By DJ Monk
Steve Strange, one of the most influential agents in the world of music, is to receive an ‘Outstanding Contribution to Music’ award at the annual Northern Ireland Music Prize ceremony, being held at Belfast’s historic Ulster Hall next weekend.
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Steve, a good friend of the ÜRHQ team, is only the second recipient of this special award that recognises the role that an individual from Northern Ireland has played in the world of music.
Steve Strange was born and raised in the historic County Antrim seaside town of Carrickfergus. He is one of the most influential agents in the music industry and one of the co-founders of the international booking agents X-ray Touring. His clients range from household names such as Eminem, Coldplay and Snow Patrol through rock and metal legends such as Machine Head, Queens of The Stone Age and Saxon to acts such as Airbourne, Black Stone Cherry, Eagles Of Death Metal, The Dead Daisies, Skindred, Stone Broken and Wayward Sons.
He started his musical career as a drummer in the early 80s, and remains a member of melodic rockers No Hot Ashes, with whom he continues to play on a regular basis. He also has sat on the drum stool for Fastway and for Mama’s Boys at their one-off 2011 reunion. He began his career as an agent with Prestige in 1991, returning to Belfast to be a promoter at the Limelight then moving back to London to build his roster and network, working with a run of successful agencies including FAB, Solo, Fair Warning/Wasted Talent, which became Helter Skelter. In 2005 Steve co-founded and launched X-ray Touring, who today represent more than 500 acts.
The ‘Outstanding Contribution to Music’ presentation will take place during the evening of the NI Music Prize awards ceremony at the Ulster Hall next Thursday (7 November).