About this episode
In this episode we invite James "Midge" Ure to talk us through his wonderfully convoluted career in a conversation that stretches from Slik to Visage — via the Rich Kids, the Blitz club and Live Aid — to his present-day Backstage Lockdown Club. With a special focus on the New Romantics , RBP's hosts ask Midge about Ultravox, whose classic Vienna album is 40 years old this week, and touch on the "manifesto" that Sounds ' Betty Page put together with Spandau Ballet in that same year. Midge also pitches in on the passing of guitar-shredder extraordinaire Eddie Van Halen , whose sad loss prompts a general celebration of the pop-metal band that was Eddie's namesake. We also pay our respects to U.S. soul singer turned reggae ambassador Johnny Nash and to country-MOR singer-songwriter Mac ('In The Ghetto') Davis . The week's new audio interview being Steven Daly's 1998 conversation with R&B mega diva Mariah Carey , we hear two clips from this very entertaining chinwag ... and then ponder the pros and cons of Carey's career and oeuvre . Mark then walks and talks us through his highlights of the week's new intake of library articles , including seminal pieces on Otis Redding (1966), Ewan MacColl (1975) and Kraftwerk (1977), while Jasper rounds matters off with remarks on reviews of Ricky Martin , Jack White ... and Midge Ure live in February this year! Many thanks to special guest Midge Ure. Join Midge's Backstage Lockdown Club at www.patreon.com/midgeure , and check out the deluxe 40th anniversary version of Ultravox's Vienna. Pieces discussed: Visage , Spandau Ballet , New Romantics , Van Halen @ Whisky a Go Go , Van Halen , Van Halener , Van Halenest , Johnny Nash , Mac Davis , Bunny "Striker" Lee , Mariah Carey audio , Otis Redding , Jackson Five , Ewan MacColl , Kraftwerk , ABC , Radiohead , Natalie Imbruglia , Dis-Education of Rock 'n' Roll , Ricky Martin , Lester Bangs , Jack White and Midge Ure . This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts