According to Band Aid coordinator Midge Ure, he has now signed up Noel Gallagher, Damon Albarn, Travis, Beverley Knight and Dido to participate in a re-recording of the legendary charity record 'Do They Know It's Christmas'. They join Coldplay, The Darkness and Keane who have already expressed an interest in being involved in the fundraising project. Next on Ure's list of priorities are Robbie Williams and Radiohead's Thom Yorke.
Commenting on the project, Ure told reporters yesterday: "It's a pretty big line-up. Once you've got a handful of people like that, the rest of it will come. The phones are ringing off the hook right now."
On how he saw the track being reworked this time, he continued: "I'm desperate to hear Keane and Coldplay just open that tune up with their pianos and then The Darkness play the harmony guitar bits at the end - it should be great fun".
Talking about her involvement, Beverley Knight recalled how big a fan she was of the original track, adding: "To think 20 years later, I'm going to be involved in that same project because the problem has not gone away is harrowing to say the least".
Ure hopes to arrange a recording day on a Sunday early in Nov to ensure the single can be in the shops in time for Christmas.