The return of Band Aid

[Chrome]

Band Aid song to be re-recorded

Wed 20 October, 2004 15:08

LONDON (Reuters) - Twenty years after the release of one of the biggest singles of all time, leading artists are set to re-record the Bob Geldof-inspired charity hit "Do They Know It's Christmas?"

Geldof and Ultravox singer Midge Ure created Band Aid, a supergroup of 40 artists, in 1984 and with the hit single raised over 10 million pounds for famine relief in Ethiopia.

A spokesman for Coldplay said the band had been approached by Ure and were awaiting further development on the project.

The Sun said rockers The Darkness and Scottish group Travis had also signed up to re-record the single and bookmakers immediately tipped the song as a favourite for the Christmas number one.

"It's definitely going to happen," Ure told The Sun. "I'm very excited. This project is not just about raising money -- it's about putting the focus back on Africa and the problem of famine which has not gone away."

Geldof, who travelled to Ethiopia earlier this month as part of the British-sponsored Commission for Africa, became the public face of Band Aid and the subsequent Live Aid concert which raised over 60 million pounds.

U2 frontman Bono, George Michael and Queen were all part of the first Band Aid but The Sun said Ure and Geldof would talk to Robbie Williams, Jamelia and Noel Gallagher about joining the 2004 line up.

The "Do They Know" song has already been re-recorded once, in 1985.

[Rooster_Ties]

I've always liked the original of this song. One of the better of those all-star kinda things, in my book. About 100-times better (IMHO), than "We Are The World".