Forever and Ever,” co-founded the new-wave group Visage, and co-wrote the landmark single “Fade to Grey.” Joining Ultravox in 1979, he guided the band through a sequence of influential albums – Vienna, Rage in Eden, Quartet, and Lament – and hits including “Vienna” and “Dancing with Tears in My Eyes,” which became defining singles of the synth-pop era.
Ure’s solo career began with the UK No. 1 single “If I Was” and the album The Gift (UK No. 2). Subsequent releases, notably Breathe, broadened his European reach—including No. 1 chart peaks in Italy and Austria—while later projects—Fragile and the orchestral set Orchestrated—reimagined his catalog. Anniversary tours have continued to showcase both Ultravox-era landmarks and his solo work.
Beyond his own music, Ure played a defining humanitarian role in co-writing and producing “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” and co-founding Band Aid, Live Aid, and Live 8 alongside Bob Geldof. His contributions helped mobilize global support for famine relief and established a model for music-led charity initiatives. In recognition of his work, he was appointed OBE in 2005. Midge Ure continues to record and tour internationally, maintaining an influential presence in British music.
