Live Aid July 13 1985

De Bellem

For those who can remember, LIVE AID is 28 years on tomorrow. Most agree that Queen and U2 shone through and stole the show. All bands had only 15 minutes to make their mark but there were so many other great performances at Wembley and Philadelphia. What do you think?

I recorded the lot on VHS (remember that technology) from noon to 4 am that sunday. The weather that weekend was like today. I had a moustache then and had it shaved off for the cause. My parents were on holidays so the party was at my house. another reason to never forget it

If you remember the day did you do anything special ? Who did you watch?
etc

Its up to the attic tomorrow dust off those tapes and go "Rockin all over the
World " once again. Db

washiskin

Paul Young & Bryan Ferry - two of the most underrated sets on that day.

Lawrence1895

The Boomtown Rats were great, even if they didn't play 'Banana Republic'.

It was a pity though, that Bruce Springsteen didn't come

Busted Flat.

A lot of groups enhanced their profile's in appearing on that, money was raised in large amounts and were generously given by the public.The money ended up being wasted according to the BBC documentary by Gob Beldoff, insisting on handling it himself. Remember the Mercedes trucks he bought without gearboxes, they were shown on that program. He got his title though.

De Bellem

To all thanks for the reply. I know most have forgetten the event but it was a great day snapshot musically and in other ways. And also it was for such a great cause as well

Geldof in his notes for the day says the following

"Please remember this day all of your lives. Its important.
Remember the dayyou wanted to help.
Remember the bands and crews who did it. The professionals
who made it an extraordinary technological feat.

Remember the dying who were allowed to live.
Remember on the day you die there is someone alive in Africa 'cos one day you watched a pop concert

Remember your tears and your joy.
Remember the love.

Remember on that day for once in our bloody lives WE WON.

Remember that even though it is over, it need not stop.
Remember the dying goes on and remember so as time passes
you can tell others "It's possible, I know'.

What a day, what a lovely day" Bob Geldof July 1985


For me so many great performances from Bowie , Clapton , Ferry even Madonna who was very nervous but made it count for her career,

Busted Flat.

De Bellem wrote: »

To all thanks for the reply. I know most have forgetten the event but it was a great day snapshot musically and in other ways. And also it was for such a great cause as well

Geldof in his notes for the day says the following

"Please remember this day all of your lives. Its important.
Remember the dayyou wanted to help.
Remember the bands and crews who did it. The professionals
who made it an extraordinary technological feat.

Remember the dying who were allowed to live.
Remember on the day you die there is someone alive in Africa 'cos one day you watched a pop concert

Remember your tears and your joy.
Remember the love.

Remember on that day for once in our bloody lives WE WON.

Remember that even though it is over, it need not stop.
Remember the dying goes on and remember so as time passes
you can tell others "It's possible, I know'.

What a day, what a lovely day" Bob Geldof July 1985


For me so many great performances from Bowie , Clapton , Ferry even Madonna who was very nervous but made it count for her career,

Remember his Knighthood, he would be delighted with that. What did he do with the scrap trucks in the desert.

De Bellem

Its easy to be negative.

Busted Flat.

De Bellem wrote: »

Its easy to be negative.

You are dead right, I agree, then it's easy to waste money when you haven't earned it, and get credit when it was not due.

De Bellem

Whats a waste of money? A global concert or is it the saving of lives you are on about.

Busted Flat.

De Bellem wrote: »

Whats a waste of money? A global concert or is it the saving of lives you are on about.

I would like a breakdown of what was raised and how it was spent, I think that is a reasonable request. When you look at the tax returns that were exposed by the New York Times relating to the Boners charity little number, it was fairly shocking. Then in the US they investigate the likes of that.
Get your hero to produce the accounts for Live Aid. It would put a lot of peoples minds at rest about charities. You should look up the expenses of the charity CEO's, they get the first crack at donations, after that the lessor minions get their cut, what is left for the child with the blue bottles crawling around its eyes and lips is minute.

Stojkovic

They say 85% of charitable fundraising income is spent on overheads (wages etc) !!!!

De Bellem

This thread is mainly about the concert / music and secondly whether you
like it or not it did save lives. The Irish nation raised more per capita than
any other. Would you prefer nothing was done and so what if Geldof got or
accepted a knighthood (honorarty at that ).
Take a look at the bigger picture.

This thread is not about Bob Geldof but as you know he was one of its founders'

If you want to start a new thread on Live Aid's finances I am sure they are not hard to find on google . Start a new thread on that but please on this thread stick to the topic/ the memories and the concert

Busted Flat.

