On November 14, 2004, more that 63 recording artists gathered at Air Studios to donate their time and talent to a song written by Bob Geldof (Boomtown Rats) and Midge Ure (Ultravox) to raise money for the relief of famine in Ethiopia. 20 years after the original recording, Midge Ure and Bob Geldof had decided that it was time to re-record the song for a third time. The song was re-arranged slightly to include piano and guitars rather than the bells of the original. It also included a couple of additional lines sung as a rap by Dizzee Rascal.

The result was the historic re-recording of Do They Know It's Christmas?, performed by Chris Martin (Coldplay), Dido, Robbie Williams, The Sugababes, Fran Healey (Travis), Bono (U2), Will Young and Jamelia, Beverley Knight and Ms Dynamite, Dizzee Rascal, Tom Chaplain, Justin Hawkins, Busted, Joss Stone and Justin Hawkins.

Backing vocals were provided by Padraic McMahon, Kevin Horan, Daniel Ryan, Ben Carrigan, Conor Deasey (The Thrills);
Gary Lightbody, Nathan Connolly, Mark McClelland, Jonathan Quin, Tom Simpson (Snow Patrol); Justin Hawkins, Dan Hawkins,
Frankie Poullain, Ed Graham (The Darkness), Katie Melua; Neil Hannon (The Divine Comedy); Skye Gordon (Morcheeba); Tom Chaplin, Tim Rice-Oxley (Keane); Roisin Murphy (Moloko); Fran Healey, Dougie Payne, Andy Dunlop (Travis); Nigel Godrich (producer);
Bob Geldof, Grant Nicholas (Feeder), Damon Albarn; Shaznay Lewis; Midge Ure; Ms Dynamite; Joss Stone; Beverley Knight;
Daniel Bedingfield; Mutya Rose Buena, Heidi Range, Keisha Buchanan (Sugababes); Matt Jay, Charlie Simpson, James Bourne (Busted); Lemar; Rachel Stevens; Estelle; Will Young; Jamelia; Natasha Bedingfield; Olly Knights, Gale Paridjanian (Turin Brakes).

Instrumentals were provided by Paul McCartney, Danny Goffey, Fran Heal, Justin Hawkins, and Dan Hawkins.

This event was documented for later release on video in a BBC Documentary titled Band Aid - The Song That Rocked the World.
In addition, a music video of the song was released. The introduction to the video was done by Madonna.

The new track was originally offered on the Internet as a download. After some negotiations, it was also made available at iTunes as a download. It was also released as a CD.

Additional tracks added to the single are the original line-up, and a track recorded directly from the Live Aid concert at the finale.

Best known for his for pickling sharks and cows in formaldehyde, famed artist Damien Hirst was hired to complete a CD cover for this event. The double-sided artwork for CD had an image of the Grim Reaper with a starving African child resting on his knee.
On the reverse is a picture of Father Christmas with a white child clutching a wad of cash.

Unfortunately, the result of his work was seen as a bit too divisive. The Grim Reaper artwork was replaced with a cutesy cover featuring baby reindeers standing in the snow in front of a child. This replaced cover has a similar feel to the original Band Aid release which was don by Peter Blake.

A spokeswoman for Hirst, said the artist had been given the "wrong specifications". She went on to say "The design Damien produced was for the front and back of a CD but we were later told they only wanted something for a front cover. It's a shame. Damien really wanted to do his bit"

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