Album Art Flashback: Band Aid

In 1984, singer, songwriter and political activist Bob Geldof and singer/songwriter Midge Ure wrote Do They Know It’s Christmas? to record as a benefit for famine reflief in Ethiopia.

On November 24, George Michael, Boy George and Culture Club, Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Paul Young, Kool and the Gang, Sting, Bono and Adam Clayton of U2, Glenn Gregory and Martyn Ware of Heaven 17, Phil Collins, Paul Weller of Style Council, Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt of Status Quo, Jody Watley, Bananarama, Marilyn and members of Geldof’s band the Boomtown Rats recorded the song. Ure produced the single and it was released as a five days later under the collective name Band Aid.

The sleeve for the single was designed by Sir Peter Blake, who is most famous for designing the covder of The Beatle’s Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. It is a collage that features traditional Christmas art surrounding the shocking image of starving children.