Geldof Reveals Line-Up For New Band Aid Song

Dozens of chart-toppers will lend their vocals to the track, which is out next week and will raise money for the Ebola crisis.

15:12, UK, Monday 10 November 2014

 Geldof On 'Worst Kept Secret'

Sir Bob Geldof has revealed a star-studded line-up for the new Band Aid Ebola charity single, which is being recorded on Saturday.

In a news conference in London the Boomtown Rats star said the words about hunger from the original version of Do They Know It's Christmas? have been altered to reflect the "filthy little virus" that is currently causing a health crisis in West Africa.
Sir Bob said the "worst kept secret in the world" will be re-recorded with a new generation of acts and some veteran stars.
One Direction, Bastille, Ed Sheeran, Emeli Sande, Elbow and Sam Smith are among those who will be lending their vocals to the track.
Coldplay are in Los Angeles but will feature on the new version of the song, which is marking its 30th anniversary.

The line-up for the recording in 1984

Bono, Jessie Ware, Paloma Faith and Sinead O'Connor have also signed up.
Sir Bob said there are more "giants" of rock and roll to come, including David Bowie, who has not been confirmed.

 When Pop Tried To Feed the World

He would not reveal who will sing the first line, an honour which was bestowed on Paul Young in 1984. He said it will be decided on the day.
The lyrics have been changed to bring Band Aid into the 21st century, Sir Bob said, and to give an updated view of Africa.
He added that the recording of the fourth version was not about nostalgia.
"I don't like doing this stuff. It's boring organising it," he said. "It's embarrassing calling artists you don't know."
The single will be released on 17 November and will cost 99p to download or £4 to buy on CD. Tracey Emin is designing its artwork.
It is likely to be a firm favourite to take the Christmas number one spot.
Ultravox's Midge Ure, who co-wrote the first Band Aid track, said the song is not a masterpiece but that it is more about getting people as engaged as they were in 1984 when £8m was raised for famine relief in Ethiopia.
Paul Epworth, who won an Oscar with Adele for the James Bond theme song Skyfall, will be involved in updating the track.
The DEC Ebola Crisis Appeal has now reached £20m.
The total includes £5m in UK government match funding and £4.5m raised by DEC member agencies since the launch of the appeal.
The original supergroup featured the likes of Bananarama, George Michael, Duran Duran and U2 frontman Bono - the only singer to perform the same line in both the original and the most recent versions.
The Irishman was joined 10 years ago by what were then fresh faces on the music scene including Will Young, Jamelia, Ms Dynamite, Rachel Stevens, Natasha Bedingfield, Busted, Katie Melua, Coldplay's Chris Martin and Travis singer Fran Healy.