Live Aid: A Retrospective
In the summer of 1985, the world witnessed a groundbreaking musical event that transcended borders and united humanity for a cause greater than any single artist or band. Live Aid, a monumental charity concert organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, was born out of a desire to address the devastating famine in Ethiopia.
Geldof, lead singer of the Boomtown Rats, was deeply moved by the televised reports of suffering and starvation, prompting him to initiate a massive fundraising effort. Collaborating with Midge Ure of Ultravox, Geldof spearheaded the creation of Live Aid, a dual-venue concert held on July 13, 1985, at Wembley Stadium in London and John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia.
Live Aid would come to feature an extraordinary lineup including Queen, U2, David Bowie, Led Zeppelin, Madonna, and many more. The concerts were broadcasted globally, reaching an estimated 1.9 billion people across 150 nations. The event exemplified the unifying power of music, as artists from diverse genres and backgrounds came together to contribute their talents for a common cause.
Culturally, these performances are long remembered as some of the modern day’s finest. Queen's performance at Wembley Stadium is often regarded as one of the greatest live performances in rock history. Freddie Mercury's charismatic stage presence and the band's electrifying set, including the iconic "Bohemian Rhapsody," left an indelible mark on pop culture. U2's rooftop performance at Wembley showcased the band's commitment to social causes. Phil Collins achieved a unique feat by performing at both Wembley and Philadelphia on the same day. His transatlantic journey highlighted the global reach of the event and his dedication to the cause.
All in all, Live Aid raised over $125 million for famine relief efforts in Ethiopia, making it one of the most successful fundraising events in history. However, the charitable impact of Live Aid is up for debate. It is alleged that a portion of money was siphoned off by the Ethiopian government of Mengistu Haile to purchase weapons of war from the Soviet Union. The immediate impacts are up for debate.
That same year however, inspired by the events of Live Aid, Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, and Neil young began the annual tradition of hosting Farm Aid, a benefit concert to help American family farmers. The organization has since raised millions of dollars to foster family farmers. On a macro level, we can draw a direct line between Live Aid and a sort of Western propensity toward the infantilizing “Let’s Save Africa” industries, a topic Moky Makura wrote about recently in The Guardian in response to a potential Live Aid musical.
For all its cultural impact and charitable good as well as questionable use of funds and continental infantilization, Live Aid remains one of the 20th centuries most important musical events.
