Live Aid co-founders Sir Bob Geldof and Midge Ure have reflected on the initial concert, which took place in 1985, that has inspired Just For One Day: The Live Aid Musical
Sir Bob Geldof has reflected on the impact of Live Aid as the charity initiative celebrates its 40th anniversary this week. He’s suggested that it still resonates decades later and recalled the acts who took place as having been “exceptional”.
Bob, 73, highlighted the ongoing significance of the concert in a recent interview. The musician pointed to the documentaries, radio shows and even a musical inspired by the events of July 13, 1985, “when something weird happened”.
Speaking to PA news agency before a special gala performance of Just For One Day: The Live Aid Musical, he recounted his recent experience at an Oasis gig in Manchester. He said: “I was at Oasis last night in Manchester, who were staggeringly brilliant. So I’m buzzing, and I’m still amazed that this old guy can be so thrilled by a great rock and roll band.”
Bob then reminisced about the spirit of Live Aid, where some of the biggest acts performed. He said: “But imagine 40 years ago, seeing all of the greatest rock and roll bands, one after the other, being exceptional for free, no contracts with anyone, they had to pay their own plane fares.”
He also noted the camaraderie among the artists, saying: “For some reason, the performances were ‘other’, just like the day itself. They rose way above and everyone hung around to watch each other.”
Despite its significance, Bob revealed he’s never watched Live Aid. He said: “I’ve never seen it because I can’t watch or listen to myself. I can’t stand all the stupid things I say. However, he did see the finale recently, sharing: “But I saw the end of Live Aid two weeks ago, which was the Christmas song.”
He compared the closing scene to a chaotic school play, teasing: “And here are the greatest creative talents of the rock era, and it’s like the worst ever nativity play in school, like the kids haven’t learned the lines, the teachers are going nuts, and they all hung around. They wouldn’t leave.”
Bob went on to say that the “sheer improbable exhilaration” of the concert is “what resonates” still, adding: “It’s a time when Britain did something profound with their American brothers.” He suggested that it “resonates particularly now” due to being in “the sort of age of the death of kindness”.
He added that it resonates “more” than when it was “possible for the boys and girls with guitars to corral the political and economic structures of the world”. He also encouraged “the entire electorate and population” to give over money that would help the situation.
Bob said: “I think that’s why you’ve got musicals. It’s why you’ve got documentaries, it’s why you’ve got whole stations dedicated to that day 40 years ago when something weird happened.”
Co-founder Midge Ure, 71, told PA about the bewilderment they felt during the event: “We were in the middle of this. We couldn’t see just how big this thing was. It’s like being in the middle of a cyclone or a hurricane or whatever. It’s all going on around you. There’s a weird stillness because you’re dealing with the nuts and bolts of the daily process. […] It seems to have grown over the last 40 years. It’s now a historic, social moment.”
Established by Bob and Midge, the initiative took off with the Band Aid charity single Do They Know It’s Christmas? in December 1984. It featured a host of celebrities and topped the UK singles chart at the time.
In July that year, concerts took place in the US and London, with the latter gig attended by Princess Diana and the now King Charles III. They watched performances from the likes of Sir Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Spandau Ballet and Queen.
The broadcast was viewed by an estimated audience of over 1.5 billion, sparking similar concerts worldwide inspired by the initiative. The US concert took place at the John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, featuring performances from Crosby, Stills, Nash And Young, The Beach Boys, Bob Dylan, Sir Mick Jagger and Tina Turner.
A musical centred around Live Aid, featuring songs from Sir Elton John, Bowie and Queen, made its debut at The Old Vic theatre in January last year. It’s currently running at the West End’s Shaftesbury Theatre.
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