BAND AID DOCUMENTARY

BBC3 is airing a “Band Aid documentary” on 20 november to mark the 20th anniversary of Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas – the song that rocked the world.
On 23 October 1984, Bob Geldof turned on the BBC news and was horrified by a groundbreaking report by Michael Buerk from famine struck Ethiopia. He got on the phone to his friend Midge Ure and proposed that they write a charity song – Band Aid was born. Midge Ure takes us back to that extraordinary day on 25 November 1984 at Sarm Studios in Notting Hill when 36 musicians gathered together in one studio. He talks to the original stars in the line-up including Bono, Sting, Boy George, Phil Collins, Simon Le Bon, Tony Hadley and Paul Young about turning the vision into a reality. Midge also chats to Bob Geldof about how they composed the song together.
The programme includes behind the scenes archive material from the day of the recording and features the masters and original demo of Do They Know It?s Christmas recorded with Sting in Midge’s studio. This is an emotional journey back to that great day in 1984, and a unique insight into how the world was rocked by a song.

[b]Original Band Aid ensemble[/b]
Adam Clayton (U2)
Phil Collins
Bob Geldof
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
Marilyn
Keren Woodward (Bananarama)
Martin Kemp (Spandau Ballet)
Jody Watley
Bono (U2)
Paul Weller
James Taylor
George Michael
Midge Ure (Ultravox)
Martin Ware (Heaven 17)
John Keeble (Spandau Ballet)
Gary Kemp (Spandau Ballet)
Roger Taylor (Duran Duran)
Sarah Dullin (Bananarama)
Siobhan Fahey (Bananarama)
Peter Briquette
Francis Rossi (Status Quo)
Robert ‘Kool’ Bell
Dennis Thomas
Andy Taylor (Duran Duran)
Jon Moss (Culture Club)
Sting
Rick Parfitt (Status Quo)
Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran)
Johnny Fingers
David Bowie
Boy George
Holly Johnson (Frankie Goes to Hollywood)
Paul McCartney

[b]Lyrics for Do They Know It’s Christmas?[/b]

It’s Christmastime,
there’s no need to be afraid
At Christmastime,
we let in light and we banish shade
And in our world of plenty
we can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world
at Christmastime

But say a prayer,
pray for the other ones
At Christmastime it’s hard,
but when you’re having fun
There’s a world outside your window,
and it’s a world of dread and fear
Where the only water flowing
is the bitter sting of tears
And the Christmas bells that ring there
are the clanging chimes of doom
Well tonight thank God it’s them
instead of you

And there won’t be snow in Africa this Christmastime
The greatest gift they’ll get this year is life(Oooh)
Where nothing ever grows
No rain or rivers flow
Do they know it’s Christmastime at all?

Here’s to you raise a glass for everyone
Here’s to them underneath that burning sun
Do they know it’s Christmastime at all?

Feed the world
Feed the world
Feed the world
Let them know it’s Christmastime again

Feed the world
Let them know it’s Christmastime again

Live Aid was the extension of this initiative. Bob Geldof, not content with making millions for the starving in Ethiopia with his Band Aid single, pulled together the world’s rock elite for this mammoth intercontinental charity concert. Dire Straits, Queen, David Bowie, Madonna, and Simple Minds were just a few of the stars who took part. The gig raised over $100,000 and became the prototype for just about every Telethon and live charity event afterwards. It also made Bob Geldof a star again after his explosive TV outburst complaining that people weren?t donating enough ££££ing cash.
(Source: BBC, StingUs)

From 8 November on the Live Aid DVD set can be purchased via following links:
Via uk or us or germany.
DVD Release Date: November 8, 2004
Run Time: 560 minutes