Band Aid sings again to fight Ebola

The world is once more in the midst of a raging battle. The Ebola outbreak has already claimed more than 5,000 lives in less than a year in the countries of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. There are now more than 14,000 documented cases of Ebola infection worldwide. These can, at any moment, cross overseas and invade other countries. The ongoing crisis shows no end in sight. Everyone is now living in fear of the Ebola virus. If no cure is discovered soon, it will surely engulf more countries and lead to more deaths and other major problems.

So just like what happened way back in November, 1984, here comes Sir Bob Geldof and his army of entertainers. They do not have the weapons but they are ready to help find one. They do not know how they will but perhaps telling the world about it might lead to somebody who knows how and who would be willing to help. So, just like what happened 30 years ago when the frontman of the Irish band Boomtown Rats rallied his colleagues to fight against the famine in Africa, they recorded Do They Know It’s Christmas this time to fight Ebola.

Led once more by Geldof, pop stars like Bono, One Direction, Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant, Chris Martin of Coldplay, Sinead O’Connor, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, Joss Stone, Roger Taylor of Queen and others gathered together at the Sir George Martin Studios in London, last Nov. 14 to sing and play the latest version of the modern Christmas classic. They are collectively billed as Band Aid 30. Bono holds the distinction as being the only artist who was in the original version of the song. Along for the ride at that time was fellow U2 Adam Clayton.

Do They Know It’s Christmas was born when Geldof, so moved by images from Ethiopia where people were dying from hunger at the rate of 3,000 persons a day, decided to use his celebrity to raise funds and help. He called in Midge Ure of the band Ultravox to produce the single and called in the biggest stars of the time to record the song on Nov. 24, 1984. Among the artists who participated were Paul McCartney, Boy George, Bananarama, Simon Le Bon, John Taylor and Andy Taylor of Duran Duran, Tony Hadley and Steve Norman of Spandau Ballet, George Michael of Wham, Paul Young, Kool & the Gang, Jody Wately, PhiI Collins, Sting and Paul Weller.

Do They Know It’s Christmas was released as a single five days later on Nov. 29. All proceeds, and that meant royalties, talent fees, taxes, etc., etc. were waived by all parties, and went to Africa. It became the fastest-selling single of all time in the UK and was the biggest-selling single ever until it was overtaken by Candle In The Wind, Elton John’s tribute to the late Princess Diana in 1997. Along with the charity organization Live Aid, Band Aid raised over $150M to battle hunger for Africa. It also spawned an American counterpart, USA for Africa, which recorded its own all-star charity single, We Are The World. 

I think that the greatest accomplishment of the song though is that it made celebrity diplomacy popular. Because of Do They Know It’s Christmas, it became easy for pop stars to use their fame to help raise funds or gain following for worthy causes. For example, I think it was his involvement with Live Aid that put Bono on the road to becoming a prominent figure in world affairs. And when a need like the Ebola crisis comes along, it has now become easy for Geldof to bring celebrities to record together again.

As before, the UK has waived VAT charges and all participants are not getting royalties or talent fees. All of the proceeds will go to charity. I do not know how much the physical copy of the song will be sold here but it will sell for 99 pence or $1.60 at downloads. Buy a copy and help.

Help is badly needed. As Sir Bob Geldof has been quoted as saying: “It’s not just about what’s happening in West Africa. It could happen here tomorrow. We can stop this thing. We can allow mothers no matter where they are to be able to touch their dying children. I hate that aspect of it that lovers can’t hold each other in their last moments, that husbands can’t comfort their wives, that parents can’t comfort their children.”

Thanks to Do They Know It’s Christmas, that time when they can has just gotten nearer.