Latest news with #Geldof
Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
‘They are c***s' - Bob Geldof hits out against Elon Musk and cuts to US aid at St Anne's Park gig
Geldof said the Trump administration 'declared a war on the weakest, poorest, most vulnerable people on our planet. They are c***s'. He was speaking at the Rewind Festival at St Anne's Park with The Boomtown Rats. During the gig, Geldof invited onstage his long-time friend, Midge Ure, co-writer of the Band Aid hit, Do They Know It's Christmas? Geldof and Ure organised Live Aid in 1984 to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia and raised hundreds of millions of dollars. "We only wrote one song together, but it turned out to be the biggest selling record in British history,' Geldof told the crowd. Geldof then hit out against Elon Musk, who left the Trump administration and his role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) this week, a brand new agency that was tasked with overhauling US government spending. 'A couple of Irish singers have been going around the world this week, Bruce in London, Bono in LA and us here, and all of us have said the same thing, that the strongest nation in the world, the most powerful man on the planet, and the richest ever human being in the history of the world, on the first of February 2025 declared a war on the weakest, poorest, most vulnerable people on our planet. They are c***s. "When that f******g hedge-trimming, catatonic f*****g ketamine fuelled Musk decided that he would cut US aid, food, medicine, since that moment he was wielding his hedge-trimmer 300,000 of the poorest people in the world have died because of that f**k.' President Donald Trump ordered a spending freeze on the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in January, and has been operating at sharply reduced capacity since. It was reported that food rations that could supply 3.5 million people for a month are mouldering in warehouses around the world because of the US aid cuts and risk becoming unusable. Food rations that could supply 3.5 million people for a month are mouldering in warehouses around the world because of U.S. aid cuts and risk becoming unusable, according to five people familiar with the situation. The food stocks have been stuck inside four U.S. government warehouses since the Trump administration's decision in January to cut global aid programmes, according to three people who previously worked at the U.S. Agency for International Development and two sources from other aid organisations. ADVERTISEMENT Some stocks that are due to expire as early as July are likely to be destroyed, either by incineration, using them as animal feed or disposing of them in other ways, two of the sources said. The warehouses, which are run by USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), contain between 60,000 to 66,000 metric tonnes of food, sourced from American farmers and manufacturers, the five people said. An undated inventory list for the warehouses - which are located in Djibouti, South Africa, Dubai and Houston - stated that they contained more than 66,000 tonnes of commodities, including high-energy biscuits, vegetable oil and fortified grains. Meanwhile, two weeks ago singer Bruce Springsteen told the crowd at his Manchester gig that Trump was running a 'corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration.' Trump responded by calling the Boss a 'dried-out prune of a rocker'. Also speaking this month, U2 frontman Bono, who has long campaigned for debt relief, aid and better trade for Africa, said Trump and Musk, the world's richest man, are squandering the potential of millions of people by making huge cuts to US foreign aid spending, "with glee it would appear". It was unwise policy as well as "the definition of the absence of love," he said.
Daily Mail
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
80s pop icon looks unrecognisable as he's pictured at Wembley stadium - but can you guess who it is?
