Roger Taylor recently defended Band Aid in an Instagram post, standing up against criticism of the charity project. Brian May even stated that a new band is the next Queen.
“Proud to be a part of this. It’s one of the greatest moments in rock ‘n’ roll history that actually made a difference in the world!”
He said he couldn’t understand why anyone would criticize Band Aid, adding, “It’s a wonderful and charitable project that has saved so many lives from famine. People who criticize it need to rethink their values.”
Band Aid was created in 1984 by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia. They released the song “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” which sold over two million copies and raised over $24 million. Over the years, new versions of the song have been made for the charity’s 20th, 30th, and now 40th anniversaries.
Despite its success, Band Aid has been criticized for its lyrics, with some saying they are patronizing and promote outdated ideas about Africa. Bob Geldof responded, saying, “This song has helped keep hundreds of thousands, maybe millions, of people alive. Why stop feeding children just because of some criticism?”
The latest version, Band Aid 40, includes artists like Robbie Williams, One Direction, Simon Le Bon, Boy George, Sting, Chris Martin, Seal, and the late George Michael and Sinéad O’Connor. The band also features Paul McCartney, Thom Yorke (Radiohead), Phil Collins, and members of The Darkness. All the money raised will go to the Band Aid Charitable Trust to support health and anti-poverty projects in Africa.
Although Ed Sheeran chose not to let his 2014 vocals be used, the project continues its mission of helping people, which Taylor strongly supports.
