Did you know that Ultravox was formed (in 1976) from a band called Tiger Lily (that had formed in 1973)?

Midge Ure was their second lead singer. They originally had John Foxx leading the band.

Since 1992, they have had a third lead singer, and his name is Billie Curry.

There is a product called UltraVox, which is a professional system for automatic monitoring of ultrasonic vocalizations. (Like, used to hear rats through walls and other special stuff like that. ;) )

What do you know about the band Ultravox? I didn't know much, really, except that people here seem to like them. :)

1983's "Quartet" is their most successful LP in the American market, it launched the minor hit "Reap the Wild Wind."

Midge Ure co-wrote the song "Do They Know It's Christmas?" for Band Aid charity single.

Midge Ure has worked with other bands such as Visage and Thin Lizzy (yes, I said Thin Lizzy).

Midge Ure had a solo hit with "If I Was" (which IMHO is a great song)

Before Ultravox, Midge Ure was in two bands, one of which reached the top (he never did reach the top with Ultravox, he was held at No. 2 in 1981 by Joe Dolce's "Shaddap You Face").

He reached UK No. 1 in 1976 with Slik with the song "Forever and Ever", then sang with the Rich Kids on a song called "Rich Kids" in 1978.

A good place to start is the "Vienna" album, released 1981.

Warren Cann and Chris Cross from Ultravox also composed the music for the "Max Headroom" TV Movie, shown on Channel Four in the UK in 1983. Max himself was to appear in the charts 3 years later with the Art of Noise on "Paranoimia"

I'm sure he has worked with Thin Lizzy, but the only Thin-Lizzy related work I can think of is the song "Yellow Pearl" which he produced for Thin Lizzy's lead singer, Phil Lynott, a minor hit in 1981, it bounded into the charts a year later in a remix after being used as the theme for the UK pop show "Top of the Pops".

Midge Ure directed the Bananarama video for "Shy Boy". He also directed a few other videos which I can't remember off hand. (Got this from "MTV's Who's Who in Music Videos" book.)

Billy Currie has been with Ultravox since they were formed, he was the perhaps the most central figure and was responsible for pioneering the distinct electronic sound when Midge Ure joined in 1980.

He also was a key member of Visage and alongside Midge wrote 'Fade To Grey'.

In 1993 they reformed with lead singer Tony Fennell to release 'Revelation' which due to promotional disasters barely caused a stir in the music industry. In fact in my opinion it wasn't a bad album at all.

Billy Currie has the rights to the Ultravox name, but at present I don't think they have a lead singer and Currie is also very busy on solo projects.

Hey, not too much to add!

Midge Ure had a huge comeback in Europe in 98 with "Breathe" The song and album were originally recorded in 96 and flopped. After the song was used for a Swatch commercial it went to number 1 in several European countries and the album was re-released with much more success.

In 2001 his latest album Move Me was released and i had the chance to see him life in his birth-town Glasgow, what a concert!

I'd like recommend some of his songs to you guys:

From his Album "Pure"
-Cold, cold Heart
-Light in your eyes
-Pure Love
-I see hope in the morning light

From "Breathe"
-Guns and Arrows
-Live Forever
-Trail of Tears
-Fallen Angel
-Sinnerman
just get the whole album, it is fabulous!!!

More to come...

US charts

#71 Reap the wild wind 1983
Midge Ure:
#95 Dear God 1989

Bubbling under US charts:

#108 Dancing with tears in my eyes 1984

UK charts:

#29 Sleepwalk 1980
#57 Passing strangers 1980
#2 Vienna 1981
#33 Slow motion 1981
#8 All stood still 1981
#14 The thin wall 1981
#16 The voice 1981
#12 Reap the wild wind 1982
#11 Hymn 1982
#15 Visions of blue 1983
#18 We came to dance 1983
#27 One small day 1984
#3 Dancing with tears in my eyes 1984
#22 Lament 1984
#74 Dancing with tears in my eyes (re-entry) 1984
#73 Lament (re-entry) 1984
#12 Love's great adventure 1984
#31 Same old story 1986
#30 All fall down 1986
#13 Vienna (re-issue) 1993
Midge Ure:
#9 No regrets 1982
#39 After a fashion 1983
#1 If I was 1985
#28 That certain smile 1985
#46 Wastelands 1986
#27 Call of the wild 1986
#49 Answer to nothing 1988
#55 Dear God 1988
#17 Cold cold heart 1991
#70 Breathe 1996

Album Rock Charts:

#27 Reap the wild wind 1983
#55 One small day 1984
Midge Ure:
#6 Dear God 1989

Modern Rock charts:

none charted
Midge Ure:
#4 Dear God 1989
#26 Answer to nothing 1989
#12 Cold cold heart 1991

It was strange how they failed to make an impact in the US. But having said that looking at the UK chart positions, you would assume that they made no real impact in the UK either.

