Midge Ure - The Man Who Sold The World (1982) May 2026

It first appeared on the Party Party film soundtrack in 1982 (LP/Vinyl) and as a promo 7" single in the UK.

The song gained significant new fame in 2015 when it was chosen by Hideo Kojima as the opening theme for the video game Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain .

The track was later included as a B-side to Ure’s 1985 #1 hit single "If I Was" and featured on his solo debut album, The Gift .

Listen to Midge Ure's atmospheric 1982 rendition of the classic Bowie track: Midge Ure - The Man Who Sold The World (1982) Halil Burak Aksu YouTube• Sep 24, 2017 Style and Legacy

While released the original in 1970 and Nirvana famously covered it in 1993, Ure’s version is distinct for its use of heavy synthesizers and a mechanical, rhythmic drive. Critics often praise it as a "highly listenable and moving" example of early '80s new wave. The Man Who Sold The World / Band Of Gold - Discogs