Mike Stock Slams Bob Geldof Over Band Aid 2 Exclusion in 2024 Remake
Record producer Mike Stock has publicly criticized Bob Geldof’s explanation for excluding Band Aid II, the 1989 follow-up to the original Do They Know It’s Christmas?, from the latest 2024 version. The exclusion has reignited tensions surrounding the project’s legacy and decision-making process.
The 1989 single featured iconic vocals from artists like Bananarama and Kylie Minogue, who weren’t part of the original 1984 version. Despite the track topping the UK Singles Chart for three weeks, it won’t feature in this year’s Band Aid remake. This omission has frustrated Stock, who co-created the second version alongside Pete Waterman and Matt Aitken, especially given the effort behind the original recording, reported by the Express.
Waterman reportedly postponed his wedding to organize the 1989 supergroup. When asked about the exclusion, Geldof explained on an X radio show: “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.”
Stock took to social media to express his frustration, accusing Geldof of diminishing the effort behind Band Aid II. In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), Stock 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.”
He continued, “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.’ A mere footnote in the history of Band Aid.”
Stock argued that excluding Band Aid II’s artists, many of whom remain relevant today, could hurt the commercial success of the 2024 remake. “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,” he added.
The controversy has sparked debate among fans and music historians, with many questioning the decision-making process behind the latest remake.