THE DAY MUSIC CHANGED THE WORLD

Live Aid

Two stadiums, one global broadcast and a generation of unforgettable performances.

13 JULY 1985WEMBLEYPHILADELPHIA

13 JULY 1985

One extraordinary day

Created by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, Live Aid connected landmark concerts at Wembley Stadium in London and JFK Stadium in Philadelphia through a worldwide television broadcast.

2STADIUMS1GLOBAL EVENT1985THE YEAR

ACROSS THE ATLANTIC

Two stages, one cause

The programme moved between Britain and America, bringing together many of the decade's biggest names.

LONDON, ENGLAND

Wembley Stadium

Status Quo opened the London concert before a remarkable sequence of British and international artists took the stage.

QueenU2David BowieDire Straits

PHILADELPHIA, USA

JFK Stadium

The American concert continued the event with a huge cross-section of pop, rock, soul and new-wave performers.

MadonnaDuran DuranSimple MindsEric Clapton

THE STORY OF THE DAY

Moments remembered

01
Wembley opens
Status Quo began the London show with “Rockin' All Over the World”, setting the tone for the day.
02
A transatlantic concert
Satellite television linked performances from London and Philadelphia into one continuous international event.
03
Defining performances
Queen's commanding Wembley set became one of rock music's most celebrated live performances.
04
A lasting legacy
The event showed how popular music could unite a worldwide audience around a humanitarian cause.