- Born
- 1984
- Birthplace
- London, United Kingdom
- Members
- Vocalists:
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)
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)
Paul Young
Additional spoken messages on B-side:
Stuart Adamson, Mark Brzezicki, Tony Butler, Bruce Watson (Big Country)
David Bowie
Holly Johnson (Frankie Goes to Hollywood)
Paul McCartney
Musicians:
Phil Collins – drums
John Taylor – bass
Andy Taylor – guitar
Midge Ure – keyboards and programming
Charity supergroup Band Aid was formed in London, England in 1984 by Boomtown Rats frontman 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. "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.