Geldof slams Band Aid bootleggers

Band Aid founder Sir Bob Geldof has slammed internet bootleggers who are downloading the latest version of the charity single, Do They Know It's Chris

15:50 21 November 2004

Band Aid founder Sir Bob Geldof has slammed internet bootleggers who are depriving good causes by downloading the latest version of the charity single, Do They Know It's Christmas?

The Mail on Sunday reports that thousands of music lovers across Britain and the United States have already copied the new single ahead of its official release on November 29th.

Commenting on the news, an angry Geldof hit out at those making illegal copies of the song.

"They should stop. They are taking food out of somebody's mouth or taking the hyperdermic out of somebody's arm," he said.

The new Band Aid 20 song is being released to mark the 20th anniversary of the original 1984 recording, which raised more than 100m to help ease the famine in Ethiopia.

The latest recording, which has again been co-ordinated by Geldof and Midge Ure, features performances from more than 40 current stars, including Coldplay's Chris Martin, Robbie Williams, The Sugarbabes, Dido, The Darkness, Will Young and U2 singer, Bono.

Proceeds from the new single will support efforts to ease the current humanitarian crisis in Sudan.

The Mail on Sunday claims that within minutes of the song's radio debut, the track was available to download in mp3 format.

By yesterday, there were 29 separate mp3 files available for bootleggers to copy.

Band Aid 20's record label, Universal Music is attempting to quash the illegal downloading by offering the single and video on its own website www.bandaid20.com for just 1.99.

Oxfam has also said that fans can download the track from its website www.bignoisemusic.com in exchange for a donation.