Band Aid 20: 'Feud' over Bono line

Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins and U2's Bono are said to be in a "feud" over the new Band Aid song, recorded in London yesterday.

In the 1984 original, Bono sang the classic line: "Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you." Hawkins recorded a new - typically falsetto - version at yesterday's recording, while Bono submitted a new version down the telephone line from Dublin.

Hawkins claimed today that his version was "better" but Bono had pulled rank to get his version on the final cut.

"We both recorded the same line," he told The Mirror. "I did it better than him but his management kicked up a stink and he is going to do it again today. It means politically I'm not allowed to sing it. He's going to try and re-sing it - or they may decide to use the original line from 20 years ago.

"If he does try to re-sing it he has got balls of steel. I don't think I'll be given the chance to beat him again, which is fine. It's not an ego thing for me. But to him it's very important."

The single will get its first airplay tomorrow (Tuesday) morning on Radio 1.