Geoff Wonfor, the director of the video for Band Aid 20’s Do They Know It’s Christmas? has passed away, his friend and collaborator, Lindisfarne drummer Ray Laidlaw, has announced.
Folk rock legend Laidlaw posted on Facebook: “We lost Geoff Wonfor yesterday. A big man in every way, a true innovator who changed how music was seen on TV. Most of all a dear friend who taught me so much. X”
Newcastle native Wonfor was a giant of the pop video and rockumentary world. He directed the very first episode of seminal music show The Tube in 1982, and many further episodes over the life of the show. He also made the influential Beatles Anthology miniseries in 1995/6, Prince’d Rave Un2 the Year 2000 and music videos for stars from Paul McCartney and Eurythmics to Five Star. As well as taking charge behind the camera for 2020’s reissue of Band Aid’s Christmas classic, he also directed the Band Aid documentary Justice, Not Charity the same year.
Wonfor’s other recent work included as director of Sunday for Sammy, and 2013’s Auf Weidersehen Pet 30th anniversary reunion.
No official details concerning the cause of Wonfor’s passing have so far been released.