Live Aid

[TheGreek]

Was 40 years ago today...doesn't feel like it!!

[Lozz196]

My hairline feels like it was, back then I resembled a bog brush, now I resemble a cue ball.

[ambient]

I've enjoyed listening to the rerun on the radio. I was 6 at the time, I do remember watching it though.

 

Highlights so far are The Who, Simple Minds, Bowie, Ultravox, U2 and Sting with Branford Marsalis.

Edited 22 hours ago by ambient

[MacDaddy]

Asked to comment on a famous photograph of himself and Geldof together prior to Live Aid, Ant tells Uncut magazine, “That was when I was asked by Sir Bob to promote this concert. They had no idea they could sell it out. Then in Bob’s book he said, ‘Adam was over the hill so I let him have one number.’ One thing I’d like to do (in the photo) is kick him up the a**e.

 

“Doing that show was the biggest f**king mistake in the world. Knighthoods were made, Bono got it made, and it was a waste of f**king time. It was the end of rock ‘n’ roll, now hippies run the world, like f**king (British festival) Glastonbury… I hate hippies.”

[BigRedX]

I didn't own a TV in 1985 so I never saw Live Aid.

 

I wasn't particularly interested in any of the bands playing - those that had liked previously had IMO become bland and safe in order to be popular enough to take part.

 

I most likely spent the day reading and working on new songs for my band.

[Twigman]

Many people I know went to Wembley that day.

I remember sitting at a table on the pavement outside a pub with a bottle of pils, wondering where everyone had gone.

[Marvin]

I was 12. I saw a few sets on the TV,  but wasn't particularly interested. 

 

There seems to be a lot of self congratulatory back slapping from those involved, very little about whether it achieved its aim or achieved anything.

[TimR]

Watched a lot of it at my freind's house, drinking Carlesburg. We were going to France next day to do a load of cycling. We were only 16! Wonder how many 16 year olds would be touring France on their own on bikes nowadays.  

 

Remember waiting ages to watch Madonna, who was a big new star that everyone was talking about and only had a handful of hits up to that point.

 

What struck me watching on Saturday was most acts only played 3 or 4 songs. 

 

Tony Hadley looked young! 

[bassace]

Dire Straits were very wobbly, weren’t they.

[ezbass]

1 hour ago, bassace said:

Dire Straits were very wobbly, weren’t they.

Drumming was overly enthusiastic and the addition of a sax was superfluous. Sounded more like a jam, certainly not well rehearsed.

 

I’m not a huge Queen fan, but they were so slick, moving seamlessly from an abbreviated version of one tune to another. Plainly, well rehearsed.

 

If I were the three other members of U2, there would have been words about Bono’s excursion into the audience. Playing that riff over and over, for so long would have been wearing, not to mention boring. 
 

 

EDIT: The Who doing Won’t Get Fooled Again was an absolute car crash.

Edited 5 hours ago by ezbass

[lonestar]

I was photographing it for the late David Redfern.

 

I photographed so many festivals and gigs back that I was a bit blase about the whole thing. After I'd got what I needed I left, jumped on the tube , went went home, moved the telly into the French doors and watched the rest in the garden with a few cold beers.

[RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE]

This thing was hyped to death …and then some . The scruffy unwashed Geldoff telling family audiences , “ Just send your f**in money! “ ( or words to that effect) during the middle of the day was not very nice to hear before the waters head . Classy person he is not . From what I remember, the gig made Bono , the edge and the other 2 global superstars 🤢🤮. To this day , I don’t know who I dislike most ..Bono or St.Bob . Probably a draw .

 

We kept hearing about Phil Collins playing 2 countries in one day etc . The amount of Colombian marching powder he must have had that day , was probably more than the rest of the celebs combined. 
 

I watched bits here and there . I thought the quo did a cracking job . Freddie stole the show imho , as has been said by many.

 

I remember watching Neil Young / Tom Petty / Bob Dylan being in the USA one . They looked pretty stoned ,and said “ do farm aid instead “ I think . They were relaxed about it and I liked that . 
 

I remember the gig being shown constantly on the pubs in Portugal where I was on holiday around that time . “ money for nothing “ was played to death , and I hated it for a very long time . I quite like it now 😬

It seems not much has changed and tbh , the BBC could have sent the Groundforce. team out there with Tommy Walsh , Charlie Dimmock and a few others to make a difference . 🤔 not sure if those programmes were on then .. plus the amount of crisps Gary Linekar could’ve donated 

Edited 5 hours ago by RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE

[ambient]

3 hours ago, ezbass said:

Drumming was overly enthusiastic and the addition of a sax was superfluous. Sounded more like a jam, certainly not well rehearsed.

 

I’m not a huge Queen fan, but they were so slick, moving seamlessly from an abbreviated version of one tune to another. Plainly, well rehearsed.

 

If I were the three other members of U2, there would have been words about Bono’s excursion into the audience. Playing that riff over and over, for so long would have been wearing, not to mention boring. 
 

 

EDIT: The Who doing Won’t Get Fooled Again was an absolute car crash.

 

They were in the middle of a very long series of gigs at Wembley Arena. They had their road crew carry the gear across the car park.

[Wombat]

Happy memories for me as I was in my 1st band recording our 1st album that day. As the drummer and I had been well rehearsed (because of studio costs at the time) we were finished quite quickly and so watched most of it in a side alcove off the Control Room.

[ambient]

Judging by social media and the radio station I was listening to the rerun on yesterday, the anniversary brought back a lot of very happy memories for a great many people. Which is fantastic, in my opinion.

[martthebass]

Watched most of it on Saturday......I must have lost a few neurons as I couldn't remember some of the bands/performances at all despite the fact that I know I watched it in it's entirety.  Bowie and Queen made it for me also but I'd forgotten the nice tinkling of the ivories by Howard Jones and the great stage sound Pino had.

[Len_derby]

It was a memorable weekend back in 1985. During the morning of the Saturday I moved into my first purchased house, starting as early as I could so I could set the tele up and watch the show. I’d stretched myself to the limit to buy a new-build semi for £22k. Different times.

[wateroftyne]

5 hours ago, bassace said:

Dire Straits were very wobbly, weren’t they.

I don't think they were..?

They were just beginning their 'Long, drawn out arrangement' phase.

(edit)
I will say that it sounds like their TV feed was mixed by a drummer...

Edited 2 hours ago by wateroftyne

[Beedster]

6 minutes ago, wateroftyne said:

I will say that it sounds like their TV feed was mixed by a drummer...

 

Could go down in history as one of the great insults 🤣

[Paul S]

Mrs S and I had eaten dodgy onion pakoras the night before and were taking it in turns to go to the toilet.  I remember most of it - recorded most of it on my betamax video machine and still got the tape somewhere.  At the time I thought it was utterly brilliant.  Still do tbh. 

 

For all sorts of reasons 1985 was a magical year for me and I will always have the fondest memories.