Give back my Band Aid tape, says Midge Ure

Do they know it's my tape? Midge Ure
12 April 2012

Eighties pop star Midge Ure today demanded the return of a rare first cut of Do They Know It's Christmas? after the tape turned up at a "rock antiques roadshow".

The Ultravox singer, 57, read on the Evening Standard website last week how it was valued at the Hard Rock Cafe in Piccadilly, with a Bonhams expert suggesting it could be worth "six figures".

Ure said he recognised the handwriting on the master tape he recorded with Sting at his former Chiswick home and wants it returned to the Band Aid Charitable Trust.

He also revealed that he played the tape to more than 40 musicians including George Michael, Boy George, Bono and Simon Le Bon to help them record the single at a Notting Hill studio. It sold more than 3.5 million copies to raise money for famine relief in Africa.

The tape was brought to the Hard Rock Cafe by marketing executive Niki Henville, who said she had received it in good faith from a friend in San Francisco, who worked in the music industry but wanted to remain anonymous.

There is no suggestion that either person was involved in any wrongdoing. Ure, who co-wrote Do They Know It's Christmas? with Bob Geldof, said he made the recording in the autumn of 1984, shortly before it became one of the world's most recognisable songs.

He said: "I saw the article on the Standard's website and there was this lady holding a tape with my scrawly handwriting. It's not just any cassette, it's a high quality master tape and obviously came from my studio. Sting came down to do a few backing vocals because we weren't sure how many people would come on the day."

Ms Henville, 50, said it was sent to her via normal post by her friend when she told him about the Bonhams valuation. She added that she would pass him the details of the Band Aid Trust. "The tape is being held securely. I will let the guy know about the trust's claim."

Bonhams said they carried out a preliminary valuation and that it undertakes rigorous investigations into the provenance of any piece later sold at auction.

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