Written by Sir Bob Geldof, the then lead singer of the Boomtown Rats, and Midge Ure of Ultravox, “Do They Know It’s Christmas” was recorded to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia, as there was a severe famine affecting the country at the time.
Geldof was deeply moved by the images of suffering and starvation that he saw of the famine on TV and rallied his music industry friends to contribute to the track. Bono, George Michael, Phil Collins and David Bowie were among some of the legends who took part in the recording over the course of 24 hours on November 25, 1984, at SARM West Studios in London.
The success of Band Aid and the charity single inspired similar efforts in other countries, such as USA for Africa’s “We Are the World.” The song has been re-recorded and re-released multiple times over the years, with the proceeds continuing to support various causes.