Live Aid: 40 Years On - A Timeless Testimony to Music's Power

Strategic Insights -

July 13, 1985, will forever be etched in the collective memory of music lovers around the world. It was the day when some of the planet's greatest musicians came together for a historic event that would change the face of charity concerts forever. Live Aid, conceived by Sir Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, was a dual-venue benefit concert held at Wembley Stadium in London and John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia. The event was broadcast to a staggering 1.9 billion people, raising over £114 million for the famine-stricken people of Ethiopia.

Key Takeaways:

  • Status Quo's Francis Rossi revealed that the band was hesitant to perform first due to nerves and arguing among the artists, but eventually agreed to kick-start the event.
  • Dee C. Lee of The Style Council was so nervous that she vomited before the band's performance and had to wear dark glasses due to her eye makeup running.
  • Spandau Ballet's Gary Kemp admitted to not anticipating the magnitude of the gig and was frustrated that they chose to perform a new song, "Virgin", which is often overshadowed by their more popular hits.
  • The Who returned to perform together for the first time in years, with guitarist Pete Townshend allowing Gary Kemp to watch from the side of the stage.
  • Nik Kershaw, who was approached by Sir Bob in January 1985, recalled the atmosphere being "fraught and tense" until he finished his set, but praised Tony Hadley for bringing drinks to the group.
  • Queen's set, which was almost cancelled at the last minute, is widely regarded as one of the most famous performances in popular music history.
  • Sir Bob Geldof revealed that Freddie Mercury was unsure about Queen's participation in Live Aid, but was convinced to perform after Geldof's pressure.

Statistics:

  • 1.9 billion people worldwide watched the Live Aid concerts on TV.
  • £114 million was raised for famine relief in Ethiopia by donations made as a result of Live Aid.
  • 72,000 people were in attendance at Wembley Stadium.
  • Queen's set lasted around 15-20 minutes.
  • The Who had not performed together for years before Live Aid.
  • Nik Kershaw was approached by Sir Bob Geldof in January 1985 to participate in the concert.

Sources:

  • Mirror - Live Aid: The Fans' Story features new interviews with those who were part of the 1985 event.
  • Live Aid: The Fans' Story is available on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio 2.