The 2005 show Madonna felt she was forced to play: “Africa’s more important than your children!”
A surprise appearance, even to her.
Live Aid
Live Aid was a landmark dual-venue benefit concert held on July 13, 1985, to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia.
Organised by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure following the success of Band Aid’s charity single ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’, the event took place simultaneously at Wembley Stadium in London and John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia. Broadcast to an estimated global television audience of nearly two billion people across more than 150 countries, Live Aid featured many of the world’s biggest artists, including Queen, David Bowie, U2, Elton John, Paul McCartney and Madonna.
It remains one of the most influential live music events ever staged.
“Changed the chemistry”: the only Queen song that was filmed as it was being recorded
“Changed the chemistry.”
The horrible gig Robert Plant couldn’t get enough of: “Drunk on the whole event”
Still riding the high.
The 1985 concert Bob Dylan wishes he never played: “They screwed around with us”
Everything coming out sideways.
The one show Sting called better than Woodstock: “A wonderful day for rock ‘n’ roll”
A higher level of rock and roll.
Bob Geldof on how David Bowie made the phone lines melt at Live Aid: “That’s the moment”
A significant moment in history.
‘Let’s Make Africa Green Again’: the story of Black Britain’s star-studded charity single
Black artists didn’t make the pick for Live Aid, so they made their own.
Hear Me Out: ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ was actually pivotal to the rebirth of protest music
The idea behind it was good, the hypocrisy was not…
More About Live Aid
Live Aid was a global charity concert held on July 13, 1985, to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia through simultaneous performances in London and Philadelphia.
Live Aid was organised by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure following the success of the Band Aid charity single 'Do They Know It's Christmas?'.
Live Aid is remembered for its unprecedented global television audience, its enormous fundraising success and iconic performances, particularly Queen's set at Wembley Stadium.