Geldof gets cashback for Band Aid
Bootlegs persuaded him to release concert on CD, star says
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Rock star charity campaigner Bob Geldof -- who once notoriously shouted "Give us your f***ing money" on live TV, has received a cash boost from the British government for his latest Band Aid venture.
The UK Treasury announced Sunday it would refund sales tax collected on the new version of the 1984 single "Do They Know it's Christmas" to boost African famine relief.
Geldof and co-organizer Midge Ure are preparing to release a new version of the 1984 Band Aid single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" featuring acts including Travis and Coldplay. (Stars line up for Band Aid III)
VAT will also be refunded on sales of a new 10-hour, four disc DVD set of the original 1985 concert, a move the UK government estimates in total will generate an extra £4 million pounds ($7.4 million) for charity.
"That's a serious wedge, and shows a political climate change," Geldof said, calling it "a remarkable gesture" by Tony Blair's government.
"I had this big fight with Madame X, Mrs. Thatcher, 20 years ago, and now the government understands politically it's not worth it to go up against it."
Geldof spoke as he attended a reception for the UK launch of the DVD at 11 Downing Street, official residence of British Chancellor Gordon Brown.
The former Boomtown Rats star had vowed never to allow the event, staged in London and Philadelphia, to be re-broadcast, arguing that it would be more powerful as a one-off memory.
Later at special screening of the Live Aid DVD in London, he said the increased trade in pirated copies of the show, and the onset of another famine crisis in sub-Saharan Africa made him change his mind.
He said: "The reason we've released this is to stop people buying bootleg copies. That was the initial reason.
"I'm very excited that this has come out, but I couldn't believe the number of bootleg copies being sold -- they are quite literally taking food from the hungry. This has to be stopped."
Charity donation
Brown paid tribute to Geldof's charity work.
"Ever since its launch 20 years ago, Band Aid has had a huge impact, raising the plight of the world's poorest and raising funds to help them.
"More than that, Band Aid has won millions to the cause of fighting global poverty.
"I want to do everything I can to support their work and so people can buy the DVD and record this Christmas knowing that all the money they spend will go to support the vital work of the Band Aid Trust in the poorest countries of Africa."
The donation will be worth around $4 million if the DVD sells 500,000 copies and the Band Aid 20 CD sells 1 million.
The remixed CD, featuring Duran Duran, Phil Collins, Bananarama, Boy George and George Michael, will be out next month, 20 years after the release of the original.
The Conservative government in 1985 agreed to make a donation to charities working in Ethiopia and Chad equivalent to the VAT collected on sales of the original 1984 Band Aid record Do They Know It's Christmas?
Stars on the night included Madonna, Duran Duran, Eric Clapton, Mick Jagger, and Bob Dylan.
Since the original Live Aid concert, the Live Aid Foundation and Band Aid Trust have spent over $144 million dollars on relief projects in Africa.
