Midge Ure, who plays Bayboro Brewing in St. Petersburg, Florida on Sept. 10, 2024. Credit: Photo by Nathan Roach

Bob Geldof wasn’t the only mastermind behind Live Aid, you know.

Right by his side the entire time was Ultravox’s Midge Ure, who also helped Geldof dream up “Do They Know It’s Christmastime?” the year before. It’s anyone’s guess if the charity single will be part of the Scotsman’s intimate gig at Bayboro Brewing Co. in St. Petersburg, but the last time he was in town, he joined Howard Jones onstage for the song (which Jones did not originally appear on) following an opening set for his fellow ‘80s hitmaker.

Ahead of this show, Ure told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay how his future pal David Bowie’s “Ziggy Stardust” tour was (unsurprisingly) the best gig he ever saw. Read his full comment below.

It was just as “Starman: hit the U.K. charts, and because I was playing that night 40 miles away in Edinburgh, I thought I’d miss the chance to see this show. But because he was becoming immensely popular, they decided to put on a matinee show. This allowed me the chance to catch the classic lineup [of the Spiders From Mars] in all their glory. Bowie’s presence crashing with Ronson’s guitar work gave birth to the best, most memorable concert ever. Simple staging, no frills, just a brilliant band performing brilliant music. It changed everything for me and a multitude of others, and still lives and breathes in me over 50 years later. -Midge Ure

Tickets to see Midge Ure play St. Pete’s Bayboro Brewing on Tuesday, Sept. 10 are still available and cost $25.