Artist's albums
Do They Know It’s Christmas?
1984 · single
Similar artists
The Communards
Artist
Aled Jones
Artist
Danny Wilson
Artist
Spandau Ballet
Artist
Bobby Helms
Artist
Darlene Love
Artist
Jona Lewie
Artist
Feargal Sharkey
Artist
The Flying Pickets
Artist
The Waitresses
Artist
Wham!
Artist
Culture Club
Artist
Paul Young
Artist
Greg Lake
Artist
Band Aid 20
Artist
Wizzard
Artist
Biography
Charity supergroup Band Aid was formed in London, England in 1984 by Boomtown Rats frontman Bob Geldof and producer Midge Ure. Intended to fund anti-poverty efforts in Ethiopia, the ensemble recorded the single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" for release during the 1984 holiday season. Aided by vocal efforts from Bono, Sting, George Michael, Boy George, Simon Le Bon, and a host of other contemporary pop stars of the day, the single topped the pop charts, becoming the number one Christmas single of the year and raising more than $24,000,000 for its cause. Such was Band Aid's success, several other celebrity-aided organizations launched fundraising campaigns the following year resulting in the star-studded Live Aid concert and the American charity supergroup USA for Africa. "Do They Know It's Christmas?" remains a popular holiday single and has been re-recorded twice by updated versions of Band Aid during the group's 20th and 30th anniversaries with proceeds again going to relief efforts in Africa. ~ Timothy Monger, Rovi