Product Description

Midge Ure is one of the most successful and innovative musicians of the last 25 years. With his band Ultravox, Midge consistently combined massive popular chart success with crediblitly, influence and respect. On 25 November 1984, Midge spearheaded one of pop music's most historic events when 36 artists, collectively known as Band Aid, recorded 'Do They Know It's Christmas?', a song Midge had written with Bob Geldof in response to the famine in Ethiopia. Produced by Midge, the single sold over 3 million copies in the UK and led to Live Aid, the 1985 concert which featured the world's greatest music acts and raised millions for charity. In 2004, 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' was back at the top of the charts and in 2005 a global audience watched the world's biggest artists at the Live 8 concerts. In this fully updated edition, Midge Ure candidly gives his side of the story of Band Aid, Live Aid and Live 8 and talks honestly about his rise to fame and his collaborations with some of the greatest figures in music. If I Was...is a true testament to the talent and energy of a man who remains as vibrant today as when he first set out to become a musician twenty years ago.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #480891 in Books
• Published on: 2005-11-10
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

About the Author
Midge Ure with Robin Eggar. Robin had a top ten bestseller with his biography of Tom Jones.

Customer Reviews

A Man of Two Worlds
This is among the most entertaining autobiographies I've recently read. Midge narrates with emotion, recalling his childhood up till his recent problems and small victories. He was for a while incredibly prolific and influential in creating what became the sound and vision of the eighties. Not only did he contribute via his work as a band member of Ultravox, but also via the leading force of Visage. Although Visage never became huge, despite being popular, the influence of their electronic and androgynous sound and accompanying videos set the stage for other electronic bands. On top of this all he became, of course, something of an operating manager of Band Aid and had for a while success going solo.

By and large, Ure is humble by his achievements and acknowledges other people's part in his success and yet points out that sometimes he didn't get the respect he deserved for his work; Visage is a case in point, most people actually didn't realize that he was the driving force of the band. He has been extremely generous to his parents, who were constantly unfortunate in moving into house that burned down to the ground, only to have Jim (Midge derived from his name pronounced backwards) step in to buy another house. Midge was actually very generous to himself and basically everyone around him, so generous that he eventually became more or less bankrupt. Despite some finger pointing, he realizes that the fault lies first and foremost in his own doings.

What struck me, though, was that among so much generosity and hospitality is his treatment to his former mates in Ultravox. He spends a great deal of the text describing how difficult it was working with them, their envy of his star persona (take a look at the videos, it's Midge all over the place) and how poor their contribution was as the group developed, as in the work they had done while he was on a sabbatical with his solo project. Heck, he didn't even bother inviting them to the Band Aid bonanza, making sure he would remain in the spotlight.

Ure split up the band, saying that they could have kept on, since there was an Ultravox before him joining the band. This is simply ridiculous as recent compilations of Midge Ure and Ultravox suggest; people view the band as Midge and the other guys (something like Culture Club without Boy George). Ultravox did continue in some fashion without him but nobody, understandably, bothered. He states that he leaves messages to his former band mates and is somewhat baffled why they don't return his polite greetings, stating that he may be ready re-uniting the band. Obviously what he needs to do is pick up the phone and say: I'm Sorry.

This is a touching reading of a man of two worlds, mostly sincere and likeable. I hope he manages to keep performing and steer away from alcohol. He would also do many a favor by contacting his former band mates in the same vein as he seems to treat his family and friends, with warmth and generosity.

Great overview of a stellar career
"If I Was" is interesting reading, whether for the hardcore Ultravox/Midge fan (as I am) or for anyone interested in the British music scene through the 80s and 90s. The book covers Midge's early years, his involvement with bands like Slik and the Rich Kids, his time in Thin Lizzy, his experiences in Ultravox, and also his solo career. There are also a few chapters on Band Aid, which Midge was instrumental in creating. It's a well-written, insightful read and provides a nice summary (so far) of one of the most interesting and accomplished musicians of our time.