Who Was in Band Aid, the British Supergroup That Did ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’

Ryan Berenz November 25, 7:00 am

“Tonight thank God it’s them instead of you.”

That lyric kicks me in the jingle bells every time I hear Bono sing it.

It is, of course, from the classic song “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” by British supergroup Band Aid. The song was recorded 40 years ago on November 25, 1984, and released in the U.K. on December 7 of that year to raise money for Ethiopian famine relief.

Bob Geldof of the Boomtown Rats and Midge Ure of Ultravox wrote the song and invited prominent British and Irish pop and new wave musicians to the recording studio to lay down the tracks and shoot the video.

Originally, the opening lines were supposed to be sung by David Bowie, but he was unable to make it to the recording session and instead contributed to the single’s B-side. Paul Young (“Everytime You Go Away”) sang Bowie’s lines instead.

Also, American soul/funk band Kool & the Gang happened to be recording at the same time and place and were invited to participate.

Given how prominently they appear in the video, it’s shocking that no members of Bananarama (“Cruel Summer”) — or any female vocalists, for that matter — got to sing solo on the track.

The success of Band Aid inspired USA for Africa’s “We Are the World” and the Live Aid benefit concerts that took place across the globe in 1985.

Here’s the list of Band Aid members who participated in the original recording:

Main vocalists:

Paul Young
George Michael (Wham!)
Boy George (Culture Club)
Bono (U2)
Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran)
Sting (The Police)
Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet)

Chorus and other performers:

Phil Collins (Genesis, drums and vocals)
Adam Clayton (U2)
Chris Cross, Midge Ure (Ultravox)
Sara Dallin, Siobhan Fahey, Keren Woodward (Bananarama)
Pete Briquette, Simon Crowe, Johnny Fingers, Bob Geldof (the Boomtown Rats)
Glenn Gregory, Martyn Ware (Heaven 17)
John Keeble, Gary Kemp, Martin Kemp, Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet)
Marilyn
Jon Moss (Culture Club)
Rick Parfitt, Francis Rossi (Status Quo)
Nick Rhodes, Andy Taylor, John Taylor, Roger Taylor (Duran Duran)
Robert “Kool” Bell, James “J.T.” Taylor, Dennis Thomas (Kool & the Gang)
Jody Watley
Paul Weller (the Style Council)