Band Aid (band) organisations of live Benefit Concerts run by Celebrity Charity. The concerts were USA for Africa and Live Aid and were broadcast in over 160 countries across the globe. Band Aid and Live Aid combined raised about $150 million (USD) for the famine relief effort in Ethiopia. The first hit was so popular that several of the artists got together again to do a cover version of the original song "Do They Know It's Christmas?". These artists include Dido, Robbie Williams and Chris Martin. The group has come together on a total of four occasions composed of popular British and Irish
Band Aid (band) 1 breakfast show with Mike Read, to promote the record further and promise that every penny would go to the cause. This led to a stand-off with the British Government, who refused to waive the VAT on the sales of the single. Geldof made the headlines by publicly standing up to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and, sensing the strength of public feeling, the government backed down and donated the tax back to the charity. The record was released on 3 December 1984, and went straight to No. 1 in the UK singles chart, outselling all the other records in the