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Band Aid – 25 years on

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Tom Dunne just did a little feature on Do They Know It’s Christmas on Newstalk. Apparently it was 25 years ago today that the infamous Xmas hit was recorded. Here’s a more facts on the tune:

  • Recorded on Nov 25th 1984, released on Nov 29th of the same year
  • Co-written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure
  • When released it became the fastest selling single of all time in the UK
  • It sold over 3 million copies on release
  • It is currently the UK’s second best-selling single of all time behind Elton John’s ‘Candle In The Wind’
  • Geldof took on and ultimately won over Margaret Thatcher and the British government who originally insisted on taking taxes on sales of the record

Artists on the recording:

Adam Clayton (U2), Queen, Phil Collins (Genesis, solo), Bob Geldof (The Boomtown Rats), Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet), Chris Cross (Ultravox), John Taylor (Duran Duran), Paul Young, Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet), Glenn Gregory (Heaven 17), Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran), Simon Crowe (The Boomtown Rats), Marilyn Keren Woodward (Bananarama), Martin Kemp (Spandau Ballet), Jody Watley (Shalamar), Bono (U2), Paul Weller (The Style Council), James “J.T.” Taylor (Kool & the Gang), George Michael (Wham!), Midge Ure (Ultravox), Martyn Ware (Heaven 17), John Keeble (Spandau Ballet), Gary Kemp (Spandau Ballet), Roger Taylor (Duran Duran), Sarah Dallin (Bananarama), Siobhan Fahey (Bananarama), Pete Briquette (The Boomtown Rats), Francis Rossi (Status Quo), Robert ‘Kool’ Bell (Kool & the Gang, whose members were the only Americans to participate), Dennis J. T. Thomas (Kool & the Gang), Andy Taylor (Duran Duran), Jon Moss (Culture Club), Sting (The Police), Rick Parfitt (Status Quo), Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran), Johnny Fingers (The Boomtown Rats), David Bowie, Boy George (Culture Club), Holly Johnson (Frankie Goes to Hollywood), Paul McCartney (The Beatles, Wings), Stuart Adamson (Big Country), Bruce Watson (Big Country), Tony Butler (Big Country), Mark Brzezicki (Big Country)

It may not be your typical happy shiny Xmas tune but it’s a good tune all the same and those few opening bars still give me a little shiver when I hear it. Or maybe I have some kind of soft spot for it as it was at number 1 and blasted out over the radio the day I was born? Either way, now that I’ve heard it for the first time this year, I think I’m ready to start getting festive. Mince pies are on the menu this weekend :)

Adam Clayton (U2), Queen, Phil Collins (Genesis, solo), Bob Geldof (The Boomtown Rats), Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet), Chris Cross (Ultravox), John Taylor (Duran Duran), Paul Young, Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet), Glenn Gregory (Heaven 17), Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran), Simon Crowe (The Boomtown Rats), Marilyn Keren Woodward (Bananarama), Martin Kemp (Spandau Ballet), Jody Watley (Shalamar), Bono (U2), Paul Weller (The Style Council), James “J.T.” Taylor (Kool & the Gang), George Michael (Wham!), Midge Ure (Ultravox), Martyn Ware (Heaven 17), John Keeble (Spandau Ballet),
Gary Kemp (Spandau Ballet), Roger Taylor (Duran Duran), Sarah Dallin (Bananarama),
Siobhan Fahey (Bananarama), Pete Briquette (The Boomtown Rats), Francis Rossi (Status Quo), Robert ‘Kool’ Bell (Kool & the Gang, whose members were the only Americans to participate), Dennis J. T. Thomas (Kool & the Gang), Andy Taylor (Duran Duran), Jon Moss (Culture Club), Sting (The Police), Rick Parfitt (Status Quo), Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran), Johnny Fingers (The Boomtown Rats), David Bowie, Boy George (Culture Club), Holly Johnson (Frankie Goes to Hollywood), Paul McCartney (The Beatles, Wings), Stuart Adamson (Big Country), Bruce Watson (Big Country), Tony Butler (Big Country), Mark Brzezicki (Big Country)

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