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SHOCKING: 2 - What They Never Told You

“Everyone says Vienna was an electronic track, but it’s mainly piano, violin and viola. Those strange combinations made us what we were”: You may think Ultravox were a synth-pop band. They know they were prog

Midge Ure and Billy Currie aimed to create timeless music by crossing previously-closed musical borders – and they argue that their biggest hit worked because of human imperfections rather than digital precision

Louder

Charting protest pop: How music can bring about change

The 1980s was a period of profound popularity for political pop. Now, 40 years later, it’s what we desperately need again

The National (Scotland)

Bob Geldof quips he gets 'blue in the face' listening to 'f***ing Freddie Mercury' at Live Aid

The Live Aid co-founder was promoting the new album, 'Just For One Day - The Live Aid Musical (Original Cast Recording)', which sees hits by Queen, David Bowie, Sir Elton John, U2, The Police, Madonna and more reimagined by the show's cast.

BANG Premier

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"It better not be s**t!" Producer reveals Bob Geldof's words of warning ahead of the recording of new album from the cast of Live Aid musical Just For One Day

Just For One Day - The Live Aid Musical (Original Cast Recording) will features covers of timeless anthems from artists who made history at 1985's legendary Live Aid concert

Louder

‘We created a monster’: Midge Ure reflects on Live Aid as musical heads to West End

Ahead of a London theatre run in May, Ultravox singer says 1985 charity gig probably couldn’t happen today because of low attention spans

The Guardian - UK

Bob Geldof says he's 'blue in the face' hearing Freddie Mercury's Live Aid performance with Queen

The musician and activist was at Wembley for the launch of Just for One Day - The Live Aid musical ahead of it’s West End opening

Evening Standard

BBC announces documentary and shows for Live Aid 40th anniversary

A number of programmes will feature on BBC Two and BBC Radio 2 to celebrate the event.

Evening Standard

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Bob Geldof says another Live Aid event is ‘unlikely’ because of social media

The singer was speaking at a launch event at Wembley Stadium for Just For One Day, a musical about the charity event.

Evening Standard

“There was never any half-measures with Gary. If he didn’t like something he’d soon tell you to f**k off”: In July 1979, Gary Moore stormed off stage and officially left Thin Lizzy – now, guitarist Eric Bell reveals the real reason why

Moore's stints with Thin Lizzy continue to inform the band's legacy

Guitar World

“The Edge is multiple echoes and jangling guitars… I’m not convinced… I don’t want to burst the Edge’s bubble”: Midge Ure talks The Edge missing Band Aid and his Thin Lizzy baptism of fire

Plus nearly joining the Sex Pistols and why Lizzy didn’t play Live Aid

MusicRadar

“Phil Lynott said, ‘Gary Moore is out the band. Could you come over tomorrow?’ My initial reaction was, ’I’m not the guy you should be asking’”: When Midge Ure joined Thin Lizzy on a make-or-break US tour, he had just one day’s notice and no rehearsals

The Live Aid orchestrator and Ultravox synth-pop pioneer looks back at his trial by fire with Thin Lizzy, swapping out his Yamaha electric because it wasn’t cool enough, refusing to join the Sex Pistols, and how The Edge might have changed Band Aid’s charity single

Guitar World

“The Boys Are Back in Town is at least as memorable for its guitar breaks as for its chorus”: Thin Lizzy inspired Metallica, Iron Maiden, and the Cure, practically invented twin lead guitar, and have had 15 guitarists. Here’s your guide to all of them

Thin Lizzy are tough enough for punks, heavy enough for metalheads, poetic enough for romantics – and their catchy riffs and licks have been played by some of the finest guitarists on earth

Guitar World

“They just asked me if I wanted to join – they hadn’t asked if I actually play”: Thin Lizzy guitarist and Live Aid mastermind Midge Ure was asked to join the Sex Pistols – but he didn’t think twice about turning them down

Ure claims he was scouted for his look by Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren and his punk co-conspirator (and later, the Clash manager) Bernard Rhodes

Guitar World

“He got a kidney infection, so he’s in hospital… That’s a bit of a drag, because he was going to be the lead guitarist”: The iconic charity rock song that missed out on its star guitarist due to illness – and why it could have sounded very different

Do They Know It’s Christmas? could have ended up with more guitars had fate not intervened

Guitar World

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The Guardian - UK

A new Christmas single – but do they know it’s Ed Davey?

The bungee-jumping Lib Dem leader could be just the man to reinvigorate a genre beset by cynicism and creative inertia

BANG Premier

Bob Geldof received emotional thank you from Ethiopian waiter for changing his life

Bob Geldof received an emotional thank you from an Ethiopian waiter whose life was changed by Band Aid.

BANG Premier

Bob Geldof wants to 'have a talk' with Ed Sheeran

Bob Geldof plans to "have a talk" with Ed Sheeran following his criticism of the new Band Aid 40 release but insisted he thinks the 'Shape of You' singer is a "really good bloke".

Evening Standard

Band Aid stars hit out at Ed Sheeran over vocal permission complaint on charity single

Spandau Ballet’s Tony Hadley and the song’s producer, Trevor Horn, defended the intentions behind the charity single

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Evening Standard

Band Aid 40 branded 'horrific' by listeners as Bob Geldof breaks down in tears over 'work of art' charity song

Listeners said the charity single doesn’t have ‘a patch on the original’ after it aired on BBC Radio 2 Monday morning - but others have leapt to defence of song

Evening Standard

Bob Geldof defends Band Aid single: This pop song has kept millions alive

Ed Sheeran said last week that they did not ask for permission to re-use his vocals from when he sang on Band Aid 30 in 2014.

The Guardian - UK

As Band Aid marks 40th anniversary critics take aim at Africa stereotypes

Latest version of Do They Know It’s Christmas fundraiser reignites debate about ‘problematic’ lyrics and imagery

Evening Standard

What is Band Aid 40? The charity Christmas single that's causing controversy

Musicians are distancing themselves from the “colonial” Christmas single, but Bob Geldof refuses to change the lyrics

BANG Premier

Ed Sheeran didn't give Band Aid 40 'approval' to use his vocals

Ed Sheeran has claimed Bob Geldof and Midge Ure didn't ask for his permission to use his vocals on the '2024 Ultimate Mix' of 'Do They Know It's Christmas?'.

BANG Premier

Band Aid back with new 40th anniversary mix of Do They Know It's Christmas?

Band Aid is back with the '2024 Ultimate Mix' to mark 40 years of the 'song that changed the world'.

Evening Standard

BBC to mark 40th anniversary of Band Aid single Do They Know It’s Christmas?

The chart-topping charity song brought together a number of British rock stars.

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