by Flynn Massey, Cohan Chew | Photos by Press / WENN
The stars of 'Do They Know It's Christmas': Then and now
The star-filled charity hit was released 31 years ago
Sting: Then - Lead singer and bassist of The Police, and the first person to be called by Geldof about Do They Know It's Christmas? Sting immediately joined the cause.
Sting: Now - Sting has sold over 100 million albums through his solo work and work with the Police. Sting has pursued his solo career and even toured earlier this year. He also released a duet with Mylene Farmer entitled 'Stolen Car' in August.
Bob Geldof: Then - In reaction to the Ethiopian famine report by Michael Buerke, Geldof would be the man who would gather the world's biggest and finest artists together and create a moment of music history. 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' would be the world's biggest selling charity single ever, selling over 3.75 million copies.
Bob Geldof: Now - Geldof was appointed an honorary knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II for his BandAid efforts, and earned the Man of Peace title, which commended his "outstanding contribution to international social justice and peace".
Andy Taylor: Then - At the time, Taylor was the guitarist for the New Romantic darlings Duran Duran, and was also a part of supergroup Power Station. Taylor alongside his fellow band members was inspired to help out Geldof's project and make a difference.
Andy Taylor: Now - Taylor recorded and performed as a solo artist after Duran Duran dissolved in the late 80's. Taylor went on to produce for Robert Palmer, Rod Stewart, The Almight, Thunder and many more.
Bono: Then - Lead singer and frontman of one of the early Irish breakout bands in the Eighties, Bono was approached by Geldof to join BandAid, and his vocal stands out as one of the most remembered lines in music history.
Bono: Now - still making music with U2, Bono just made $1.4billion from his investment in Facebook. We wonder if he still hasn't found what he's looking for.
David Bowie: Then - Undoubtedly the greatest artist of the 1980s. Bowie was at the peak of his success in 1983 with Let's Dance, his most commercially successful record, having sold over 7 million records. When contacted, Bowie was unable to join. Although not being involved directly in the project, Bowie still contributed spoken words for the b-side version.
David Bowie: Now - still being Bowie.
Chris Cross: Then - Bassist for Ultravox, one of the biggest bands to come out of the UK, including hits as 'Vienna', Cross was asked to join BandAid after Midge Ure decided to write and produce the single.
Chris Cross: Now - Cross has retired from the music industry and now works as a psychotherapist, counsellor and supervisor.
Francis Rossi: Then - Guitarist and member of Status Quo, one of the bands that spanned two decades of albums. Rossi privately told Ure that he recorded the main vocals for most of Status Quo's songs and Parfitt only sang partially on stage.
Francis Rossi: Now - After claiming to have spent $1.7 million on cocaine in the 1980s, Rossi turned to teetotalism. This didn't stop him from becoming chairman of Glen Rossie whiskey in 2010.
Boy George: Then - The frontman and lead singer of the highly popular Culture Club, which spawned such hits as 'Karma Chameleon' Do You Really Wanna Hurt Me', George was the very last artist to record for the single.
Boy George: Now - In 1989, George formed his own record label called More Protein and recorded under the name Jesus Loves You whilst writing under the name Angela Dust. Since then, George has starred in the West End, DJ'd, imprisoned and is set to be a coach in 2016's The Voice UK.
Gary Kemp: Then - Lead guitarist, and lead songwriter for the multi platinum selling Romantics band Spandau Ballet, Kemp happened to be in an antiques shop that Geldof passed by and was implored to join BandAid, who told Geldof to "wait 10 days for the boys (Spandau Ballet) to be back in the country".
Gary Kemp: Now - After releasing his solo album, Little Bruises, in 1995, Kemp turned to acting. He starred along side his brother and ex Spandau Ballet bandmate, Martin Kemp, in The Krays biopic.
George Michael: Then - The face of Wham, one of the biggest ever British duos to grace the world, selling over 25 million records worldwide alongside Andrew Ridgeley, Geldof contacted Michael and asked him to perform vocals.
George Michael: Now - Michael had a highly successful solo career after leaving Wham! in 1987, with Radio Academy naming Michael as the most played artist on British radio between 1984 - 2004. Michael continues to release music and tour.
Holly Johnson: Then - One of the most controversial artists to have ever come from the Eighties, Johnson was the lead singer from Frankie Goes To Hollywood, and responsible for the hits 'Relax' and 'Two Tribes'. Although he was unable to record any vocals, he would provide spoken words which would appear on the b-side.
