Before the creation of social media, before hashtags, before celebrities could send a short video out instantly calling attention to a cause, there was the rare sporadic event of celebrity gatherings to raise awareness to a cause.
34 years ago today, the results of such a gathering was released in store and on the airwaves in the UK and shortly after across America via radio and the at the time 3 years old MTV.
Band Aid’s “DO THEY KNOW IT’S CHRISTMAS?” was released to raise awareness and money for those suffering from the Famine cause by a historical drought in Ethiopia.
BAND AID was a charity super group made up of mainly British and Irish musicians, many of who have faded into the background of music history, but a few powerhouse and legends highlighted the album.
The band was formed buy Bob Geldof of the Boomtown Rats and Midge Ure of Ultravox. Geldof had watched a BBC report on the plight in Ethiopia and was moved to do something. By chance he made contact with Ure and mentioned his idea, Ure jumped on board.
Geldof used his industry contacts to persuade and secure only the top artist f the time, with the pure thought that only the biggest names would draw in the most fans to the cause. The following is the list of performers Band Aid vocalist members: Robert “Kool” Bell (Kool & the Gang) Bono (U2) Pete Briquette (The Boomtown Rats) Adam Clayton (U2) Phil Collins (Genesis and solo artist) Chris Cross (Ultravox) Simon Crowe (The Boomtown Rats) Sara Dallin (Bananarama) Siobhan Fahey (Bananarama) Johnny Fingers (The Boomtown Rats) Bob Geldof (The Boomtown Rats) Boy George (Culture Club) Glenn Gregory (Heaven 17) Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet) John Keeble (Spandau Ballet) Gary Kemp (Spandau Ballet) Martin Kemp (Spandau Ballet) Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran) Marilyn George Michael (Wham!) Jon Moss (Culture Club) Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet) Rick Parfitt (Status Quo) Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran) Francis Rossi (Status Quo) Sting (The Police and solo artist) Andy Taylor (Duran Duran) James “J.T.” Taylor (Kool & the Gang) John Taylor (Duran Duran) Roger Taylor (Duran Duran) Dennis Thomas (Kool & the Gang) Midge Ure (Ultravox) Martyn Ware (Heaven 17) Jody Watley Paul Weller (The Style Council) Keren Woodward (Bananarama) and last but not least Paul Young
On November 25th, Band Aid gatherer at the studio and within 24 hours they would rehearse perform and produce the song and music video. On December 3 1984, “Do They Know It Is Christmas?” was released and instantly became #1 in the UK.
The song raised $24 million for the cause, and went to become a Christmas favorite.
Of all the performers only one nailed his performance in one take, Bono of U@, however Phil Collins drum session was completed in one take, but due to a level change in the mics it had to be redone as it was to distorted.
