Midge Ure

Midge Ure (birth name James Ure; born 10 October 1953, Cambuslang, Scotland) is a Scottish musician, singer, and songwriter. He is best known as the lead vocalist of Ultravox and as the co-writer of the Band Aid charity single “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”, which contributed to major UK fundraising initiatives in the 1980s.

Ure’s early career developed through Scottish bands in the 1970s, leading to wider recognition when he joined Ultravox in 1979. The group’s breakthrough came with the album Vienna (1980), and the title track “Vienna” became one of their best-known recordings, reaching a high position on the UK singles chart in 1981. This period established Ultravox as a key act within the synth-pop and new wave landscape.

In 1984, Ure co-wrote “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” with Bob Geldof for the Band Aid project, a release that reached number one in the UK and became strongly associated with charity fundraising in popular music. Ure’s solo peak followed with the album The Gift (1985), led by the single “If I Was”, which reached number one on the UK Singles Chart.

Across later decades, Ure continued recording and performing, including further Ultravox activity and solo tours. He also worked on projects that revisited the repertoire of the 1980s, maintaining an audience for both his solo material and Ultravox’s catalogue. His career has included collaborations and performance work across Europe and the UK.

Ure has been recognised for his contributions to music and charitable work, including appointment as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). His long-term influence is associated with Ultravox’s role in the development of British electronic pop and with the enduring prominence of Band Aid in the history of charity singles.