Live Aid at 40

[IntelligentInputDarling]

Love it or loathe it, Live Aid is 40 years old next weekend.

How old were you at the time?
Do we have any MNs who was at Wembley on the day, or even the JFK stadium in Philadelphia?!
What was your favourite act?

@Tangomango1
Have you seen the Live Aid at 40 documentaries, they were on last night.
It showed the Michael Buerk report, so very emotional.
Watching the docs will take you right back to that night.

I had been on a night shift and sat up all day to watch it. Incredible achievement.

@IntelligentInputDarling I have got them taped 😄 to watch this week. Looking forward to going back in time

I remember the day so well. I was 12. Went shopping with my mum in Bracknell town centre,went to the market and bought a Stavros t-shirt (Harry Enfield character that was around,same time as Loadsamoney😆),then went home to watch it on TV.

“taped” 😄 aaah, the nostalgia! Those were the days - and no social media!

I was 23. Watched at a friend’s house. Drank ourselves sober. Great day

I watched the two episodes last night and found that I liked Bob Geldof far more than I thought I would. He came across as pretty self aware, conscious of how the decisions he made would be viewed the today's lense and surprisingly good humoured. He's still clearly so affected by what he saw that I find criticism of him a bit sad really. Yes looking back the lyrics weren't great and they could have approached things differently but everything came from a place of wanting to do as much as possible, as quickly as possible.

I was three but my DH was at Live Aid. Lucky beggar. He was 16, and his friends had got tickets but someone dropped out due to work.
He said it was amazing a great day and a great atmosphere.
I can't believe it was £25 a ticket! Although as he said he was earning £60 a week at the time

I was watching it on TV aged 12 and trying to record it onto cassette tapes. I remember my dad giving my brother £20 to take down to the bank and donate.

I came away with the same feelings @EnglishGirlApproximately .
Of course, at the age of 12, I didn’t think anything of it but just took it for what it was at the time but now I can see what a monumental achievement it was, in the days before internet and social media, where everything is literally accessible through your fingertips.
Even watching them build the staging from scratch had me in awe, none of that would pass the risk assessments that would have to be put in place now.

@LandladyofTheValley I have read that the ticket was £25, but £20 of that going directly to the cause which is incredible.
Your DH was a lucky beggar indeed to have been there!

I guess at 40 I am, in this instance, one of the youngsters!

I was born that year so don’t remember watching, though I know of it! I am aware it was a big charity concert but why does it get so much more recognition than any other multi-act concert?
reading the comments here it sounds like maybe it happened in different countries at the same time?

@CurlsLDNit was also in America at a stadium in Philadelphia with Madonna and all sorts of American acts. Phil Collins performed at London and America as he travelled by Concorde to appear at both.
It was shown worldwide.

I was in the hairdressers having my hair highlighted or permed (can't recall which) in advance of my August wedding and it was on TV. I recall going home and watching the rest with my DM. I thought it was one of the most amazing things I had ever watched. Queen was such a highlight.

I was 6 so too young. But watching it when I was maybe 11, 12, I could see the magnitude of it. Queen were epic. One concert I wish I could have been to.

I think nothing of the scale had been done before, it was organised quite quickly, raised a tonne of money. It was a first of its kind for charitable fundraising I think.

That you could pull together the greats in the music industry to raise so much money was a novel concept.

Watched the whole day at my friends house with her family. She was heavily pregnant and I was 3 months pregnant with my first child. I was 19.

We all really felt like we were watching history in the making. The music was amazing.

40 years seems a lifetime ago... I guess it is Looking forward to watching the program.

I’d recommend going to see ‘Just for one day’ in the West End. It gives you a sense of the magnitude of the event, the speed at which it was all put together , and the political obstacles that was faced. Plus views it from both a modern and eighties perspective.

Today, we’re used to big concerts with lots of stars, regular festivals etc. In those days, music wasn’t so accessible and ubiquitous - you listened to Radio 1, watched TOTP weekly and listened to the chart countdown, and then brought your records from Woolies. Albums weren’t that cheap either.

Also, it opened our eyes to global problems, and we felt we could directly contribute. Until then, politics etc was for adults.

I was there, the ticket was my 18th birthday present. I was standing all day, carrying a bag to take to my friend’s house as I was staying there. That’s my main memory, how annoying the bag was. I remember thinking it was all amazing at the time but remember few specifics, sadly. I’ve seen myself in the videos and I look so overwhelmed and naïve. It would be fabulous to experience it all over again and I’d appreciate it so much more.

Just popping this here:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TkFHYODzRTs&pp=0gcJCfwAo7VqN5tD

I was there.
We paid £25 but, if I remember correctly, most of it went to the charity, it was only 'costs' that were taken out.
It was an incredible day, chaotic, crammed, couldn't see much, but the atmosphere was like nothing else I've ever experienced.
I've never been interested in huge festivals, but this was history.
Biggest memory is the pure electricity of Queen performing. I wasn't a major fan before, but my God, that was amazing 🙂

I think these day's people look back and see the faults, the poor lyrics of 'do they know its Christmas, the chaos.
But it was the first of its kind, and was pure good will.

I was in the back garden of my grandmother's house near Dollis Hill station and could hear some of it.

@ApolloandDaphne
I was in the hairdressers having my hair highlighted or permed (can't recall which)

It was the 80s, it was both of course! 😂

Watched it on TV. One of the moments that really stuck with me was Drive by the Cars with the accompanying video montage from Ethiopia. It had all been fun and joyous and then that was like a bucket of ice over the head. Everytime they cut to the crowd pol were in tears.

@IntelligentInputDarlingi was ten at the time so of course had nothing to compare it to, but it was an incredible achievement. I also was shocked by how young Bob was, he had to learn a lot extremely quickly and I'm now full of admiration for how he handled suddenly being in meetings with politicians and dealing with huge aid budgets.
My main memory of the day is constantly changing the VHS tapes when we recorded it as my brother was there and we were desperate to spot him.