De Bellem wrote: »

This thread is mainly about the concert / music and secondly whether you
like it or not it did save lives. The Irish nation raised more per capita than
any other. Would you prefer nothing was done and so what if Geldof got or
accepted a knighthood (honorarty at that ).
Take a look at the bigger picture.

This thread is not about Bob Geldof but as you know he was one of its founders'

If you want to start a new thread on Live Aid's finances I am sure they are not hard to find on google . Start a new thread on that but please on this thread stick to the topic/ the memories and the concert

The concert as you call it, was to raise money for starving people in third world countries. It turned out it was a career boost for starving musicians, too boost their careers. The public is entitled to know how the money was spent, not too have happy little dreams about how Gob saved the world.

De Bellem

Relevance to my original thread ?

Busted Flat.

De Bellem wrote: »

Relevance to my original thread ?

Then leave out AID in your thread, it had nothing to with the hungry, just self enhancement.

endacl

Stojkovic wrote: »

They say 85% of charitable fundraising income is spent on overheads (wages etc) !!!!

There's that pesky 'they' again. Always up to divilment... Nobody's quite sure who 'they' are, but 'they' are always trotted out as the source of spurious statistics...

I remember hearing when the concert was announced OP. Heard it on the radio in the car in harolds cross, and aldo remember thinking 'bummer. Probably too young to go to London to see this'. I was 12 at the time. Brings me right back when I see clips.

I'm as prone to begrudgery and cynicism as the next man, but I clearly remember the overwhelming positive feelings on the day.

Skid X

I was only a kid, but I remember watching Live Aid on the day, it was class. RTE concentrated on the fundraising, BBC concentrated on the music.

The day seemed to get bigger as it went on, everyone was watching it by the evening.

I really liked it when they sang Do They know it's Christmas, it was nice to have two Irishmen, Bob and Bono, centre stage at the biggest show on Earth.

There are two very good BBC documentaries on Youtube, one about the buildup to the event, and one about the day itself

De Bellem

Why/ Its called Live Aid, and your entitled to your opinion and me mine. You have yet to respond to my initial post about the bands
and the day

Busted Flat.

endacl wrote: »

There's that pesky 'they' again. Always up to divilment... Nobody's quite sure who 'they' are, but 'they' are always trotted out as the source of spurious statistics...

I remember hearing when the concert was announced OP. Heard it on the radio in the car in harolds cross, and aldo remember thinking 'bummer. Probably too young to go to London to see this'. I was 12 at the time. Brings me right back when I see clips.

I'm as prone to begrudgery and cynicism as the next man, but I clearly remember the overwhelming positive feelings on the day.

I am sure the little kids that Billy Connolly cried over on that night, with the blue bottles crawling on their mouths and eyes on the telly, and would have been a hell of a lot younger than you, did not see or hear the back slapping concert or heard the music would appreciate your feelings.

De Bellem

how do you know . whats your facts on that

endacl

Busted Flat. wrote: »

I am sure the little kids that Billy Connolly cried over on that night, with the blue bottles crawling on their mouths and eyes on the telly, and would have been a hell of a lot younger than you, did not see or hear the back slapping concert or heard the music would appreciate your feelings.

And if this wasnt in the retro forum I'd talk about that. And most likely agree with a lot that you've said. But it's not. It's about nostalgia. I answered in the spirit of the OP's post. Why not try that? I was twelve at the time and not very cynical at all. Whatever hindsight may bring to criticism of the event, the event itself was pretty special to witness. I'll unload my grumbling elsewhere.

Get over yourself?

Busted Flat.

De Bellem wrote: »

how do you know . whats your facts on that

For educational purposes.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=Live+aid+what+happened+to+the+money&source=web&cd=8&cad=rja&ved=0CGEQFjAH&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aolnews.com%2F2010%2F03%2F03%2Flive-aid-famine-cash-bought-guns-not-grain%2F&ei=6NjhUeqjDa_H7Aa_roDACA&usg=AFQjCNEITmGCW7EpDThMBx0Kfquivkb7ZA&bvm=bv.48705608,d.ZGU

De Bellem

Thanks Endacl for your memories of the day

De Bellem

Thanks SkidX also for your memories of the day

endacl

One other memory....?

I didn't know much about singing at the time, but I had a sneaking suspicion this would have been mortifying....

De Bellem

I forget about that . Phil Collins on piano with Sting hits a terrible bum note. I dont like the song " Against All Odds " but if you get a chance to see the clip of him at Live Aid he kinda prays for it to go well.......... and then there was ....Mick Jagger and Tina Turner. Need I say more. If you get a chance check it out . Its GREAT

The Princess Bride

I was a teenager back then,and can remember looking forward to this for weeks beforehand.
We only had the 2 channels which showed very little music, so this was like a feast, having so much music in one day.

