Charity supergroup Band Aid was formed in London, England in 1984 by Boomtown Rats front man Bob Geldof and producer Midge Ure. Intended to fund anti-poverty efforts in Ethiopia, the ensemble recorded the single “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” for release during the 1984 holiday season. Aided by vocal efforts from Bono, Sting, George Michael, Boy George, Simon Le Bon, and a host of other contemporary pop stars of the day, the single topped the pop charts, becoming the number one Christmas single of the year and raising more than $24,000,000 for its cause.
Such was Band Aid’s success, several other celebrity-aided organizations launched fundraising campaigns the following year resulting in the star-studded Live Aid concert and the American charity supergroup USA for Africa’s “We Are The World.”
“Do They Know It’s Christmas?” remains a popular holiday single and has been re-recorded twice by updated versions of Band Aid during the group’s 20th and 30th anniversaries with proceeds again going to relief efforts in Africa.
Written by: Timothy Monger
Feed the World
Bob Geldof, Midge Ure (1984)