An 80s pop icon looked unrecognisable as he headed back to Wembley Stadium for Live Aid: The Musical's cast recording on Thursday, 40 years after the iconic concert. The musician was a key organiser of the original two-venue benefit, held on July 13 1985, which intended to raise relief funds for the Ethiopian famine that claimed approximately 300,000 to 1.2 million lives. Almost 40 years after 72,000 fans converged on the venue for an epic string of performances from some of the biggest stars of the decade, this singer posed for photos on its hallowed turf. Hailing from the outskirts of Greater Glasgow, the musician journeyed around several groups in the 70s and early 80s but found real success as the second lead singer of a revived band in 1979. They had a major hit with Vienna in 1981, which went on to become the fifth highest selling single in the UK that year. He juggled his key roles in three big bands, before co-writing and producing Do They Know It's Christmas for Band Aid in 1984 and bagging a solo number one single with If I Was a year later. Can you guess who the new wave icon is? It is none other than Ultravox, Thin Lizzy and Visage star Midge Ure. Echoing that legendary summer's day in 1985, the sun beat down on Wembley as he and fellow Live Aid organiser Bob Geldof recalled fond memories of the fundraising event. Launched at London's Old Vic in 2024, jukebox musical Just For One Day: The Live Aid Musical details the events leading up to the two concerts, while featuring a series of fictionalised dramatic sub-plots. Following a recent two month run at Toronto's Mirvish Theatre, it will open at London's Shaftesbury Theatre from May 15 for a further eight weeks, in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of Live Aid. Watched by an estimated 1.9billion people across the world, the two concerts raised an astonishing £150m in total for famine relief. Just seven-months after the release of Band Aid charity single Do They Know It's Christmas?, Geldof and Ure brought together some of the biggest artists of the 1980s for two huge concerts at Wembley Stadium and Philadelphia's John F. Kennedy Stadium. David Bowie, Sir Paul McCartney, Status Quo, Sir Elton John and Queen led a lengthy roster of performers in London, while Black Sabbath, Joan Baez, Run D.M.C and The Beach Boys joined a host of stars in Philadelphia. Ahead of the anniversary, BBC Two and BBC iPlayer have announced plans to broadcast Live Aid at 40, revealing the behind-the-scenes story of the 1985 concert that brought the idea of charity to a new generation. Geldof (pictured, left) wore a Breton shirt and jeans for his visit to the stadium, while Ure (right) sported a thick roll-neck sweater, despite the weather pushing thirty degrees The event proved the pinnacle of Midge's lofty career, which kicked off with a 1976 number one single, Forever And Ever, while playing in the band Slik. He then had a brief stint in new wave group Rich Kids before forming Visage in 1978 with Rusty Egan and lead vocalist Steve Strange. The band enjoyed a string of hits, including Fade To Grey, and successful albums Visage and The Anvil before tensions caused them to go their separate ways. He then joined Thin Lizzy in 1979 before regrouping Ultravox later that year as its singer, songwriter and guitarist. As Vienna topped the charts in 1981, Midge was also juggling his roles in Visage and Thin Lizzy. They went on to land four top 10 albums and a top three single in Dancing With Tears In My Eyes, before their greatest hits record was released and certified triple platinum. Once he focussed on his solo career, Midge had a number one single with If I Was in 1985 and a number two album in the same year with The Gift. After overseeing Live 8 in 2005, Midge was awarded an OBE. He married his first wife, TV presenter Annabel Giles, in 1985 and they had one daughter Molly Lorenne before divorcing in 1989. In 2003, he tied the knot with his second wife, actress Sheridan Forbes. The duo live in Bath and have three daughters. Last year, Midge paid tribute to his friend and Ultravox bandmate Chris Cross: 'We worked together, we played together, made music and directed videos together. 'We were instant friends as well as Ultravox comrades. Even after years apart we managed to pick up where we left off like the years in between never existed. You were the glue that held the band together. 'You were the logic in the madness and the madness in our lives. It was great to know and grow with you. You are loved and missed old friend.'
The Journal
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Journal
Bono and Bob Geldof to feature in BBC documentary marking 40 years since Live Aid
