LIVE AID memorabilia is going up for auction this winter, with British legends Ultravox taking centre stage.

Following Ultravox bass player Chris Cross' death in March, his bass guitar used at the Live Aid concert, his Live Aid security pass, ticket stub and official Live Aid T-shirt will be auctioned in Wiltshire along with many other items from his personal collection.

Luke Hobbs, auctioneer from Gardiner Houlgate, said: “Chris’ collection connects to some of the most iconic moments of the 1980s. Not just Band Aid and Live Aid, but also key points in Ultravox’s career as they transitioned from synth pioneers to pop stardom.

“We’re expecting interest from around the world. Many people who grew up in the 1980s are collecting this kind of memorabilia. For musicians, Chris’s collection of around 400 items is a real treasure trove.”

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Luke Hobbs with Live Aid bass guitar and pass a and Ultravox gold disks (Image: Gardiner Houlgate) Included in the sale are Cross’ platinum disk for the Band Aid single Do They Know Its Christmas? and his Ibanez Blazer bass guitar.

 The 1980s Oxford synthesizer used on the hit 1984 single Love’s Great Adventure and an EMS Synthi AKS synthesizer used for the bass parts on Ultravox’s ground-breaking first album, Ultravox! will be auctioned as well.

Also up for sale is a Yamaha SG2000 electric guitar used by former Ultravox singer Midge Ure, co-organiser of Band Aid and Live Aid alongside Bob Geldof.

Cross was one of the co-writers of Ultravox’s biggest hit, the 1981 single Vienna, which reached number two in the UK chart and number one in Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands,

In addition to over 30 guitars and a range of synthesizers, the Chris Cross collection includes Ultravox gold disks from around the world, promotional items for the band, tour merchandise, rare vinyl and equipment.

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Luke Hobbs with Ultravox synthsizer and gold disks (Image: Gardiner Houlgate) Speaking from his home in Portugal, Midge Ure said: “Chris was the glue that held Ultravox together. There was a reason why he counselled troubled kids after we split, Ultravox was a great training ground for a career in therapy.”

Midge also spoke about Ultravox's experience of Live Aid: “Live Aid was a mixture of excitement and absolute fear. The idea of walking out on stage in front of such a huge audience with no sound check was terrifying.

"Our sound checks usually took forever – up to five hours. That’s why, on the day, we used the simplest and most stripped-down set up we could.”

Chris Cross was a member of Ultravox from the band’s formation in the mid-1970s till its split in 1987. He retired from the music industry to become a psychotherapist.

In the famous video for Do They Know It’s Christmas?, Cross can be glimpsed on the back row of the assembled pop musicians.

Remembering the recording session, Midge Ure said: “Chris and Spandau Ballet’s saxophone player Steve Norman were naughty boys at the back.

“Chris stepped up to Band Aid from day one and provided backing vocals. He wanted to be involved – and he was the ice breaker, bringing people together.”

Having played again with Ultravox after the band reformed in the 1990s and 2000s, Chris Cross died of natural causes aged 71 on March 25.

The 1982 Squier bass played by Cross at the Live Aid concert is expected to fetch in excess of £4,000.

The auction will take place at Gardiner Houlgate, 9 Leafield Way, Corsham, Wiltshire, SN13 9SW on Wednesday December 4.

Chris Cross’s collection will be available for public viewing on Friday November 29 and Monday 2 December 2 from 9am–5.30pm and on the day of the sale itself.