Midge Ure OBE (born James Ure, 10 October 1953, Cambuslang, Lanarkshire, Scotland) is a guitarist, singer, keyboard player, and songwriter. He enjoyed particular success in the 1970s and 1980s in bands including Slik, Thin Lizzy, The Rich Kids, Visage, and most notably as frontman of Ultravox. Ure co-wrote and produced the charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" and co-organised both Band Aid, Live Aid and Live 8 with Bob Geldof. He twice received an Ivor Novello Award with Geldof for co-writing "Do They Know It's Christmas?" Ure acts as trustee for the charity, and serves as ambassador for Save The Children. His stage name, Midge, is a phonetic reversal of his real name, Jim.
Born to a working-class family, he attended Rutherglen Academy, in Glasgow, until he was 15 years old. After leaving school, Ure began to work as engineer and playing music in a Glasgow band called Stumble (c 1969 - c 1971), that included a girl singing duet Christine, Agnes, and on lead guitar John McMenemy.
Ure joined Salvation as a guitarist in 1972. The band had been formed in Glasgow two years previous by the brothers Kevin (vocals) and Jim McGinlay (bass guitar)..