One of the artists who performed on that track was Boy George, lead singer with Culture Club, who commented to Bob Geldof that he should consider organising a benefit concert. The idea for a live event had already been discussed, the plan being to hold dual concerts on both sides of the Atlantic so the television broadcast could alternate between each venue whilst the other set up for the next act.

The date was Saturday 13th July 1985. The venue was Wembley Stadium in London. It was billed as the ‘Global Jukebox’ and would feature a range of musical acts performing to a worldwide audience The event was organised by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, who convinced some of the biggest music artists in the world to perform to 72,000 at Wembley and 85,000 at Philadelphia’s John. F. Kennedy Stadium, where a simultaneous concert was held.

Both shows were viewed by a worldwide audience of almost two billion people across 150 nations; roughly 40% of the world population.

On how Geldof got artists to agree to play, Live Aid production manager Andy Zweck stated, "Bob had to play some tricks to get artists involved. He had to call Elton and say Queen are in and Bowie's in, and of course they weren't. Then he'd call Bowie and say Elton and Queen are in. It was a game of bluff."

The concert opened at Wembley Stadium with a ‘voice of god’ from Radio One broadcaster Richard Skinner, who boomed out the lines: “It’s 12 noon in London, 7am in Philadelphia, and around the world it’s time for Live Aid.”

After some last-minute backstage negotiations it was agreed that Status Quo would kick things off. Nobody wanted to be the first act for fear of the sound not being right, but Bob Geldof assured the band that everything would be fine. “It doesn't matter a f**k what you sound like, just so long as you're there,” recalled guitarist and singer Francis Rossi. Turns out it was meant to be, as the Quo kicked things off with the perfect song, ‘Rockin’ All Over The World’. Live Aid was up and running.

Next on stage was the Style Council who performed tracks including ‘You’re The Best Thing’ and the awesome ‘Walls Come Tumbling Down’. By now the magnitude of the event was starting to sink in. In 1985 I was 14 years old. I had formed my first mobile disco with my friend Paul and taken my first step on the ladder of my career in the music industry.
I was fully aware of Live Aid but not of its overall importance. After the success of Band Aid’s ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’ at the end of 1984, I had naively assumed that the famine in Africa was over – but I was wrong!

In between each act there were interviews and video clips showing the world just why this concert was so important. I remember Bob Geldof’s emotionally charged interview that resulted in his infamous “just give us the f**king money” outburst. And no-one will ever forget the harrowing video footage that accompanied ‘Drive’ by The Cars.

The Boomtown Rats took to the Wembley stage at 12:41pm, their enigmatic frontman greeted with rapturous applause before the band struck the first notes to their UK number one, ‘I Don’t Like Mondays’. Geldof performed the track with a passion and energy that ensured you didn’t take your eyes off the TV screen. It was an infectious performance that was heightened when he stopped just after the line, “the lesson today is how to die.” That pause was everything. His arm was raised and his fist clenched. It was a statement, and the message was understood by all of us watching.
Wembley Stadium was now bathed in glorious sunshine as more acts performed, including Ultravox, Spandau Ballet, Nik Kershaw and Sade all of whom delivered hit-filled sets. Whilst most acts were given 20 minutes on stage, there were a number of acts who only performed one song, like Adam Ant who selected ‘Vive Le Rock’ over all those classic tracks like ‘Stand And Deliver’, ‘Prince Charming’, ‘Ant Music’ and ‘Goody Two Shoes’. (An opportunity to showcase his forthcoming single to a huge audience, perhaps?)

Howard Jones was lined up to perform a number of his hits, but one of his electronic keyboards went missing and he had to change things around and perform one song using a classical piano. He chose the haunting ‘Hide And Seek’ and it was an incredible performance. But it was Elvis Costello who stole the ‘one song’ show, with his rendition of ‘All You Need Is Love’ which he introduced by asking the audience to help him “sing this old northern English folk song.”

It was around this time that the Americans joined in the fun and the broadcast linked up to the John. F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, with acts including the Hooters, Four Tops, Billy Ocean, Black Sabbath, Run-DMC and REO Speedwagon.
The introduction of the American side of Live Aid coincided with me ripping open another pack of C60 tape cassettes so I could record the audio of the entire show, thanks to the simultaneous broadcast on BBC Radio One. Despite the station broadcasting in stereo, I only had access to a medium-wave radio, and somewhere in my parents’ loft are loads of tapes containing the crackly audio of the entire Live Aid show.

As the afternoon rolled on it was time to bring out some big guns like Bryan Ferry, Paul Young, Sting and Phil Collins, with the latter...


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