There was a great sense of unity and people coming together-through music-to make a difference.
Granted,it was probably only a short term difference,but a great day none the less.

endacl

I remember we were all very pleased with ourselves that Ireland had donated more per capita than any other country.

The Princess Bride

endacl wrote: »

One other memory....?

I didn't know much about singing at the time, but I had a sneaking suspicion this would have been mortifying....

Poor Simon.:o
That's the thing about live tv,you win some,you lose some!

endacl

msthe80s wrote: »

Poor Simon.:o
That's the thing about live tv,you win some,you lose some!

You only get one chance to lose on quite this big a scale though!

The Princess Bride

endacl wrote: »

You only get one chance to lose on quite this big a scale though!

Funnily,I cannot remember him screeching like that.....(and I'm a fantastic singer myself, so I'd know.:rolleyes:)
I saw Duran Duran live in Dublin a few years later and they were fantastic-the ticket cost less than a tenner!

I wonder if you were to list all of the acts who performed at both (the major gigs not the smaller ones) concerts,and did a "where are they now?", how they'd fare?

endacl

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_Aid#London_Wembley_Stadium

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_Aid#Philadelphia_JFK_Stadium

Go f'rit!

BBDBB

the entire crowd in the palm of his hand

an incredible set

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQsM6u0a038

migemo

The video to 'Drive' by The Cars still haunts me. I can't hear that brilliant song without thinking of Live Aid.

spurious

I spent Live Aid on a Polish coal boat in a dump called Barry Island near Cardiff, where I was meeting a Polish friend who had intended coming to Dublin, but due to a dispute of some sort, could not dock in Dublin.

We ended up going to see the James Bond film that starts with him snowboarding down a mountain to 'California Girls' - 'A view to a kill' I think.

Judes

I can't believe how much negativity has appeared on this thread. The minute I saw the title I was brought back to 1985, spending half the day in a well known Cork Bar, patrons/friends watching it together on one of the many screens around the room, (donations going on throughout the day) then later heading to the Night Club where I was working and collecting buckets of money for the cause!

The music may not have always been "pitch perfect" but in fairness the Bands/Artists that appeared were not relaunching their careers - they were top at the time - it was the mid-80s!!!

Like another poster - I still can't hear the song "Drive" without thinking of those children that video clip was haunting, remembering the performance of "Dancing on the Street" by Bowie/Jagger, Freddie Mercury was incredible as always. Didn't Phil Collins perform in both the USA and UK - jetting from one to the other. "Rocking all over the World" by Status Quo. Such an exciting event in its day.

Don't forget Midge Ure (Ultravox) was very involved in the organisation of the event, people tend to remember Geldof because he's one of us - but there was a Scot's Man behind it too.

So come on - think of the positives that came out of this event. It was almost 30 years ago, incredible to think. There was high unemployment in Ireland, every day of the week one of my mates was leaving the country to find work elsewhere in the world. It was one day that made our lives look pretty damn good in comparison with people starving and dying. Just over a hundred years after our own Famine. That's why we Irish are so generous! J

Busted Flat.

Judes wrote: »

I can't believe how much negativity has appeared on this thread. The minute I saw the title I was brought back to 1985, spending half the day in a well known Cork Bar, patrons/friends watching it together on one of the many screens around the room, (donations going on throughout the day) then later heading to the Night Club where I was working and collecting buckets of money for the cause!

The music may not have always been "pitch perfect" but in fairness the Bands/Artists that appeared were not relaunching their careers - they were top at the time - it was the mid-80s!!!

Like another poster - I still can't hear the song "Drive" without thinking of those children that video clip was haunting, remembering the performance of "Dancing on the Street" by Bowie/Jagger, Freddie Mercury was incredible as always. Didn't Phil Collins perform in both the USA and UK - jetting from one to the other. "Rocking all over the World" by Status Quo. Such an exciting event in its day.

Don't forget Midge Ure (Ultravox) was very involved in the organisation of the event, people tend to remember Geldof because he's one of us - but there was a Scot's Man behind it too.

So come on - think of the positives that came out of this event. It was almost 30 years ago, incredible to think. There was high unemployment in Ireland, every day of the week one of my mates was leaving the country to find work elsewhere in the world. It was one day that made our lives look pretty damn good in comparison with people starving and dying. Just over a hundred years after our own Famine. That's why we Irish are so generous! J

How did the kids benefit with the blue bottles in their eyes, from people who felt good about the music. Where did the money go.