Ultravox were one of those bands whose singles chart positions belied their popularity.

ultravox are great. i own both compilations, "the collection" and "if i was: the best of midge ure and ultravox. i wonder why midge ure's solo career took a nosdive after "if i was" hit #1?! anyway, i like thier mid-period work, such as "love's great adventure" and "dancing with tears in my eyes". those were great tracks which contained that indelible early eighties flavor!

I've been an Ultravox-fan since 1978/1979 (John Foxx-era)because of 'Young Savage' which I heard in the same period as The Sex-pistols, DK and so. HEY: I was 13 years old and testosteron started to flood my blood :D. Later I was more a New Romantic/New Wave kinda guy and Ultravox still fitted in my taste as they changed too (under the inspirating leadership of James 'Midge' Ure). The band disengaged because of 'conflicting personalities'. 2 bad, but well, these things happens.

I recall seeing Billie Currie touring with Gary Numan mainly playing the electric violin. At about the same time a remake of jan and deans deadmans curve was released by a masked electric violinist called nash the slash and heavily rumoured to be Billie Currie.

I love the album U-Vox, dont think it was ever released in the US.

Billy Currie did indeed tour with Gary Numan, and played a great solo piece on Gary's version of 'On Broadway'. It was pretty much a cert that he was indeed 'Nash The Slash'....]

Currie's unique Germanic sound on keyboards, and undoubted talent on the electric Viola were for me the driving success behind Ultravox, and the Visage hit 'Fade To Grey'.

BTW, I see that Midge released his own version of 'Fade To Grey' on his 'No Regrets, The Best Of' compilation. An interesting, if fairly straightforward remix - has anyone else heard it?

Midge Ure did a kickin' cover of David Bowie's "The Man Who Sold The World" :)

The song "Just For A Moment" (performed by John Foxx as Ultravox!) sounds quite similar to "Vienna" (performed by Midge Ure as Ultravox) :)

[b][i]Midge Ure did a kickin' cover of David Bowie's "The Man Who Sold The World" :)



XXX, oh yeah his version is totally awesome. I listen to it all the time.

Midge's song "Breathe" was used for a Swatch watch commercial.

The song "Love's Great Adventure" was originally going to be used for a jenas commercial, but from an interview with Midge things didn't work out.

The live version of "The Voice" done by Midge Ure totally rocks.

*side note*
I wish Midge would tour the States again someday. I know he has a lot of fans over here. I have his "Rewind" concert on DVD and his show rocks.

It was strange how they failed to make an impact in the US. But having said that looking at the UK chart positions, you would assume that they made no real impact in the UK either.

Ultravox were one of those bands whose singles chart positions belied their popularity.

I know here in the States both Midge and Ultravox have a cult following. It is sad theat they become more popular over here. Their music (both Midge solo and Ultravox) just speaks to you, if you really listen to some of the lyrics carefully.

The last studio album that Midge appeared on was the 'U-VOX' album, this was also the first album that didn't include the usual drummer Warren Cann, who was replaced by the ex-Big Country drummer Mark Brzezicki.
Billy Currie made another two studio albums 'Revelations' and 'Ingenuity' before calling it a day, when neither of them lived up to the success of previous albums. The further release of both albums as a double CD has added to the tally of available Ultravox releases. This number has been further increased to the point that Midge actually appears, on more albums since he left the band than he did whilst still with them.
These include 'Ultravox live at the B.B.C.', 'The Best of Ultravox', 'Dancing with tears in my eyes', 'If I Was - the best of Midge Ure & Ultravox', 'The Voice - The best of Ultravox', 'The very best of Midge Ure & Ultravox', 'Extended Ultravox', 'Rare Vol.1' and 'Rare Vol.2'. Not forgetting that the previous albums have also been remastered and released as well. :wacky:
So plenty to choose from.

Midge has been touring the U.K. recently as a one man accoustic show, performing songs from the period as front man of Ultravox, as well as from his time as a solo artist.

