Band Aid_ The Iconic Voices of Charity

Band Aid: The Iconic Voices of Charity

The original Band Aid, formed in 1984, brought together some of the biggest names in British and Irish music to record the charity single ”Do They Know It's Christmas?” This supergroup, assembled by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, featured an impressive roster of talent that captured the zeitgeist of 1980s pop music.

The lineup of singers for the original 1984 Band Aid recording included:

Bob Geldof (The Boomtown Rats)

Midge Ure (Ultravox)

Phil Collins (Genesis)

Sting (The Police)

Bono (U2)

Paul Young

George Michael (Wham!)

Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran)

Boy George (Culture Club)

Paul Weller (The Style Council)

John Taylor (Duran Duran)

Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet)

Glenn Gregory (Heaven 17)

Marilyn

Keren Woodward (Bananarama)

Sara Dallin (Bananarama)

Siobhan Fahey (Bananarama)

Martin Kemp (Spandau Ballet)

Jody Watley

Francis Rossi (Status Quo)

Rick Parfitt (Status Quo)

Additional backing vocals were provided by other musicians present at the recording session. The track also featured spoken word sections from several artists, including Paul McCartney and David Bowie, who couldn't be present for the main recording but contributed their parts separately.

This gathering of musical stars was unprecedented at the time and helped propel the single to massive success. It topped the UK Singles Chart and became the fastest-selling single in UK chart history, a record it held for 13 years. The song's success and the publicity surrounding it helped raise significant awareness and funds for famine relief in Ethiopia.

The impact of the original Band Aid extended far beyond its initial release. It inspired similar charitable supergroups in other countries and paved the way for the Live Aid concert in 1985. The concept has been revisited several times since, with new versions of the song recorded in 1989 (Band Aid II), 2004 (Band Aid 20), and 2014 (Band Aid 30), each featuring the popular artists of their respective eras.

The legacy of Band Aid continues to influence the intersection of popular music and charitable causes. While it has faced criticism over the years for its approach to addressing complex issues, its impact on raising awareness and funds for humanitarian causes is undeniable. The original 1984 lineup remains a snapshot of a unique moment in pop music history, when some of the biggest stars of the era came together for a common cause.