General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums34 Years Ago Today; Live Aid becomes Gen X's Woodstock (MANY Videos)
Live Aid was a dual-venue benefit concert held on Saturday 13 July 1985, and an ongoing music-based fundraising initiative. The original event was organised by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for relief of the ongoing Ethiopian famine. Billed as the "global jukebox", the event was held simultaneously at Wembley Stadium in London, England, United Kingdom (attended by 72,000 people) and John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States (attended by about 100,000 people).
On the same day, concerts inspired by the initiative happened in other countries, such as the Soviet Union, Canada, Japan, Yugoslavia, Austria, Australia and West Germany. It was one of the largest-scale satellite link-ups and television broadcasts of all time; an estimated audience of 1.9 billion, across 150 nations, watched the live broadcast, nearly 40% of the world population.
The impact of Live Aid on famine relief has been debated for years. One aid relief worker stated that following the publicity generated by the concert, "humanitarian concern is now at the centre of foreign policy" for western governments. Geldof states, We took an issue that was nowhere on the political agenda and, through the lingua franca of the planet which is not English but rock 'n' roll we were able to address the intellectual absurdity and the moral repulsion of people dying of want in a world of surplus. He adds, Live Aid "created something permanent and self-sustaining", but also asked why Africa is getting poorer. The organisers of Live Aid tried, without much success, to run aid efforts directly, so channelled millions to the NGOs in Ethiopia, much of which went to the Ethiopian government of Mengistu Haile Mariam a brutal regime the UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher wanted to "destabilise" and was spent on guns.
</snip>
YouTube Live Aid mix
&list=RDQMgz2SOSMVMR8&start_radio=1
&list=RDQMgz2SOSMVMR8&index=2
&list=RDQMgz2SOSMVMR8&index=3
&list=RDQMgz2SOSMVMR8&index=4
&list=RDQMgz2SOSMVMR8&index=5
&list=RDQMgz2SOSMVMR8&index=6
&list=RDQMgz2SOSMVMR8&index=7
&list=RDQMgz2SOSMVMR8&index=9
&list=RDQMgz2SOSMVMR8&index=10
&list=RDQMgz2SOSMVMR8&index=11
&list=RDQMgz2SOSMVMR8&index=12
&list=RDQMgz2SOSMVMR8&index=13
&list=RDQMgz2SOSMVMR8&index=14
&list=RDQMgz2SOSMVMR8&index=15
&list=RDQMgz2SOSMVMR8&index=16
&list=RDQMgz2SOSMVMR8&index=18
&list=RDQMgz2SOSMVMR8&index=19
&list=RDQMgz2SOSMVMR8&index=20
&list=RDQMgz2SOSMVMR8&index=22
&list=RDQMgz2SOSMVMR8&index=21
Ohiogal
(32,066 posts)I could watch Queen's again and again...... Wow has it been 34 years already.......
Dennis Donovan
(18,770 posts)Everything about it seems like yesterday to me.
ProudMNDemocrat
(16,791 posts)Because it begins and ends with Live Aid, said to be one of the most iconic Queen performances EVER! The extra features has the full 22 minute set that was recreated for the film.
Last weekend at the SciFi convention I attended, my Freddie Mercury cosplay was a HIT. People saw me and started breaking out into "I Want To Break Free" and other Queen songs. It was a great feeling that many Con goers knew who I was cosplaying. Long live Freddie.
Ohiogal
(32,066 posts)Sorry Mick. You're up there, too, but Freddie is my #1.
ProudMNDemocrat
(16,791 posts)He died 4 days before my beloved Grandpap did.
IcyPeas
(21,904 posts)did he really almost not know about Live Aid? can you imagine?
I remember watching this on my little tv.
tavernier
(12,401 posts)Freddie fans around the world are all watching Queen at Live Aid on YouTube today, hoping to set a record. I did my part first thing this morning and discovered that someone cleaned up the technical sound mistake that practically ruined the evening performance by Freddie and Brian. Much better now!!
Next to DU, I really enjoy following Brian on IG. He posts almost daily and so much is science and astronomy related... fascinating observations by Dr. May.
hlthe2b
(102,361 posts)I look back at that and think--how the hell could this movement now be replaced by the selfish RW populism taking over much of Europe, by Brexit, by Trumpism.
Can we find our way back again to that united effort towards humanity?
WhiskeyGrinder
(22,436 posts)Olafjoy
(937 posts)To think I have a son who is the age I was during Live Aid. How did that happen? What an awesome event. Oh Freddie! The loss of you was a knife in the heart. We were so close to
developing the antiretroviral medications that would have extended your life. What a loss.
Truly the greatest front man ever. The voice, the style, the showmanship, the raw sexuality.
We will love you forever.
Duppers
(28,127 posts)Thank you!