_Do They Know It's Christmas___ The Band Aid 84 Supergroup

”Do They Know It's Christmas?”: The Band Aid 84 Supergroup

In 1984, a remarkable collaboration of British and Irish music stars came together to form Band Aid, a supergroup with a mission to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia. The brainchild of Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, this project resulted in the recording of the charity single ”Do They Know It's Christmas?” which became one of the best-selling singles in UK chart history and sparked a wave of celebrity-driven philanthropy.

The lineup of Band Aid 84 read like a who's who of British pop music at the time. The core group of performers included:

Bob Geldof (Boomtown Rats)

Midge Ure (Ultravox)

Phil Collins (Genesis)

Sting (The Police)

Bono (U2)

Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran)

George Michael (Wham!)

Boy George (Culture Club)

Paul Young

Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet)

John Taylor (Duran Duran)

Paul Weller (The Style Council)

Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt (Status Quo)

Marilyn

Glenn Gregory (Heaven 17)

Martin Kemp (Spandau Ballet)

John Keeble (Spandau Ballet)

Gary Kemp (Spandau Ballet)

Roger Taylor (Duran Duran)

Andy Taylor (Duran Duran)

Paul McCartney (although he recorded his part separately)

The female contingent of the group included:

Bananarama (Sara Dallin, Siobhan Fahey, and Keren Woodward)

Jody Watley

Kool & the Gang

Behind the scenes, the project also involved several key figures:

Trevor Horn (producer)

Midge Ure (producer)

John Moss (Culture Club, drums)

Adam Clayton (U2, bass)

The recording session took place on November 25, 1984, at Sarm West Studios in Notting Hill, London. It was a marathon 24-hour session that brought together these diverse artists, many of whom were fierce competitors in the charts, for a common cause.

The song itself was written primarily by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, with input from other members during the recording process. Its lyrics painted a stark contrast between Christmas celebrations in the Western world and the harsh realities of famine in Africa, particularly Ethiopia.

The single was rush-released on December 3, 1984, and quickly topped the UK Singles Chart, staying at number one for five weeks and becoming the Christmas number one. It raised over 锟? million within twelve months of release.

The success of Band Aid 84 led to several follow-up projects, including USA for Africa's ”We Are the World” in 1985 and the massive Live Aid concert later that same year. It also inspired numerous re-recordings and similar charity singles in subsequent years.

The Band Aid project, while not without its critics, marked a significant moment in pop culture history. It demonstrated the power of celebrity to raise awareness and funds for humanitarian causes, setting a template that has been followed many times since. The members of Band Aid 84 came together in a spirit of collaboration and compassion, using their talents and fame to shine a light on a crisis and make a tangible difference in the world.