Band Aid
The story of Band Aid is legendary, a sick musician watching television in bed gets moved into action when watching a documentary. He gets together with a fello muso, they write a song and coerce their fellow musician mates to record a single to raise money for charity.
New Table of Contents
Band Aid: The Beginnings
Is That It? The Autobiography of Bob Geldof
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Bob Geldof was later to come up with the idea of Live Aid and would eventually become knighted for his charitable efforts.
In his autobiography he is quite frank about not being a saint even though he is referred to as Saint Bob since his charitable efforts in Africa.
The Road Taken
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Michael Buerk's report started with the words, "Dawn, and as the sun breaks through the piercing chill of night on the plain outside of Korem it lights up a biblical famine, now, in the Twentieth Century."
It was the plight of the Ethiopian children in particular that moved Bob into action.
Michael Buerk has won every major award in journalism while working for the BBC and this book outlines not only the famine in Ethiopia but also the Falklands War, Lockerbie and the Flixborough chemical plant fire. It is a fantastically written account of his life.
. At the time of Band Aid Midge was best known as lead singer for Ultravox.
MIDGE URE 8X10 COLOR PHOTO
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Together Bob and Midge wrote a song "Do They Know It's Christmas?" Bob wrote the lyrics and Midge wrote the music. Next it was time to get their fellow musician's on board.
Bob wanted to insure that he had famous, "hot" acts of that time to make sure that the single would sell. He contacted people and nearly everyone said yes straight away.
In one interview he told people that he asked Simon Le Bon (lead singer of Duran Duran) and as he was wavering he mentioned that Tony Hadley (lead singer of Spandau Ballet) had already said yes. Spandau Ballet and Duran Duran were the battling "super bands" of the time in the UK. Of course, Duran Duran became suddenly committed as well. Bob was certainly sneaky!
Band Aid: The Name
The name Band Aid was chosen as a pun as well as the fact that the musicians were working together as a band in order to aid others. The pun was the well known brand of adhesive bandage, indicating that they were trying to put the bandage on the problem.
Band Aid: The Song
Do They Know It's Christmas? B/w Feed the World
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Bob used his Irish charm and got the recording studio to give them some free recording time. They were given only 24 hours to get the record done. The date was 25th November 1984.The stars turned up on foot, in limos and in beaten up cars. The whole thing was recorded and used to promote the single. Some bands and artists were overseas and flew back specifically to record the single.
Band Aid: The Result
Band Aid: The Tax Battle
The Conservative Thatcher Government were not happy with this comment and refused to waive the VAT on the record. Bob Geldof and Margaret Thatcher
(the British PM) were in a stand off.Judging the public opinion correctly the government decided to back down, a win for democracy.
Launch Date
The single was released on 3rd December in time for the Christmas sales boom. It entered the charts at the top spot and stayed there for five weeks. Everywhere you turned the song could be heard playing.It became the biggest selling single of all time and was only usurped by Elton John's tribute to Princess Diana - Candle in the Wind 1997
. The Band Aid Story in Video
Band Aid: The Words
It's Christmas timeThere's no need to be afraid
At Christmas time
We let in light and we banish shade
And in our world of plenty
We can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world
At Christmas time
But say a prayerPray for the other ones
At Christmas time it's hard
But when you're having fun
There's a world outside your window
And it's a world of dread and fear
Where the only water flowing
Is the bitter sting of tears
And the Christmas bells that ring
There are the clanging chimes of doom
Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you
Feed the worldLet them know it's Christmas time
Feed the world
Do they know it's Christmas time at all?
And there won't be snow in Africa
This Christmas time
The greatest gift they'll get this year is life
Where nothing ever grows
No rain nor rivers flow
Do they know it's Christmas time at all?
Feed the worldLet them know it's Christmas time
Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time again
(Here's to you) raise a glass for everyone
(Here's to them) underneath that burning sun
Do they know it's Christmas time at all?
Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time
(repeat & fade)
An international organization that delivers emergency aid and to people suffering from natural disasters or man-made crises.
Band Aid: The Musicians
Phil Collins (Genesis)
Bob Geldof (The Boomtown Rats)
Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet)
Chris Williams (Iron Static Overdrive)
Chris Cross (Ultravox)
John Taylor (Duran Duran)
Paul Young
Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet)
Glenn Gregory (Heaven 17)
Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran)
Simon Crowe (The Boomtown Rats)
Marilyn
Keren Woodward (Bananarama)
Martin Kemp (Spandau Ballet)
Jody Watley (Shalamar)
Bono (U2)
Pinky and Perky (singing porcine puppets)
Adam Clayton (U2)
Paul Weller (The Style Council, and previously The Jam)
James "J.T." Taylor (Kool & The Gang)
George Michael (Wham!)
Midge Ure (Ultravox)
Martyn Ware (Heaven 17)
John Keeble (Spandau Ballet)
Gary Kemp (Spandau Ballet)
Roger Taylor (Duran Duran)
Sarah Dallin (Bananarama)
Siobhan Fahey (Bananarama)
Sting (The Police)
Pete Briquette (The Boomtown Rats)
Francis Rossi (Status Quo)
Robert 'Kool' Bell (Kool & The Gang)
Dennis Thomas (Kool & The Gang)
Andy Taylor (Duran Duran)
Jon Moss (Culture Club, former member of Adam and the Ants)
Rick Parfitt (Status Quo)
Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran)
Johnny Fingers (The Boomtown Rats)
David Bowie (who contributed via a recording that was mailed to Geldof and then dubbed onto the single)
Boy George (Culture Club)
Holly Johnson (Frankie Goes to Hollywood)
Paul McCartney (who contributed via a recording that was mailed to Geldof and then dubbed onto the single)
Stuart Adamson (Big Country)
Bruce Watson (Big Country)
Tony Butler (Big Country)
Mark Brzezicki (Big Country)
Band Aid: The Next Step
Live Aid (4 Disc Set)
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The American's would also do their own version of Band Aid called We Are The World and raise awareness of Ethiopia's plight.
Band Aid raised everyone's awareness of what was happening to ordinary people in Africa and provided ordinary people everywhere else to help by merely purchasing a record (which they would probably have done anyway!).
Band Aid was the day that Music reunited against poverty.
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