Bono vs Justin Hawkins

Band Aid Hit By Bickering Bono

Daily Mail, November 15, 2004

Matthew Bayley and Clemmie Moodie



It was meant to be a re-creation of one of pop's finest moments, where the cream of the British music scene came together in the name of charity.

Instead it turned into a ego-fuelled squabble between one of rock's elder statesmen and a flashy would-be young pretender.

The 20th anniversary of Band Aid was hit by an alleged row involving U2's lead singer Bono and Justin Hawkins of the Darkness over the new recording of "Do They Know It's Christmas?"

Hawkins had been given the task of singing one of the most famous lines -- "Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you" -- originally sung by Bono, who did not attend yesterday's recording.

Insiders said Hawkins did so with aplomb, leaving Bono's contribution to the project, which he had recorded in Ireland, apparently in doubt.

But last night an angry Bono was said to be on his way to the U.K. to re-record the line, after his management insisted his version had to be included, even if it was only the performance from 1984.

"Bono's people say he definitely has to do that line," said one insider. "Justin's version was brilliant, but they are adamant."

Hawkins said last night: "I did it and I did it better than him. So, his management kicked up a stink. It obviously means a lot to him. It's a valuable line for him, he needs it, so I think he's going to fly back and try again to beat me.

"If not, they're going to use the original one he did when he was my age."

It is not the only controversy prompted by the new recording. Sir Paul McCartney, who plays bass guitar on the song, was banned from singing because he was too old, and artist Damien Hirst's CD cover had to be scrapped because it was too disturbing.

Yesterday only Band Aid founders Sir Bob Geldof and Midge Ure were present from the 1984 line-up as a new generation of pop stars recorded the song at Sir George Martin's studio in Hamp-stead, North London.

Among them were Will Young, Jamelia, Ms Dynamite, Rachel Stevens, Natasha Bedingfield, the Sugababes, Busted, Katie Melua, Damon Albarn, Lemar, Coldplay's Chris Martin and Travis singer Fran Healy. Robbie Williams and Did had aleardy recorded their lyrics.

Sir Bob whose daughter Pixie was wearing the "Feed the World" T-shirt her father wore at the 1984 recording session was keen to impress upon the young stars the importance of what they were doing.

He is said to have reduced many of them to tears by showing them a video of the Ethiopian famine 20 years ago.

Band Aid 20, which will raise money for famine relief in the Darfur region of Sudan, will be released on November 29 and is expected to be the Christmas number one single.

The original song, which featured stars including George Michael and Duran Duran, raised GBP 8million.

Some of the stars on the new version were not even born when the original was made. Soul singer Joss Stone, 17, admitted she had never heard of Geldof -- and later referred to him as Bob Gandalf.


© Associated Newspapers Ltd., 2004.



always thot Justin was a bit of a knob. why cant they all just get along and sing the bloody song?!


andi

Keyword here being "would-be". It's a good thing he never will be.

How could've he done it better, the guy can't even sing?

Ice

I thought it was just the papers stirring things and it was said in jest but if that's word for word, hawkins reaction then he's a ****wit.

saw the darknes s on mtv tonight playing live and his voice REALLY annoyed me for the 1st time ever.

I can actually imagine him squeeling that line and it makes me cringe.

the thing i find most funny is that you've got guys like mccartney and bono still around after 20 years and guys like george michael and status quo who are still fairly big and still playing. then you've got folk like jamelia and ms dynamite. I can't see people 20 years down the line seeing the video and sayign hey look how stupid ms dynamite looked back then. they'll be like who the **** thought letting random members of the public in the studio was a good idea?

It's good to see the spirit of love and charity overflowing for a good cause.

Becky

Not sure if I find this funny or rather sad.

Heard it for the first time on the radio this morning and its ****. How the hell can you have dizzie Rascal doing a rap on one of the most famous records ever???!!!! Im glad Noel and Liam didnt lend their services to this crap.

I think there seems to be a wave of Darkness-bashing going on in the music industry just through plain jealousy. Granted, I reckon Justin could actually be an arrogant sod but music wise they are doing something different with some success and the album stands up on its own without (or in spite of) the fireworks, catsuits and disturbed videos.

I really love a lot of U2 stuff as well but absolutely loath “Boner” and his narcissism and this kicking up a fuss is just more self love from pope Bonus i… I really applaud musicians when they put together some humanitarian event or do some charity work but why do a few of them allow their egos to spill over into other areas of politics like Bob G’s anti-euro campaign. Also I don’t know if anyone else felt uncomfortable with the rather crass U2 memorial to the victims of the September 11th tragedy in the half-time Superbowl show a couple of years back but I for one felt it could have done with a bit more reserve and without the coloured-specs-mirror-licker running around the screen of names of those lost and gyrating on stage in front of it… then again, no doubt I’m just getting old and out of touch

Maybe they should release Bono and Justin versions of the song… the competition could only surely increase sales and appeal to fans on either side! Although I guess that maybe slightly insulting to all the other artists on the CD to make it about two egomaniacs.

Well I never thought id say this, but I think id rather have had Justin. He's def "calmed" his voice down for this song and doesnt try to screach. Whereas Bona has gone and made a complete balls up of his line and thats coming from a U2 fan

Its pretty laughable to think that Justin Hawkins(who has done one hit album) thinks he has the right to take over a line that Bono(who has written how many countless hit records and put in seemingly limitless effort into humanitarian aid) sung,it was never even up for debate in my opinion.Even though I don't agree with the remake of the song with all these laughable "music stars" compared to the last one Bono should never had had to worry about his line being taken especially from that cat wailing twat

It's really irrelevant who did what line because the song is absolutely shit.

It's some of the most disgustingly watered down production i've ever heard. I think jamelia was on the radio this mornign saying it sounds really now and happening which says alot about British production compared to the Yanks.

It just sounds really contrived too and the guitar doing the synth part at the end has got to be one of the worst tones laid down on record in years.

Not that I put too much faith in the whole live aid thing anyways. For the ost part it's an ego boost for the celebs and lets them sleep a little easier at night donating some pocket money to starving folk.

You've got Paul McCartney spending close to £500 on a meal during the week.

Bono/ Jesus wanting to end world peace, end famine, walk on water etc.... all very noble but a little hollow from a guy who hired a private jet to fly a hat he had forgotten to take to milan for the weekend over to him.

The absolute biggest hypocracy has to be from Sir Bob himself. And I can tell you this for a fact cause I've seen it 1st hand not got it out the papers. Bob Geldoff done a 15 minute PR do for a company my sister used to work at. Mr Get Yer ****in money out there's people starving here demands that his own GM/ veggie / something like that catering company does his crews food no matter how long or short he's goign to be there (this one took him half an hour) sure he could have a coupla ham sandwhiches and send his caterers over to somalia if he was that bothered.

The only 3 folk on there that I think are totally genuine about it is Chris Martin, Fran Healy and Midge Ure.