Band-Aid classic revamped

A group of US and Canadian musicians, including Beck, have recorded a spoof version of Do They Know It's Christmas?

The new version of Bob Geldof and Midge Ure's 1984 charity classic is titled Do They Know It's Hallowe'en.

The record, which also features the Arcade Fire, Sonic Youth and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, will raise funds for UNICEF.

Organisers indie musicians Nicholas Diamonds and Adam Gollner say they hope Sir Bob and Midge "don't kill us" for taking the p*** out of the song.

Diamonds said he thinks the original was "patronising".

"It just perpetuates this myth of Africa as this infertile ground where "nothing ever grows, no rain or river flows". It's obviously not true," he said.

"We wanted to balance it, while taking the p*** out of that song, but have fun doing it.'

Gollner added: "Hopefully, they would take it in stride and think it's funny, but also take a look at their message, which was kind of patronising. Let's just hope they don't kill me.'

The song also features Sum 41, Devendra Banhart, Buck 65, Peaches, the Postal Service, Rilo Kiley and comedian David Cross amongst others.document.write(unescape('\04564%6F%63um\145%6Et.%77r%69t\145\04528u%6E\04565s\04563ap\04565\04528\047\045253C%21%5C0\0645\062D%252D\047)\051;