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FORGOTTEN HISTORY: 5 - The Untold Story

“We were on our way to our Christmas party when Bob Geldof called us and said ‘It’s your turn’”: The story of Band Aid II, the Do They Know It’s Christmas? they tried to forget

With the 40th anniversary remix featuring nothing from 1989’s version, let’s take a deep dive into the big-selling charity single that no one remembers

MusicRadar

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

Evening Standard

Live Aid promoter dismisses ‘woke do-gooders’ questioning Band Aid after Ed Sheeran statement

Harvey Goldsmith’s comments come after Sheeran said he had changed his stance on the charity single ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’

The Independent UK

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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 Geldolf praises Liam Payne as he's left in tears sharing Band Aid 40 first listen

Geldof released a new version of the charity song to mark the 40th anniversary of Band Aid fhat features the late One Direction star

Evening Standard

Bob Geldof defends Band Aid 40

Bob Geldof has brushed off Ed Sheeran's criticism of the new Band Aid 40 release and pledged to continue to help the poorest people in Africa.

BANG Premier

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.

Evening Standard

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Bob Geldof responds to Ed Sheeran statement on Band Aid song ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’

Sheeran said his perspective on the song had changed after listening to fellow musician Fuse ODG

The Independent 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

The Guardian - UK

“Bono took me aside and asked if I was sure I wanted him to sing this line”: Bob Geldof remembers what the U2 singer said to him before he recorded his vocals on Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas?

“I was able to say, this is not soggy liberalism; this is coded anger,” Geldof recalls

MusicRadar

Band Aid 40: Where the original singers are now as Do They Know It's Christmas? returns for 2024

A new refresh of the song, which combines vocals from three past versions, will be released on November 25

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

Evening Standard

“If I had the choice I would have respectfully declined the use of my vocals”: Ed Sheeran says he didn’t want to be on new Band Aid record

His vocals were used without his permission

MusicRadar

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

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The Conversation

Band Aid at 40: how the problematic Christmas hit changed the charity sector

In November 1984, BBC journalist Michael Buerk presented a series of dispatches from the small town of Korem in northern Ethiopia. He described the scenes he encountered as a famine of “biblical proportions” and that aid workers in the region had told him it was “the closest thing to hell…

MusicRadar

"Still stands as a rebuke to that period in which it was first heard": Bob Geldof announces new remixed version of Do They Know It’s Christmas for single’s 40th anniversary

But how effective will it be as a fundraiser?

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'.

The Independent UK

Do They Know It’s Christmas? The pop stars involved in the 2024 version

Organiser Sir Bob Geldof said the song serves as a rebuke to the Eighties notion that ‘greed is good’

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The Guardian - UK

Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas? reissued as all-star mashup – including three generations of Bono

Fortieth-anniversary edition is spliced together by Trevor Horn from previous versions of the song, including snippets of George Michael, Ed Sheeran and more

BANG Premier

Pixie Geldof kept rainbow wedding dress 'hanging' in her 'sitting room'

Pixie Geldof kept her gorgeous rainbow wedding dress "hanging in [her] sitting room for like a year and a half" because she loved it so much.

BANG Premier

Unseen Band Aid footage set to air in Do They Know It's Christmas? documentary

Unseen footage from the very first Band Aid recording session for 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' will air in a new BBC documentary about the 1984 charity single.

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.

The Guardian - UK

Wrangling with Abba, risking jail for the Stone Roses … the lawyer behind pop’s big spats

John Kennedy sparred with the Swedes over Mamma Mia! and took on the Rolling Stones for Richard Ashcroft – he tells us why he’s still arguing with Bob Geldof after 40 years

Newcastle Herald

Enjoy an evening with Bob Geldof at Newcastle's Civic Theatre

The Live Aid founder is touring Australia in March.

BANG Premier

New BBC Two documentary tells the story of Wham's Last Christmas as iconic festive hit turns 40

A new documentary marking 40 years of Wham!'s 'Last Christmas' is set to air this December.

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