Holly Johnson: Now - in 2014, Johnson announced his first solo UK tour entitled 'Dancing With No Fear', after releasing his latest album, Europa. Doesn't seem like there has been much relaxing for Johnson!
John Taylor: Then - Bass guitarist and co-founder of Duran Duran, one of the hottest bands ever to emerge from the 1980s, Taylor was also a part of Eighties supergroup Power Station, alongside Robert Palmer, members of Chic and Andy Taylor.
John Taylor: Now - Still the bass guitarist of Duran Duran, one of the hottest bands ever to emerge from the 1980s, Taylor with the band released their new album Paper Gods and recently headlined Bestival.
Keren Woodward: Then - Vocalist, and co-founder of the girl band and responsible for some of the best pop hits in the 1980s, Woodward was part of both BandAid's first and second recordings of 'Do They Know It's Christmas'.
Keren Woodward: Now - Woodward still continues to tour with Bananarama.
Robert Kool Bell: Then - Bassist of the funk and disco band Kool & The Gang, Bell happened to be on the same record label as the Boomtown Rats and was visiting the same studio where Geldof held his charity single pitch.
Robert Kool: Now - Playing it cool, Robert Kool Bell hasn't been too active since his Kool days. He still occasionally performs with the Gang, and was also a co-writer of 'Boardmeeting' from Timberland's Shock Value.
Paul McCartney: Then - The statesman, who would be the inspiration for a thousand bands and more, former bassist for The Beatles and lead vocalist for Wings, McCartney contributed another spoken word session in time for the b-side of 'Do They Know It's Christmas?'
Paul McCartney: Now – living off his unparalleled legacy, Macca still earns instant recognition no matter where he goes. This year, Macca collaborated with Kanye West and Rihanna on ‘FourFiveSeconds’ and performed with Paul Simon and Alice Cooper.
Martin Kemp: Then - Bassist of the New Romantic band and brother of guitarist and songwriter Gary Kemp, Kemp joined the rest of the band and gave backing vocals to the iconic song.
Martin Kemp: Now - Just like his brother, Kemp pursued an acting career - most notably playing Steve Owen in Eastenders from 1998-2002. Kemp also appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2012.
Martyn Ware: Then - Responsible for some of the most well known hits in the eighties, such as 'Temptation', Heaven 17's Ware was asked by Geldof to join BandAid and help with backing vocals.
Martyn Ware: Now - Ware is known now as a Visiting Professor at Queen Mary College, University of London, a BAFTA member, and as Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Midge Ure: Then - Lead vocalist of Ultravox, and one of Geldof's best friends, Ure was incensed to help Bob after seeing the famine report. He would go onto produce the charity single, co-write the single's lyrics and lay down backing vocals.
Midge Ure: Now - Ure continues to perform his own songs as well as Ultravox songs. Ultravox briefly reformed in 2009 for a successful tour. Ure released his latest solo album, Fragile, in July 2014.
Nick Rhodes: Then - Co-founder and keyboardist of Duran Duran, one of greatest acts to come from the 1980s, Rhodes was also responsible for key classics such as 'Save A Prayer'.
Nick Rhodes: Now - aside from his evergreen commitment to Duran Duran, Rhodes has lent his voice the South Park movie as a Canadian bomber and has since formed an electronic band called TV Mania with Duran Duran guitarist, Warren Cuccurullo.
Paul Young: Then - English solo artist Paul Young, who was at the time a teen idol, became famous for his songs 'Common Love For The Common People' and 'Come Back and Stay', at the time, his vocal cords were under heavy strain, but Young still provided great vocals for the track.
Paul Young: Now - Young has remained relatively quiet over the last decade, but did team up with Chicane in 2010 to record 'Come Back'. He has also formed his own band called Los Pacaminos.
Pete Briquette : Then - Briquette was at the time the bassist and backing vocalist for the top 10 selling Irish band The Boomtown Rats, responsible for hits such as 'It's a Rat Trap'. Briquettes and the rest of the band decided to join right away.
Pete Briquette: Now - Briquette is the only Boomtown Rat who still collaborates with Geldof, probably not on a Monday though. Briquette has also tried his hand at record producing Renaud's 2009 album of Irish ballads Molly Malone - Balade Irlandaise.
Phil Collins: Then - The recent solo artist who was becoming huge in America. Also the former Genesis drummer and singer, Collins brought his entire drum kit to the studio to record a live version of the drums, and only performed two takes before he was satisfied with the result.
Phil Collins: Now - After leaving Genesis, Collins had a successful solo career, earning himself a star on Holywood's Walk of Fame in 1999. Collins proceeded to reunite with Genesis, retire and then return to the music scene earlier this year. Let's also not forget Collins also wrote and recorded the Tarzan soundtrack in 1999.
