In a new Instagram post, Roger Taylor slammed artists who criticize Band Aid.
“Proud to be a part of this,” the drummer wrote in his post. “It’s probably one of the greatest moments in rock ‘n’ roll history actually having an effect on the world!”
He added, “How anyone can criticise such a magnificent and charitable project, which continues to save so many lives from famine is beyond comprehension. They need their heads examined and their values readjusted.”
Band Aid was a charity group made up of mainly British and Irish musicians. It was formed in 1984 by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to help raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia. They released the song ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ for Christmas that year.
‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ sold over two million copies and raised more than $24 million for famine relief in Ethiopia. Band Aid has since released new versions of the song for its 20th, 30th, and now 40th anniversaries.
Band Aid has faced criticism over the years for being self-righteous, having patronizing lyrics, using colonial ideas, and promoting white saviorism.
The newest remix of the first three Band Aid versions, called Band Aid 40, has been released. Ed Sheeran said he did not allow his 2014 vocals to be used and wouldn’t have agreed to it. Bob Geldof defended the song in The Conversation by writing, “This little pop song has kept hundreds of thousands if not millions of people alive.”
He continued, “Why would Band Aid scrap feeding thousands of children dependent on us for a meal? Why not keep doing that? Because of an abstract wealthy-world argument, regardless of its legitimacy?”
The new version of the song features Robbie Williams, Ed Sheeran, Guy Garvey, One Direction, Simon Le Bon, Boy George, Sting, Chris Martin, Seal, and the late George Michael and Sinead O’Connor.
The backing band includes Paul McCartney, John Taylor from Duran Duran, Thom Yorke from Radiohead, Phil Collins, and Justin and Dan Hawkins from The Darkness. The money raised from the single will go to the Band Aid Charitable Trust, which helps with health and anti-poverty projects in Africa.
