When Bob Geldof and Midge Ure launched Live Aid in 1985, it was unlike anything that had ever been done before.
Held in both America and the UK, the charity fundraiser was attended by 172,000 people and viewed live by over 1.9 billion people across 150 nations.
Geldof had been inspired to launch a fundraising initiative after seeing images of starving Ethopian children on BBC News and quickly put together the charity single Do They Know It’s Christmas?, which raised over £8 million.
On the suggestion of Boy George, Geldof and Ure decided to stage a live event and the now-iconic Live Aid was born, raising a further £30 million in aid in the process.
While acts including Bruce Springsteen, Prince and Micheal Jackson all refused to take place, both the Wembley Stadium and Kennedy Centre events attracted a star-studded line-up and here are ten of the most memorable performances.
Live From London…
1) U2 – Bad
2) Queen – Bohermian Rhapsody
3) David Bowie – Heroes
4) The Who – Love Reign O’er Me/Won’t Get Fooled Again
5) Elton John – Bennie And The Jets/Rocket Man
6) Paul McCartney – Let It Be
7) Band Aid – Do They Know It’s Christmas
Live From Philadelphia…
8) Joan Baez – Amazing Grace/We Are The World
9) Beach Boys – Wouldn’t It Be Nice/Good Vibrations
10) Simple Minds – Don’t You (Forget About Me)
11) Madonna – Holiday
12) Tom Petty – Refugee
13) Neil Young – The Needle And The Damage Done
14) Eric Clapton And Phil Collins – Layla
15) Led Zeppelin (w/Tony Thompson, Paul Martinez and Phil Collins) – Whole Lotta Love
16) Mick Jagger And Tina Turner – It’s Only Rock And Roll