BONO AND BOB Geldof are among the musicians and politicians who will feature in a new documentary to mark the 40 th anniversary of Live Aid. It's a co-production between the BBC and CNN Originals and the producers say it will delve into the 'complex, sometimes controversial, stories' behind the historic event, as well as its legacy, in UK, US, Ethiopia and Africa as a whole. Live Aid took place on Saturday 13 July, 1985 and the documentary will be released in July to coincide with the 40 th anniversary. Live Aid was held in both London's Wembley Stadium and the now defunct John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia and was organised by Geldof and music producer Midge Ure. Around 1.9 billion people across 150 nations watched the live broadcast, close to 40% of the global population at the time. It was conceived as a follow-on to the successful 1984 Christmas charity single Do they Know It's Christmas, and both were inspired by BBC footage of the 1983-85 famine in Ethiopia. BBC News / YouTube As well as featuring exclusive interviews with Bono and Geldof, the documentary also features interviews with Sting and former US president George Bush. It will also use archival footage of both the performances and back stage access, featuring the likes of Boy George, Status Quo and George Michael. It will also feature archival interviews with Nile Rodgers, Phil Collins, Lionel Richie, Roger Taylor and Brian May. Advertisement The producers say the series offers a 'gripping account of Live Aid's impact on music, politics and global awareness over the twenty years between Live Aid in 1985 and Live 8 in 2005'. Meanwhile, Geldof has said that another Live Aid-style event is 'unlikely' due to social media. Bob Geldof performs during Live Aid at Wembley Stadium n 13 July,1985 Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo He was speaking to reporters today at London's Wembley Stadium at the launch of Just For One Day, a musical on the story of Live Aid. 'Unfortunately, social media seems to be a sort of isolating type of medium,' said Geldof. He added: 'But the problem is, do people have the bandwidth? They're so exhausted with the horror of Gaza and the terror of Ukraine, and the American political situation that it's hard to draw attention to those who through no fault of their own are dying right now.' Just For One Day ran at the Old Vic last year and will return at London's Shaftesbury Theatre on 15 May, with 10% of all proceeds being donated to the Band Aid Charitable Trust. Meanwhile, in addition to the documentary coming in July, the BBC will also be releasing over six hours of music performed at Live Aid, including David Bowie, Madonna, Mick Jagger, Patti LaBelle, Phil Collins, Queen, Spandau Ballet, Sting, Tina Turner and U2. This will also include backstage footage of Bono, David Bowie, Elvis Costello, Spandau Ballet, Sting, as well as a transatlantic interview with Phil Collins on Concorde. Jonathan Rothery, Head of BBC Popular Music TV said he's 'delighted to be giving viewers a chance to relive one of the biggest concerts in history for the first time on TV since it was originally broadcast on the BBC'. 'By providing over 6.5 hours of footage that was captured on the day Live Aid took place, we want viewers to feel transported back to 1985, and to enjoy all those classic songs that we all still know and love to this day, as they were performed on that stage.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Perth Now
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Another Live Aid unlikely due to social media: Geldof
Bob Geldof says another Live Aid-style event is "unlikely" because of social media. The 73-year-old singer, who organised the original 1985 event alongside singer Midge Ure, told PA news agency he doubted a similar event could take place in the 2020s, "even though your brain is filled with the horror of Gaza or the horror of Ukraine". The Boomtown Rats frontman said: "I think it's very much of its time, we didn't even expect this to be a thing. "From my point of view, rock and roll turned out to be almost a 50-year pop, which ended, conveniently for us, with the summing up at Live Aid, then that was subsumed by social media, so whatever's going to happen now will happen through social media. "Unfortunately, social media seems to be a sort of isolating type medium. "So could the same thing happen again? Unlikely, in my view unfortunately, when it was mono-media, when you had just essentially two stations in the UK, everyone saw the same thing, which we didn't realise, we saw the newscast, we wrote a song, we thought we'd raise like STG100,000. "Suddenly it becomes the focus of all that rage and disgust and shame, and that has lasted for 40 years, much to our dismay." Geldof was speaking at a Wembley Stadium launch event for Just For One Day, a musical, which tells the story of the Live Aid concerts in the national football stadium in London and Philadelphia in the US, on July 13 1985, which were organised by Geldof and Ure to raise money for the Ethiopian famine. Speaking about the musical, Geldof told PA: "It's amazing that both of us are alive, frankly. But we set out as quickly as we could, I called him (Ure), he was on a rock show, and he said, 'yeah, let's do something'. "We literally cobbled this song together as quickly as we could, and 40 years later, there's musicals, there's celebrations, there's documentaries all geared towards something that happened here 40 years ago. "So it's really odd for us, is it gratifying? No, because can you believe there are starving people in the 21st century, it was unnecessary then, it's totally unnecessary now." Just For One Day will return to London's Shaftesbury Theatre on May 15, with 10 per cet of all proceeds being donated to the Band Aid Charitable Trust.