The last studio album that Midge appeared on was the 'U-VOX' album, this was also the first album that didn't include the usual drummer Warren Cann, who was replaced by the ex-Big Country drummer Mark Brzezicki.
Billy Currie made another two studio albums 'Revelations' and 'Ingenuity' before calling it a day, when neither of them lived up to the success of previous albums. The further release of both albums as a double CD has added to the tally of available Ultravox releases. This number has been further increased to the point that Midge actually appears, on more albums since he left the band than he did whilst still with them.
These include 'Ultravox live at the B.B.C.', 'The Best of Ultravox', 'Dancing with tears in my eyes', 'If I Was - the best of Midge Ure & Ultravox', 'The Voice - The best of Ultravox', 'The very best of Midge Ure & Ultravox', 'Extended Ultravox', 'Rare Vol.1' and 'Rare Vol.2'. Not forgetting that the previous albums have also been remastered and released as well. :wacky:
So plenty to choose from.

Midge has been touring the U.K. recently as a one man accoustic show, performing songs from the period as front man of Ultravox, as well as from his time as a solo artist.

That U-Vox album was a huge disappointment in all honesty.

I was lucky enough to see Midge back in 1993 during his 'Out Alone' tour, which co-incided with the release of 'If I Was - The Very Best Of Midge Ure & Ultravox'. Again, just an acoustic guitar tour with a Q&A session afterwards it was brilliant.

I know what you mean about the U-Vox album, as there's only a couple of stand out tracks in my mind, where as earlier albums were much more of a complete listening pleasure. I suppose it must have been a toil to actually record, as the band had already lost Warren and atmosphere was probally not really the sort of pleasure and creative moment inducing sort, that breeds critically acclaimed albums in the vein of Vienna.
I think the same can be said of the two Billy Currie led albums as well, for as much as he might have wanted to make them, he was never going to produce the sort of result that was really an 'Ultravox' album, even if it was printed on the sleeve. To my mind Ultravox were who they were because of Midge on lead vocals, when he left it was no longer the same band and there's very few major acts that survive that sort of loss, let alone try to continue in the same way sadly. :no:

Midge actually played in my home town about three months ago, and I wasn't able to go to the concert because it was on a saturday night, and I already had a prior engagement for which I'd been booked :dammit:

I would love to see them do a reunion concert though with all four members there, and witness something like the 'Monument tour' again :bouncy: :bouncy:

Midge Ure had a helping hand with the Phil Lynott song Yellow Pearl which became the theme to the UK live music show Top of the Pops in 1981

Ultravox did only have the one chart hit in the US, but they had a whole handful here in http://www.webfitz.com/lyrics/canFlag.gif Canada. I don't know exact chart positions, but I can tell you that Reap the Wild Wind, Dancing With Tears in My Eyes, One Small Day and If I Was were all hits here (he might have had more, but those were the only ones that I remembered from radio)

Although not regulars of the top 10, Ultravox were regularly highest new entry in the singles chart, and many of their top 20 hits had sales that embarrass the many No1s we seem to have today, they were seen as a thinking blokes LP band at the time.

On to earlier days

A poorly laid out but complete write up of the work of john foxx is here:-
http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/John%20Foxx

Hits in the uk are:-
Singles
31 John Foxx Underpass Jan 1980
32 John Foxx No-One Driving Mar 1980
35 John Foxx Burning Car Jul 1980
40 John Foxx Europe (After The Rain) Aug 1981
Also Endlessly (famously the single mix is a pastiche/hommage to the beatles "tommorow Never Knows" and completely different to the LP version), Your Dress, Stars on Fire and Enter the angel which all failed to make the top 40

LPs
18 John Foxx Metamatix Album Feb 1980
24 John Foxx The Garden Album Oct 1981
27 John Foxx The Golden Section Album Oct 1983
also In Mysterious ways

Also he is a successful photographer under his real name of Dennis Leigh, and has recently returned to music, his output could be decribed as having 2 distinct streams, With Louis Gordon he produces electro-pop lps, in other guises, ambient work, Specificly Cathedral Oceans 1 & 2 which is intended to accompany one of his exhibitions of photography.

Midge Ure did a kickin' cover of David Bowie's "The Man Who Sold The World" :)

The song "Just For A Moment" (performed by John Foxx as Ultravox!) sounds quite similar to "Vienna" (performed by Midge Ure as Ultravox) :)

Vienna was a great song IMO. And reap the Wild Wind and One Fine day (I think that was the name of it)
It's cool to see Ultravox luv.