Remembering the 5 most memorable moments from 'Live Aid' 39 years on

Publish Date
Friday, 12 July 2024, 12:00PM
David Bowie performing at the Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium in London 1985. Photo / Getty Images

David Bowie performing at the Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium in London 1985. Photo / Getty Images

39 years ago this week, Live Aid hit screens all across the world to raise money for African famine relief.

Bob Geldof and Midge Ure organized the historic Live Aid concert to raise awareness of Ethiopia's famine, and with iconic artists like Bob Dylan, Queen, Led Zeppelin, and David Bowie participating, Live Aid became a global symbol of the power of music.

Simultaneously held in London and Philadelphia, the event drew massive crowds of 72,000 and 100,000, creating a legendary "global jukebox" for a charitable cause.

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Here are the five most memorable moments from this epic day of events:

David Bowie

After an 18-month hiatus from touring, David Bowie made a triumphant return at the show, defying expectations.

Despite the daunting task of following Queen's legendary performance, Bowie proved he was the one capable of delivering a remarkable show and capturing the audience's attention once again.

Eric Clapton

With Phil Collins on the drums, Eric performed a 17-minute set that the crowd loved. With Layla, She’s Waiting andWhite Room played as a three-track performance, it truly was an iconic set by two very special talents.

Elton John

Taking the stage before Queen's highly anticipated performance at Wembley Stadium, Elton John faced a challenging task. However, with the assistance of George Michael, he delivered an outstanding set featuring hits like I'm Still Standing and Rocketman, along with a captivating cover of Marvin Gaye's Can I Get A Witness.

Their collaboration on Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me also helped solidify George Michael's status as a defining voice of his generation.

Elvis Costello

Elvis Costello's Live Aid performance, often overlooked, showcased his rendition of The Beatles' All You Need is Love.

With a humble setup of just his voice and guitar, he embodied the persona of a modern bard. As he played the beloved song, the crowd fully embraced the performance, reinforcing the message that love and care can take care of everyone.

Queen

Finally, you can't talk about Live Aid without mentioning Queen. Their epic twenty-one-minute performance is possibly one of the greatest live performances of all time and for good reason.

Their six-song set opened with a shortened version of Bohemian Rhapsody and closed with We Are the Champions. Freddie and Brian May later sang the first song of the three-part Wembley event finale, Is This the World We Created…?

What is your favourite moment from this historic event?

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