Neil Drysdale
Not too many musicians can boast they have something for everyone.
But there again, few have enjoyed such a multi-faceted career as Midge Ure.
The Scot is a chameleon, somebody who has flitted in and out of passing trends without pursuing the orthodox path to stardom.
He played alongside Glen Matlock in the Rich Kids. He was at the forefront of the electronic revolution with Visage. And, of course, he fronted Ultravox, whose song “Vienna” is one of the most enduring anthems in the rock canon.
All that is even before we turn to the astonishing success of Live Aid and “Do They Know It’s Christmas”, which he co-wrote and produced while Bob Geldof organised the biggest-ever parade of music luminaries for the charity cause.
One might suppose that Ure would be slowing down a little, but not a word of it. On the contrary, as he prepares to perform at Aberdeen’s The Lemon Tree on Sunday, he remains an astute observer of the contemporary music scene.
In most cases, he’s not a fan.
As he told me: “It used to be that you would do your best to be different, create your own sound, do everything you could to be distinctive, otherwise you wouldn’t stand out from the pack.
“But so often, what we have now is music by committee. Look at somebody like Beyonce, who has about 20 writers working on her songs.
“And look at the way one boy band sounds exactly the same as another. A lot of current music is totally homogenised, it’s not original and I got quite disillusioned for a while.
“But then I thought: ‘If I walk away, I’m letting them win’. And I still get a huge buzz when I bring out a new record or walk onto a stage.”
The Scot’s most recent CD might have been called “Fragile”, but there is nothing insipid about the commitment he continues to pour into his music, whether in the studio or on the road.
And this weekend’s gig promises “Something from Everything”, with at least one song from every album he has recorded, whether with the Rich Kids, Visage, Ultravox or on his own.
He said: “I think you have to keep pushing yourself, because if you just do the same thing year after year, you will get predictable. And you have to keep remembering that people are paying good money to watch you. They deserve the best you can give them.
“I’ve always loved touring and The Lemon Tree is a place we should treasure. It’s one of those arts hubs which brings people together from all walks of life and, although it has had to fight from time to time to stay open, I love these venues and believe they are really important.”
There was time for one final question. What was Ure most enjoying about his life?
He responded: “I think just the fact I’m alive, given all the people who have popped their clogs this year. It’s frightening how many talented folk have gone in 2016.”