Rock stars reunite for Live Aid's 40th anniversary
Musicians who performed at Live Aid, the transatlantic concert that raised millions for famine relief in Ethiopia, have reunited in London to mark the event's 40th anniversary, attending a special performance of the musical Just For One Day.
Queen guitarist Sir Brian May. Photo: Reuters
Among the stars gathered at Shaftesbury Theatre on Sunday were Live Aid organisers Sir Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, Queen guitarist Sir Brian May, musician Nik Kershaw and actor Vanessa Williams.
On that day in 1985, some of the biggest names in music came together for the televised international charity show, held simultaneously at London's Wembley Stadium and the John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia.
An estimated 1.5 billion people globally watched Live Aid via live satellite broadcasts. The event raised about $US100 million ($NZ167 million) and spawned similar events all over the world for decades afterwards.
Irish rocker and activist Geldof told Reuters that Live Aid was still important because it showed the power of collaborative action.
"And today in the age of the death of kindness, which [US President Donald] Trump, [Vice President J.D.] Vance and [Elon] Musk have ushered in, it probably resonates all the more strongly," Geldof said.
David Bowie performing at the Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium in 1985.
The musicians attended a performance of Just For One Day: The Live Aid Musical, a behind-the-scenes stage musical featuring songs from Sunday's attendees as well as Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Madonna, Sir Elton John and Sir Paul McCartney.
The musical, which had a run at London's Old Vic in 2024, transferred to the Shaftesbury Theatre in London's West End in May.
It is produced with the permission of the Band Aid Charitable Trust, which gets 10% from the sales of all tickets.
Queen's Freddie Mercury and Brian May on stage at Wembley.
"It made me very emotional at the time. Even thinking about it now makes me emotional," May told Reuters, referring to Live Aid in 1985.
Queen's performance that day at Wembley Stadium is widely regarded as a landmark concert in rock music history.
"There has never been a day like that in my life," May said.
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