Judes

In response to "Busted Flat" above - It takes all sorts of events to financially aid charities albeit concerts, quizes, walks, runs, cake sales, bake-offs, fetes..................... if people didn't participate/attend/view these events and get a bit of enjoyment out of them - then there would be no funds coming in. Think about that!

Rubberlegs

I was 12, and spent the day glued to the tv:). I couldn't wait for George Michael to come on, and screamed like a loony when he finally did:o. I seem to remember Madonna being one of the acts? I also remember everyone being together on the stage at the end, quite emotional that! And feeling so proud that the Irish were donating so much...

9959

spurious wrote: »

I spent Live Aid on a Polish coal boat in a dump called Barry Island near Cardiff, where I was meeting a Polish friend who had intended coming to Dublin, but due to a dispute of some sort, could not dock in Dublin.

We ended up going to see the James Bond film that starts with him snowboarding down a mountain to 'California Girls' - 'A view to a kill' I think.

Most depressing post I've read in a long long time, also extremely funny in a Beckettian way. More please.

FatherTed

As bad as Simon Le Bon was in that bit, Robert Plant wasn't that good. Reunion concert, hot weather in July etc, free concert, I suppose we shouldn't complain:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TudbbVdz8os

In any case, it was a great day, nothing like it since. And yes while some of the money did not arrive to it's intended destination like anything else, it did save lives.

Poutbutton

My friends older sister was getting married the same day. All the neighbors on my street were waiting to cheer the bride off as she left her home with her father. They were all muttering under their breaths wishing she would ever just leave so they could go back in and watch Live Aid.
I was 15, it was the best thing I had ever seen. I loved Queen and U2 blew me away. The introductions to the acts were as good as the performances by the bands. Yea some of the acts hit bum notes and things were hairy all day but it added to the excitement of such a feat of live music from 2 countries. Whenever there were delays, Mel or Gryff or whoever was MCing adlibbed until things were back on track. Thought the bit where Phil Collins went off on Concorde from playing at Wembley to playing in Philadelphia was just amazing.
Great memories.
I'd love to hear from someone who was actually at one of the venues on the day, unforgetable I'd say.

PropJoe10

FatherTed wrote: »

As bad as Simon Le Bon was in that bit, Robert Plant wasn't that good. Reunion concert, hot weather in July etc, free concert, I suppose we shouldn't complain:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TudbbVdz8os

In any case, it was a great day, nothing like it since. And yes while some of the money did not arrive to it's intended destination like anything else, it did save lives.

Percy was hoarse and Page was drunk and out of tune. Not The Zep's finest hour by any means, but at the time it made a lot of folks happy and it added greatly to the profile of the event, so fair play to em for doing it.

branie

I was in Lourdes that day.

Skid X

De Bellem wrote: »

For me so many great performances from Bowie , Clapton , Ferry even Madonna who was very nervous but made it count for her career,

One interesting song I only noticed years later was Madonna (after her own set) doing backing vocals and playing tambourine for the Thompson Twins on 'Revolution', she looked like she was having the time of her life.

OldRio

I was working in the Fire Service in the North East of England at the time.
We finished nights at 0900hrs on that morning and then a few days off.

We had a call to a RTA (Road Traffic Accident) at about 0730hrs.
Car in collision with a lorry. It seems the people in the car were going to the concert. 1 fatality. A teenage lad. I'll say no more.

Missed the start of the concert because of sleep. Got drunk as a skunk watching it on TV. Strange day on so many levels.

Skid X

A little bit of RTE continuity from Live Aid - Derek Davis interrupts Led Zeppelin to appeal to the P&T to sort out their telephone system, which was on the verge of meltdown.

I think RTE did a great job that day, they got the right balance between the music and the fundraising

Max Headroom

Remember it well..i was on me back changing the gearbox in me escort (again:rolleyes:) and listening to the concert from the telly in the front room at full volume....ah , better times....:)

bodhrandude

I watched the lot too, Queen and U2 were pretty amazing but one of my highlights was the Neil Young set in the US leg, especially his version of Powderfinger.

De Bellem

As it is 29 years on from LIVE AID tomorrow I thought I would thank all those who responded last year with their memories of the day/ concert
and to give an open invitation to to anyone else to add theirs if they want

A book by Dylan Jones came out last autumn called "The Eighties One Day,One Decade" where he tells his story of the eighties through
the prism of that day at Wembley....." If interested in the Decade /Live AID look it up online for reviews etc

Filmer Paradise

29 years! Christ I'm gettin old.

Had just done the Leaving a month before & was wondering what to do next.

Watched the concert with some cousins that we had staying with us that summer.

Queen were the best act on the day. I'm sure it's difficult for younger people to realise how big they really were at the time.