The Proclaimers urge fans to buy charity song over Band Aid 30

Scottish duo The Proclaimers are urging fans to buy their charity song over Bob Geldof’s latest Band Aid single. The I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) hitmakers teamed up with an array of stars including Madness frontman Graham ‘Suggs’ McPherson and former The Clash star Mick Jones to re-record The Farm’s hit All Together Now.
The project marks the 100th anniversary of the historic Christmas Day truce between British and German troops during World War One, and all money raised will go towards the Red Cross.
When the record is released on Sunday (14Dec14), it will do battle in the festive rundown with Bob Geldof’s Ebola charity project and the new The X Factor winner’s upcoming release, but Proclaimers star Charlie Reid is adamant his record is “more important” than its rivals.
He tells Scotland’s Daily Record newspaper, “The X Factor single is the traditional non-charity record. This is a better choice for the spirit of Christmas. It represents something bigger than somebody’s career. It represents something of massive cultural importance that we are still feeling now… Band Aid have done a lot of good work but this one is more important because of what it represents.
“I don’t slag of Geldof. I think he has done a lot more good than harm. But I think when you look at it, you wonder whether some things have their day… Some things feel right at one time but don’t feel right later… That’s not to diminish what he has done but some things have their day and should be put to bed… Africa has changed greatly since the first Band Aid and I find it odd that there are no Africans involved, put it that way.”