On this day: Live Aid 1985

"It's twelve noon in London, seven AM in Philadelphia, and around the world it's time for: Live Aid ...."

For millions around the world this was one of the days that created out collective, shared memories. Long before Internet, long before we got all connected electronically with Facebooks and what not, this satellite wonder that was happening simultaneously on two continents was the first time that the world was really united and for the good purpose, to collect the funds for starving millions in Ethiopia. It was easy to be cynical - and many were sceptical, pointing that its just one huge publicity stunt - but nobody could deny that all those music stars did not have to be there, these people actually performed for free, convinced this is a good cause and for once the superficial world of pop stars had outdid politicians and governments in order to actually do something concrete.

We all remember where we were at that particular day, that's how important it became. 

Strangely, it was also both party, celebration of good time and awareness of something very serious. Of course it had started with Bob Geldolf and charity single  "Do They Know It's Christmas?" that forced American pop aristocracy to react with their own answer "We Are the World" but the road to realisation of two-continent concert extravaganza was long, difficult and full of push-and-pull between managers, producers and egos. It seems not everybody was convinced at first, lots of performers were constantly pulling out and at the end when it became clear this is the place to be, eventually everybody wanted to be part of it. Watching this on TV screens was joyous, exhilarating and a bit exhausting, after all it was previously unseen music marathon that went on forever.

For me personally it was important because I was adolescent, around 16 years old at the time and in the right age to have been awed by current pop stars (something that I lost long ago). As it happened, I was in the hospital that summer, recovering from a serious lung troubles and it took me four moths to heal properly. I clearly remember watching this on TV in a hospital living room and when my poor, late mother came to visit me that day I just couldn't wait for her to leave so I can continue watching it. The list of performers was sensational - who's who of everybody who meant something in popular music present and past to that point - though naturally with time many of them fell sideways. 

I clearly remember Status Quo opening with their usual stuff, Geldolf singing his one and only hit "I Don't Like Mondays" that became classic because of this all story, beautiful Sade crooning and showing off some sexy skin, young and upcoming U2 being absolutely overshadowed by gigantic performance of Queen (but so was everybody else), David Bowie, Elton John, Alison Moyet duetting with Paul Young but for some reason I did not catch much of US concert, probably because it interfered with hospital dinner timing.  What I do remember is Jack Nicholson and Bette Midler introducing some artists, young (and overdressed, for once) Madonna dancing up the storm and when the whole US concert went into late hours (for Europe) me and my hospital room buddies were listening transistor in order not to miss anything. And than around 4 a.m. I sneaked back in the hospital's living room and watched in awe as Mick Jagger invited Tina Turner to join him on the stage - they rocked, it was glorious and it is still the video clip that I really enjoy watching from time to time. For many years it was just a memory until I managed to buy 4 disc DVD box set and loved it all over again, though must admit when I showed it to my ship colleagues some of musicians were not so hot anymore and only the biggest stars were remembered. In fact, I probably remember it much better than it was in reality. Now, 30 years on, shows became far bigger and spectacular so from today's perspective "Live Aid" is pretty simple without any stage gimmicks that musicians use today but whoever was around on this day in 1985 will never forget it.

p.s.

Not everybody who was invited had responded: I clearly remember wondering why Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen and Prince didn't come (to name just a few really big stars of the 1980s) but the list is much longer: Culture Club, Eurhytmics, Depeche Mode, Billy Joel, Diana Ross, Cindy Lauper, Paul Simon, Rod Stewart and Donna Summer all gave some weak excuses of being unavailable, on tours, recording albums and such - the bottom line is, if you wanted to join in, all the previous obligations could have been re-arranged as shown in example of Tina Turner who cancelled her bookings and paid on her own expenses just to arrive in Philadelphia when Jagger invited her.