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Artist News Releases
Midge Ure and Bob Geldof announce new ebola-focussed Band Aid single
By Andy Malt | Published on Tuesday 11 November 2014
Midge Ure and Bob Geldof yesterday held a press conference to confirm that they will be recording yet another version of ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’.
The 30th anniversary edition of the song, its fourth iteration, will raise monies to help fund the fight against the Ebola epidemic that has now killed in the region of 5000 people in a number of West African countries, with Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone hardest hit. The famous charity track’s lyrics will be altered slightly to reflect the cause, ie providing urgently need healthcare to fight an epidemic rather than famine relief.
The recording is due to take place this Saturday, with musicians confirmed to appear including One Direction, Ed Sheeran, Bono, Chris Martin, Emeli Sandé, Elbow, Underworld, Sinead O’Connor, Paloma Faith, Foals and Bastille. Paul Epworth will produce the track, while Tracey Emin will design its artwork.
The single will be made available on CD and download on Monday, but will not hit streaming services until January. There will also be alternative versions recorded in France, Germany and the US.
Exactly who will sing which lines of the song won’t be decided until Saturday, though Bono will probably insist on singing ‘his’ line again, like an arse. I always think of that line as more Matt Goss and Jason Donovan’s though. Here’s a breakdown of everyone who has sung what on previous versions.
