A Cup Of Tea With

Midge Ure

Musician Midge Ure, 63, is best known for pop hits including Fade To Grey (with Visage), Vienna (with Ultravox) and If I Was. And, of course, for co-writing Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas?

How do you take your tea?

I don’t drink tea, but I only started drinking coffee three years ago. I challenged myself to tour America completely alone for six weeks – no crew, no musicians. You drive 300 miles between every city so I thought, ‘Maybe I’ll just try coffee and see if it keeps me awake!’

Who would you most like to have a cuppa with?

Charles Rennie Mackintosh, the designer/ architect. At a time when everything was dark oak, very Victorian and heavy, he was designing white furniture with inlaid purple tile. He’d be incredibly interesting.

What would be your last meal?

I’d go for a biryani. It’s fork food, it’s easy.

What can we expect from your tour?

I’ve been doing a lot of acoustic shows and, as great as that is, the grass is always greener. You look over the fence and think, ‘Oh my electric guitar, my synthesisers…’ I wanted to go back to that. I’ll play songs I’ve never played and all the hits. The Christians and Altered Images are on the tour, too. It’ll be fun.

Which song do you wish you’d written?

The Beatles’ Here, There And Everywhere has the most beautiful chord changes and the most beautiful melody. I’d love to have written that.

Of what achievement are you most proud?

Having four gorgeous, articulate and smart daughters. Molly, 30, is an agent in the music industry. Kitty, 23, is in TV production. Ruby, 20, is doing American Studies at the University of Texas. And Flossie, 18, wants to go to drama school. They’re doing incredibly well. That’s the crowning glory.

Midge Ure’s tour with his band Electronica, plus Altered Images and The Christians begins on 10 October. To find out more, visit flyingmusic.com

‘I’d love to have written Here There And Everywhere’