Band Aid 30 single sales have gone 'bonkers,' says Bob Geldof

Bob Geldof, the Irish musician and co-founder of the Band Aid 30 campaign to fight Ebola, says the charity single Do They Know It's Christmasis selling like crazy.

• One Direction, Bono among stars recording Band Aid single for Ebola

"From what we've seen from iTunes, it's gone bonkers," he told BBCRadio 4's Today programon Monday. "Within four or five minutes we had a million quid ($1.7 million)."

The single, which premiered on the British version of the TVtalent show X FactorSunday night, went on sale online Monday morning with proceeds going to help fight the spread of the hemorrhagicvirus in West Africa.

"iTunes haven't been able to refresh their charts because thedemand has been so vast," said the veteran rocker.

• On mobile? Watch the videohere

Some of the biggest names in the British music industry gathered at a London studio onSaturday to record the song, including boy band One Direction, U2's Bono, Robert Plant andColdplay lead singer Chris Martin.

Aided by online digital sales, it seemslikely that the 2014 version will smash previousBand Aid single sales.

"That isn't what [Band Aid co-founder]Midge [Ure]and I expected when we knocked off an OK song 30 years ago," explainedGeldof.

"But,every timeit's worked. Without question, without anyshadowof a doubt, there are hundreds of thousands, if not millions alive today who would have died of hunger."

Geldofrelaunched the Band Aid cause last week, after he said the United Nations contacted him, saying help was urgently needed to prevent the disease from spreading beyond West Africa.

Ebola has killed more than 5,000 people since it broke out in West Africa earlier this year according to the World Health Organization, mostly in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea.

Band Aid 30 lyrics

It's Christmas time, and there's no need to be afraid
At Christmas time, we let in light and banish shade
And in our world of plenty, we can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world
At Christmas time
But say a prayer, pray for the other ones
At Christmas time, it's hard but while you're having fun
There's a world outside your window, and it's a world of dread and fear
Where a kiss of love can kill you, and there's death in every tear
And the Christmas bells that ring there are the clanging chimes of doom
Well tonight we're reaching out and touching you
No peace and joy this Christmas in West Africa
The only hope they'll have is being alive
Where to comfort is to fear
Where to touch is to be scared
How can they know it's Christmas time at all
Here's to you
Raise a glass to everyone
And here's to them
And all their years to come
Let them know it's Christmas time after all
Feed the world, let them know it's Christmas time again
Feel the world, let them know it's Christmas time again
Heal the world, let them know it's Christmas time again