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Record producer Mike Stock took aim at Bob Geldof over his explanation as to why Band Aid 2 - the 1989 follow-up to the original 1984 charity single 'Don't They Know It's Christmas?' has been excluded from the latest 2024 version.
Mike, who is a co-creator of the second version of Band Aid, shared his frustrations on social media.
The 1989 single included vocals from the likes of Bananarama and Kylie Minogue, who weren't on the original version, but despite spending three weeks on the UK Singles Chart at the time, their contributions won't be heard this Christmas.
That's also in spite of Pete Waterman postponing his wedding to get the supergroup together and record the song, called Band Aid II, along with Mike and Matt Aitken. Explaining the decision to an X radio host, Geldof stated: "We asked Pete Waterman where the tapes were and he said, 'I don't know.'
"But Stock... what's Stock's actual name? Ah yeah, Mike Stock, he got a bit miffed and said 'I could've found them' - and we would have put them in, but these are the actual three Band Aid officials..." he continued as he discussed the remake.
Mike, who has been responsible for more than 100 top-40 chart hits in the UK during his career, addressed Bob's explanation in a rant on X (Twitter) on Monday. He wrote: "The thing is Sir Bob, while you were outside being feted, lauded and fawned over by the press and TV media, I was the one inside putting the whole thing together.
"It was a Sunday. Coincidentally, it was my birthday. You can imagine my surprise to learn that all the effort involved in bringing Band Aid 2 to the attention of the world is now being dismissed and reduced to the level of ‘unofficial’," he exclaimed.
"A mere footnote in the history of Band Aid. This is at variance with the general view of the record buyers who supported the cause at the time and loved the record. A feeling which persists to this day.
"As well as an unnecessary diminution in the integrity of the charitable trust. I mean, why on earth did all those artists turn up?"
He added: "It also reflects badly on the commercial potential of the 2024 version to leave out the artists who were involved in Band Aid 2. Many of whom are still relevant today.
"All in all a bit of a mistake if the aim is to maximise appeal in order to raise the most money for the cause. Instead of which decisions appear to have been made on a different basis. People have speculated about this."
It comes after Geldof made headlines after Ed Sheeran revealed that he hadn't been asked permission for his vocals to be used on the 2024 version of the single - and would have refused to give consent had he been consulted.
English (US) ·