Legendary song written in Chiswick studio

20 years on Midge Ure records new version of Band Aid

Born out of Midge Ure's home recording studio in Chiswick's Grosvenor Road, two decades have passed since musical royalty such as Gedolf, Bowie and U2 came together to create the legendary track, Do they know it's Christmas? released for Christmas 1984 as a prelude to Live Aid.

Twenty years on and the same faces, albeit somewhat older,  have been joined by the likes of Coldplay's Chris Martin, Jamelia, Miss Dynamite, Darkness star Justin Hawkins and boy band Busted.  Also doing his bit was the Pop Idol and Arts Ed graduate, Will Young.

The new backing tracks were recorded, this time in Hampstead's Air Studios, by Radiohead's Thom Yorke, Travis's Fran Healey on acoustic guitar and Sir Paul McCartney on bass. 

The single was played for the first time on Radio One today with Madonna unveiling the track to Britain’s small screen audience this Thursday at 6.05pm when it is played on all five terrestrial channels.  

Sir Bob said told BBC News "It's a different arrangement. It simply doesn't sound like the first one, although all the melodies and harmonies are there.”   The haunting opening lines are sung by Chris Martin with Dizzee Rascal performing a rap in the middle.

The song will be entitled 'Band Aid 20' to mark the 20th anniversary of the original version, which Geldof organised after watching Michael Buerk's BBC documentary of the starving in Ethiopia, will be available from shops on Monday 28th November.  Money raised by the new version will go towards drought relief in the Darfur region of Sudan.

November 19, 2004