Live Aid (1985)

Most iconic, memorable, significant music event in history raising funds for humanitarian relief in Ethiopia. Raised the philanthropy bar.

Broadcast live to around 2 million people in 150 countries over 16 hours. 72 music icons across two cities.

Unprecedented.

Everyone left with the strong need to purchase a Queen album.

Authors Note // This concert was over two years before my birth and yet I feel as if I had attended. That’s how deeply impactful it was for my parents generation and was still talked about for decades to come. Everyone remembers where they were the day that Live Aid streamed. It arguably brought much of Britain to a standstill, on July 13th, 1985. People with tickets camped overnight in queues outside, many who couldn’t attend took the day off work and sourced a television to watch it on. Even policemen and hospital staff together with their patients gathered around small televisions to see. Everyone in the UK has a story about that day and how they did or didn’t manage to see it.

There’s a lot I could share about this concert having watched every available interview in addition to the concert itself!

There were many behind the scenes arguments - most of all with co-organiser’s Bob Geldof and Midge Ure when Geldof switched their sets in order to play for Princess Diana. He knew that the royal family were leaving soon, which was unknown to Ure until later.

Bono managed to fall out with his entire band when he jumped down from the stage and danced with a woman from the crowd in what was a touching moment. They didn’t think so. They couldn’t see what was happening and had no idea whether or not to keep playing, concerned he may be hurt.

Big controversy was sparked for Phil Collins when he was flown from the Philadelphia concert to Wembley by Concorde to ‘bridge’ the two concerts. This was heavily criticised by the people and press for the lavish expenditure of funds.

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I leave you with the video that was played between the sets of David Bowie and The Who. Viewers are likely to find the video distressing which is why I found the Documentary version with discussion about it, rather than the full video.

This is the video that silenced a concert of 72,000 and was the first of its kind ever to be presented in such a way, at such length creating such powerful emotional impact.

While humanitarian appeals and footage of global crises had of course been featured on television before Live Aid, this widespread broadcast during a large-scale music event was unique. It gathered immense public support and funding for the cause.

Above 👆 The Documentary about Live Aid. Scroll to 08:29 for the video I mention.

The video above was a surprising last minute find when I was searching for these links to share with you. Play it. The heartbreaking image of this child has a happy ending. The crew went back years later and found her. She had indeed survived thanks to this concert, the donations and the care of the people around her.