Movies

Bob Geldof and Midge Ure Reunite at Wembley for Live Aid’s 40th Anniversary Musical Launch

BBG News

40 years after Live Aid, Bob Geldof and Midge Ure came together once more, finding themselves back in a familiar setting as they prepared to commemorate this milestone event.

The first charity event, which took place on July 13, 1985, was a dual-location concert organized by Geldof and Ure to gather funds for the Ethiopian famine that occurred over two years, causing an estimated 300,000 to 1.2 million deaths.

They returned to Wembley Stadium on Thursday for the unveiling of Just for One Day: The Live Aid Musical’s original cast recording.

4 decades later, approximately 72,000 spectators gathered at the venue to witness a series of remarkable concerts by iconic ’80s artists. Recently, they were captured in photographs on the venue’s sacred ground.

Just like that unforgettable summer’s day back in 1985, the sun blazed over Wembley as Geldof (age 73) and Ure (age 71) reminisced about the charity event they had organized.

Back in 1985 during a particularly memorable summer’s day, the sun shone brightly over Wembley as Geldof and Ure, both now 73 and 71 respectively, looked back fondly on the charity event they had put together.

In 2024, the jukebox musical “Just For One Day: The Live Aid Musical” made its debut at London’s Old Vic. This production recounts the events preceding the two historic concerts, intertwining real-life moments with fictionalized dramatic subplots for a captivating narrative.

After a successful two-month stint at Toronto’s Mirvish Theatre, it will commence performances at London’s Shaftesbury Theatre starting from May 15, running for an additional eight weeks. This coincides with the 40th anniversary of Live Aid.

9 billion individuals worldwide watched as these two concerts collected an astounding £150 million collectively for the purpose of alleviating famine.

OR

These two concerts managed to raise a staggering £150 million for famine relief, with 1.9 billion viewers tuning in from around the globe.

OR

Over 1.9 billion people worldwide witnessed these concerts, and together they generated an astounding £150 million for famine relief efforts.

Approximately seven months after the debut of the Band Aid charity single “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”, Geldof and Ure orchestrated a gathering of some of the most prominent artists from the 1980s for two massive concerts at London’s Wembley Stadium and Philadelphia’s John F. Kennedy Stadium.

David Bowie, Sir Paul McCartney, Status Quo, Sir Elton John, and Queen were among the many acts that performed in London, whereas Black Sabbath, Joan Baez, Run D.M.C., and The Beach Boys joined other celebrities on stage in Philadelphia.

Before the anniversary arrives, BBC Two and BBC iPlayer have disclosed their intentions to air Live Aid at 40, offering an in-depth look at the 1985 concert’s backstage story. This iconic event not only popularized the concept of charity but also reshaped a generation.

Distinctive conversations encompass notable personalities like Bob Geldof, Bono, Sting, as well as former U.S. President George Bush, President Obasanjo of Nigeria, and Birhan Woldu, who gained prominence as a child on the brink of death during the Wembley concert and the famine.

The show intertwines behind-the-scenes tales of two musical groups, one based in the UK and the other in the U.S., along with the political narratives that fueled their rise and propelled them onto global stages.

This collection showcases performances and backstage moments from records and concerts involving Paula Yates, Boy George, Status Quo, and George Michael. Interviews with Nile Rodgers, Lenny Henry, Phil Collins, Lionel Richie, Patti LaBelle, Roger Taylor, and Brian May are interwoven with the recollections of Ethiopian political figures, Dawit Giorgis and Berhane Deressa, who were key to the relief effort.

This revised version attempts to make the language more natural, while still accurately conveying the original meaning.

Emma Hindley, Editor for Commissioning at BBC, stated that the series offers an engaging and enjoyable journey, exploring the past four decades following the broadcast of the largest live concert ever aired on television.

As a devoted admirer, I’m excited to share my insights from intimate, backstage interviews with a variety of iconic rock and pop stars in the retrospective, ‘Live Aid at 40’. This captivating documentary delves into the music, peels back the layers of the politics, and investigates the enduring impact that Live Aid has left behind.

In July, BBC Two will air a complete retrospective of the iconic Live Aid concert titled “Live Aid the Concert”. This 16-hour event features performances by musical legends such as Madonna, Mick Jagger, Patti LaBelle, Phil Collins, Queen, Spandau Ballet, Sade, Sting, Status Quo, Tina Turner, and U2.

Nearly 2 billion individuals tuned into the broadcast across over 100 nations. For the first time since 1985, BBC Two is offering viewers a unique opportunity to re-experience approximately 6.5 hours of extended highlights from both London and Philadelphia concerts, along with behind-the-scenes footage.

This summer, we’re thrilled to offer television viewers an opportunity to re-experience what is considered one of the greatest concerts ever held, first aired on the BBC, for the first time on TV since its initial broadcast. – Jonathan Rothery, Head of BBC Popular Music TV

We’re offering more than six and a half hours of footage from the day Live Aid happened, to help viewers relive 1985 and enjoy the timeless classics that we all continue to cherish, just as they were performed live back then.

In November 2024, the behind-the-scenes documentary titled “The Creation of Do They Know It’s Christmas” can be streamed by audiences on BBC iPlayer alongside their other viewing choices.

On the 40th anniversary, which falls on July 13th this year, BBC Radio 2 is planning to celebrate by airing “Live Aid: The Fans’ Story,” a live broadcast.

In November, Ed Sheeran asserted that he had not been given approval by the organizers of Band Aid 40 to incorporate his voice in their latest rendition of the charity single.

Originally, the musician was part of the 2014 rendition of the song, led by Geldof and Ure, that also included artists like Sting and Harry Styles. The purpose of this collaboration was to generate funds for the fight against the Ebola crisis.

Regarding the 2024 remix of the song to mark its 40th anniversary, Sheeran revealed that he would have declined if asked to contribute his voice to the track.

As a devoted fan, I’m sharing that the artist behind Shape Of You, on his Instagram stories, reposted a statement from Fuse ODG, the Ghanaian-British musician. He’s been vocal about his criticism towards the charity single, stating it “dehumanizes Africans and undermines our dignity and identity, all in the name of ‘charity’.

He didn’t get asked for his approval about the latest Band Aid 40 release, and if he had been given a choice, he would have politely turned down the opportunity to contribute his vocals.

10 years later, my perspective about this story has shifted significantly, as clearly articulated by @fuseodg. This is simply my individual viewpoint, and I’m optimistic that it points toward the future. Sending love to everyone x.

Read More

2025-05-01 16:51

Previous post Sinners: 2025’s Everything Everywhere All At Once?
Next post Taskmaster star did something they “might regret for the rest of my life” on new series starting tonight