Live Aid
The day the music changed the world
Country
Genre
Budget
$0
Box office
$150 000 000
Director
Kenneth Shapiro, Vincent Scarza
Actors
Scenario
Producer
Hal Uplinger
Camera operator
Composer
Artist
Audition
Editing
Short description
Live Aid was held on 13 July 1985, simultaneously in Wembley Stadium in London, England, and the John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, United States. It was one of the largest scale satellite link-ups and television broadcasts of all time: watched live by an estimated global audience of 1.9 billion, across 150 nations. "It's twelve noon in London, seven AM in Philadelphia, and around the world it's time for Live Aid...!"
What's left behind the scenes
- Sting and Phil Collins first met and became friends in November 1984 while working with the supergroup Band Aid. At the music festival at Wembley, Sting and Collins performed two songs together, having rehearsed over the phone before their performance.
- A performance by Deep Purple via satellite from Switzerland was planned, but it fell through due to guitarist Ritchie Blackmore's refusal to participate.
- During work on the supergroup Band Aid in November 1984, Sting and Phil Collins met and became friends for the first time. At the music festival at Wembley, Sting and Collins performed two songs together, rehearsing over the phone beforehand.
- It was initially planned that Mick Jagger and David Bowie would perform "Dancing in the Street" by the female group Martha & The Vandellas together—Jagger from Philadelphia and Bowie from London. It turned out that this would be impossible due to technical difficulties, so Jagger and Bowie simply released a single of the song, which shot to number one on the UK charts and reached the top ten in the US. The proceeds from its sale were donated to the Live Aid fund.
- Initially, it was planned for Mick Jagger and David Bowie to perform the song 'Dancing in the Street' by the female group Martha & The Vandellas together – Jagger from Philadelphia and Bowie from London. It turned out to be impossible due to technical difficulties, so Jagger and Bowie simply released a single with the song, which soared to number one in the UK charts and reached the top ten in the US. The proceeds from its sale were donated to the Live Aid fund.
- Bob Geldof refused to release a concert video for many years, arguing that such an event happens once in a lifetime and should be remembered as such. When pirate recordings of the festival appeared on the market, Geldof gave in. Live Aid was released on DVD, with all profits from sales going to the Band Aid charity fund.
- Queen almost refused to perform due to Freddie Mercury, who feared their performance would be seen as a political statement. Geldof barely convinced Mercury that the festival was apolitical. Furthermore, he tempted the Queen frontman with the opportunity to perform before the largest audience in the band's history.
- Pink Floyd did not perform at the concert because the legal battles between Roger Waters and the other musicians were at their peak. David Gilmour accompanied Bryan Ferry on guitar, although his name was not mentioned in the list of accompanists.
- During The Who’s performance, a red light lit up at the edge of the stage, indicating to the musicians that their time was up. Pete Townshend simply smashed the light with his foot, and the band continued to play for another 5 minutes.
- Bob Geldof insisted that the companies handling the broadcast from London and Philadelphia destroy all recordings made. The BBC corporation ignored the request and kept the recordings in its archives, while ABC destroyed all footage. When the decision was made to release the concert on DVD years later, all material filmed at Wembley was available, while the recordings of the performances in Philadelphia had to be pieced together.
- Queen almost declined to perform because of Freddie Mercury, who feared that their appearance would be perceived as a political statement. Geldof struggled to convince Mercury that there was no politics involved in the festival. On top of that, he enticed the Queen frontman with the opportunity to perform before the largest audience in the band's history.
- Stevie Wonder was invited to participate, but he declined on the grounds that there were too few African Americans on the performer list. The only Black headliner to perform at Wembley Stadium was the lead singer of Sade, leading to harsh criticism of the festival organizers for the lack of racial diversity.
- Bob Geldof insisted that the companies handling the broadcasts from London and Philadelphia destroy all recordings. The BBC ignored the request and kept the recordings in their archives, while ABC destroyed all the filmed material. When it was decided to release the concert on DVD years later, all the footage from Wembley was available, whereas the recordings of the Philadelphia performances had to be pieced together.
- Stevie Wonder received an invitation to participate, but declined, citing the lack of African American artists on the lineup. The only Black headliner to perform at Wembley Stadium was the vocalist from Sade, which led to harsh criticism of the festival organizers for a lack of racial diversity.
- When Phil Collins finished his performance at Wembley Stadium in London, he had only a few hours to reach Philadelphia, where he was also scheduled to take the stage. The musician crossed the Atlantic on the Concorde.
- Festival organizer Bob Geldof stated that the best sound and performance came from the band Queen. In 2005, over 60 musicians, journalists, and show business figures also named Queen's performance at the festival 'the greatest live performance of all time.' Guitarist Brian May admitted that Queen had a slight advantage over the others, as the band was used to performing in front of huge audiences.
- During The Boomtown Rats' performance of "Rat Trap," Bob Geldof accidentally pulled the microphone cable. For this reason, the song "Rat Trap" was not included in the subsequent DVD collection.
- For many years, Bob Geldof refused to release a concert video, arguing that such an event happens once in a lifetime and should be remembered as such. When bootleg recordings of the festival appeared on the market, Geldof gave in. Live Aid was released on DVD, with all profits going to the Band Aid charity fund.
- During the performance of the song "Rat Trap" by The Boomtown Rats, Bob Geldof accidentally pulled the microphone cord out. For this reason, "Rat Trap" was not included in the subsequently released DVD collection.
- Approximately 1.9 billion people in over 150 countries watched the Live Aid broadcast live.
- Festival organizer Bob Geldof stated that Queen had the best sound and performance. In 2005, over 60 musicians, journalists, and entertainment industry figures also named Queen's performance at the festival as the "greatest live performance of all time." Guitarist Brian May admitted that Queen had some advantage over the others, as the band was used to performing before massive audiences.
- After Phil Collins finished his performance at Wembley Stadium in London, he had a few hours to get to Philadelphia, where he was also scheduled to take the stage. The musician crossed the Atlantic on the 'Concorde'.
- The duo Wham!, consisting of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, were scheduled to take the stage after Elton John, but there was no longer time as John's performance ran long. John invited Michael to perform his song "Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me," accompanying him on piano.
- The main concert venues were in London and Philadelphia, with similar events taking place on the same day in Austria, the USSR, Germany, Australia, Yugoslavia, Denmark, and Japan.
- Several groups reunited for the festival, but The Beatles were not among them. The band members were asked to perform with Julian Lennon, who would have taken his father's place, but they declined the offer.
- During a performance by The Who, a red light went off at the edge of the stage, signaling to the musicians that their set time was up. Pete Townshend simply crushed the light with his foot, and the band continued to play for another 5 minutes.
- The duo Wham!, consisting of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, were scheduled to take the stage after Elton John; however, there was no time left as John's performance ran long. John invited Michael to perform his song 'Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me' while he accompanied him on the piano.
- Deep Purple was planned to perform via satellite link from Switzerland, but it fell through due to guitarist Ritchie Blackmore's refusal to perform.
- Pink Floyd did not perform at the concert because legal disputes between Roger Waters and the rest of the musicians were at their peak. David Gilmour accompanied Bryan Ferry on guitar, but his name was not announced as part of the backing band.
- Several bands reunited for the festival, but The Beatles were not among them. The band members were asked to perform with Julian Lennon, who would have taken his father's place, but they declined the offer.
Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