Rick Parfitt: Then - As one of the members of Status Quo, Parfitt was asked to record vocals for the single to appeal to the Quo's fanbase, which in Eighties was quite a size, but unfortunately was hungover. He still however gave backing vocals which made the cut.
Rick Parfitt: Now - in 2009, Parfitt released a single with Rolf Harris entitled 'Christmas in the Sun' and in April 2015, he set up 'Status Homes' real estate company in Marbella. Status Quo are currently on tour.
Roger Taylor: Then - Duran Duran's drummer, which happened to be one of the earliest international hit bands from Great Britain, with three best selling platinum albums in the 1980s (Duran Duran, Rio, and Seven and The Ragged Tiger), Taylor was approached by Simon Le Bon to join him and the rest of the band to help record the single.
Roger Taylor: Now - Back in 2003, Taylor decided to start DJing at London's Met Bar, and became a residency DJ playing a mix of house and hip-hop, and has played sets at Cielo New York and Pacha Ibiza.
Sara Dallin: Then - One of the lead singers from Banarama, arguably one of the biggest and best selling female trios ever, responsible for songs such as 'Venus', 'It Ain't What You Do', Dallin was one of the two member present for Band Aid I and Band Aid II.
Sara Dallin: Now - Dallin still continues to tour with Keren Woodward, with whom she founded Bananarama. The 2016 tour kicks off in Australia in February.
Simon Le Bon: Then - Frontman of the white hot British new wave band Duran Duran, Le Bon was contacted by The Boomtown Rats' Bob. Le Bon famously said "Tell me the date and we'll clear the diary."
Simon Le Bon: Now - Despite a horrific boating incident in 1985, Le Bon returned to racing in 2005, with his yacht, Drum. In 2009, Le Bon released a book entitled 'The Atheist's Guide to Christmas'. He still tours with Duran Duran.
Siobhan Fahey: Then - A band member of Banarama, who were present for both the 1984 and the 1989 version of Do They Know It's Christmas. Fahey however, would be the only artist from Banarama to record on the original version.
Siobhan Fahey: Now - Fahey left Bananarama in 1988 after being not entirely happy with the direction of the band. She consequently formed Shakespeare's Sister, which met its demise in 1996. However, in 2009, Fahey revived Shakespeare's Sister and recorded a new album.
Paul Weller: Then - Former guitarist and lead singer of rock group The Jam, Weller emerged in the Eighties as the frontman for The Style Council, a more pop based band.
Paul Weller: Now - The Modfather won two Brit Awards for the Best British Male and continues to make music. He released his latest album, Saturns Pattern in May 2015.
Tony Hadley: Then - Lead vocalist for the multi-gold and platinum selling British band Spandau Ballet, Hadley was asked by his bassist Gary Kemp to join the effort and help raise awareness for Ethiopia.
Tony Hadley: Now - Hadley embarked on a solo career in 1989 and has since played as Jesus on stage, won ITV's Reborn in the USA and participated in this year's I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!
Adam Clayton: Then - Bass guitarist of the popular Irish band U2, who were at the time a growing band across Europe and America after releasing October, War, and The Unforgettable Fire. After Bono decided to join BandAid, Clayton decided to follow suit and recorded backup vocals.
Adam Clayton: Now - as well as remaining loyal to U2, Clayton has worked on the Mission Impossible theme, Robbie Robertson's solo album and also dated Naomi Campbell.
December 3 1984: Released to the public, a single written and recorded in one single cold November day caused millions of people to stop ignoring the plights of dying people, and helped aid Ethiopia from the brink of devastation and desolation. It would go on to become the best selling charity single of all time and became the Christmas number one single in 1984.
Flashback to October 1984. Bob Geldof and his girlfriend Paula Yates stand shocked and disgusted, with tears flowing from their eyes. They have just witnessed the most tragic scene of life and death on television, as Michael Buerke, a BBC reporter stands amidst the screams, cries and bodies of an Ethiopian camp. Flies cover the population, and Geldof is so enraged by this sight, the very next day he begins to set in motion the wheels for change.
After Ultravox perform at The Tube, Yates’ show, Geldof calls his girl and Midge happens to be in the same room, Geldof speaks to Ure and implore the frontman to help him alleviate the suffering and pain in Ethiopia. Ure immediately agrees and on 5 November 1984, both men decide to record a charity single, involving the world’s biggest and best artists in the charts. Here is a list of some of these people who helped shape music history.