Bob Geldof, Midge Ure, and Trevor Horn have announced special 40th anniversary details of Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” The anniversary will be celebrated with a brand new 2024 Ultimate Mix and accompanying video release.
The latest incarnation of “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” is set to be premiered simultaneously across UK breakfast time radio on November 25, the 40th anniversary of the recording of the original song.
It will be available to stream immediately on all digital platforms. “Do They Know It’s Christmas? – 2024 Ultimate Mix” is available to buy now digitally and physically on the Band Aid Compilation 1CD and 12” Vinyl and will be released on November 29.
“Do They Know It’s Christmas?” was recorded on three separate occasions, over three separate generations, Band Aid (1984), Band Aid 20 (2004) and Band Aid 30 (2014). What began life as a humble Christmas pop song, went on to launch one of the greatest series of events in pop history.
“Do They Know It’s Christmas?” ultimately corralled the political structures of its time to its own focused ends by assembling a roll call of talent that in effect describes the arc of British rock ‘n roll over these past 40 years. In celebration of this monumental “instrument of change,” producer Trevor Horn has taken these recordings and, through extraordinary music production techniques, blended all the voices of those separate generations into one seamless whole.
On “Band Aid – 2024 Ultimate Mix” you will hear a young Sting sing alongside a young Ed Sheeran. A young Boy George with a young Sam Smith. A young George Michael beside a young Harry Styles. The young Bono with an older Bono, Chris Martin with Guy Garvey, the Sugababes and Bananarama, Seal and Sinead O’Connor, Rita Ora and Robbie Williams, Kool and the Gang and Underworld.
The voices sing on against the Band Aid house band of Paul McCartney, Sting, John Taylor (bass), Phil Collins, Roger Taylor, Danny Goffey (drums), Thom Yorke (piano), Paul Weller, Damon Albarn, Midge Ure, Johnny Greenwood, Gary Kemp and Justin Hawkins (guitar).
Order “Do They Know It’s Christmas?,” which now includes the “Ultimate Mix.”