Midge Ure

Lord Smythe · **Posted:** Sat Sep 30, 2006 11:59 am

Former Slik boy, Rich Kid, Ultravox frontman and founder member of Band Aid was last night in fine voice yet again with his performance at Durham Gala!

Midge accompanied only by his acoustic guitar belted out a fine collection of classics from his catalogue of hits with additional personal faves including songs penned by Phil Lynot and Eric Clapton. Songs were interspersed with humourous anecdotes about growing up in Glasgow, Top Of The Pops appearances etc.

The only criticism was Midge's excessive use of the vocal echo machine [at one point I thought I was listening to John Honour (anyone who's seen Brian Honour's brother perform will know what I mean]) and another low point was the audience, was the flash photography with people insisting on taking photos on their digital cameras even after having been advised not too, people up and down going to the toilet throughout the performance and some folk especially one bloke three rows behind insisting on singing along loudly out of synch and of course out of tune.

However a thoroughly entertaining evening from The Midget with an encore consisting of Dancing With Tears In My Eyes (Vocal Echoe WAS neccessary on this song) and If I Was, sent the audience (including Steve Strange 3 rows behind) away happy, fullfilled and humming, whistling and singing Ohhhhh Viennahhhhh!

A totally different musical experience altogher from last weeks Stranglers gig..next up for me is former Strangler's front man Hugh Cornwell, I can't wait to swap the pointy sideburns form safety pins!

Note: Support act Richard John Thompson was class he and his mate on guitar seemd very relaxed and unbelievable talented songwriters, vocalists, musicians! I didn't realise he was a local lad, from Bishop Auckland. Good luck to them both.

Lord Smythe · **Posted:** Sat Sep 30, 2006 1:41 pm

Elvis Costellos Glasses wrote:

He's pure class. I've had the pleasure of seeing Mr Ure 3 times with 3 different bands!

Saw him with the Rich Kids (my favourite New Wave band bar NONE. Check out their 1978 album "Ghosts Of Prices In Towers" if you're into "lost classics")

Then with Ultravox in 82 which was all-singing, all-dancing (with tears in my eyes!) Monument Tour christ, that was a cracking gig.

Then when he went solo caught him at the City Hall just after Band Aid single had come out and he was brilliant then, plus he did the coollest-of-cool cover versions of Scott Walkers "The Old Mans Back Again", a song that I thought only I knew! :grin:

That was my 5th time see-ing MU twice with U-Vox City Hall probably the same tour that you mentioned and at Whitley Bay ice rink featuring Irish Folk Rockers think it may have been The Chieftains I'm not sure. and thrice I've witnessed his one man acoustic set! Pure class!!

Ghosts Of Princes In Towers brilliant album (actually I thinit was you who gave me it ECG)

Strange One
Hung On You
Ghosts Of Princes In Towers
Cheap Emotions
Marching Men
Put You In The Picture
Young Girls
Bullet Proof Lover
Rich Kids
Lovers And Fools
Burning Sounds
Empty Words
Only Arsenic

Rich Kids ...what a line-up Midge Ure, Glenn Matlock, Steve New and Rusty Egan.

Midge Ure

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