Daily Mail
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Bob Geldof and Midge Ure reunite at Wembley Stadium for Live Aid: The Musical casting call as they prepare to celebrate 40 years since iconic concerts raised £150 million for famine relief
Bob Geldof and Midge Ure were back on familiar ground as they reunited to celebrate the forthcoming 40th anniversary of Live Aid. The original two-venue benefit, held on July 13 1985, was organised by Geldof and Ure to raise relief funds for the two year Ethiopian famine that claimed approximately 300,000 to 1.2 million lives. And they were back at Wembley Stadium on Thursday to announce Just for One Day: The Live Aid Musical Original Cast Recording. Almost forty years after 72,000 fans converged on the venue for an epic string of performances from some of the biggest stars of the 1980s, the pair posed for photos on its hallowed turf. Echoing that legendary summer's day in 1985, the sun beat down on Wembley as Geldof, 73, and Ure, 71, recalled fond memories of the fund-raising event. Launched at London's Old Vic in 2024, jukebox musical Just For One Day: The Live Aid Musical details the events leading up to the two concerts, while featuring a series of fictionalised dramatic sub-plots. Following a recent two month run at Toronto's Mirvish Theatre, it will open at London's Shaftesbury Theatre from May 15 for a further eight weeks, in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of Live Aid. Watched by an estimated 1.9billion people across the world, the two concerts raised an astonishing £150 million in total for famine relief. Just seven-months after the release of Band Aid charity single Feed The World (Do They Know It's Christmas?), Geldof and Ure brought together some of the biggest artists of the 1980s for two huge concerts at Wembley Stadium and Philadelphia's John F. Kennedy Stadium. David Bowie, Sir Paul McCartney, Status Quo, Sir Elton John and Queen led a lengthy roster of performers in London, while Black Sabbath, Joan Baez, Run D.M.C and The Beach Boys joined a host of stars in Philadelphia. Ahead of the anniversary, BBC Two and BBC iPlayer have announced plans to broadcast Live Aid at 40, revealing the behind-the-scenes story of the 1985 concert that brought the idea of charity to a new generation. Exclusive interviews include iconic figures such as Bob Geldof, Bono and Sting - along with US President George Bush, President Obasanjo of Nigeria and Birhan Woldu, the woman who as a dying child, became the abiding image of the Wembley concert and the famine. The series weaves the back room stories of two gangs of musicians, from the UK and the US with the political stories that both inspired them and brought them to a worldwide audience. Archive of the performances and back stage of the record and the concert feature Paula Yates, Boy George, Status Quo and George Michael whilst interviews with Nile Rodgers, Lenny Henry, Phil Collins, Lionel Richie, Patti LaBelle, Roger Taylor and Brian May are set against the memories of the Ethiopian politicians at the heart of the relief effort, Dawit Giorgis and Berhane Deressa. Emma Hindley, BBC Commissioning Editor, said: 'The series takes the audience on an irresistible and entertaining ride through the 40 years since the biggest live concert ever was shown on TV. 'Featuring exclusive behind the scenes interviews with an array of stars of rock & pop, Live Aid at 40 revels in the music, unravels the politics and explores the legacy of Live Aid.' Also coming to BBC Two in July is Live Aid the Concert, a look back at the 16-hour concert in full, with performances from the likes of Madonna, Mick Jagger, Patti LaBelle, Phil Collins, Queen, Spandau Ballet, Sade, Sting, Status Quo, Tina Turner and U2. Approximately two billion people watched the broadcast in more than 100 countries. Now, for the first time since 1985, BBC Two gives viewers a chance to relive over 6.5 hours of extended highlights of the London and Philadelphia concerts, in addition to backstage footage. Jonathan Rothery, Head of BBC Popular Music TV said: 'This summer we're delighted to be giving viewers a chance to relive one of the biggest concerts in history for the first time on TV since it was originally broadcast on the BBC. 'By providing over 6.5 hours of footage that was captured on the day Live Aid took place, we want viewers to feel transported back to 1985, and to enjoy all those classic songs that we all still know and love to this day, as they were performed on that stage.' The Making of Do They Know It's Christmas, which was broadcast on BBC Four in November 2024, is also available for viewers to enjoy on BBC iPlayer. BBC Radio 2 will be marking the anniversary on Sunday 13th July, exactly 40 years since the concert, as the station broadcasts Live Aid – The Fans Story. Last November, Ed Sheeran claimed he wasn't asked permission from Band Aid 40 organisers to use his vocals on the a new version of their charity single. The musician originally featured on the 2014 version of the track - spearheaded by Geldof and Ure - alongside the likes of Sting and Harry Styles which aimed to raise money for the Ebola relief efforts. However, the regarding 2024 Ultimate Mix of the song to celebrate its 40th anniversary, Sheeran has told how he would have denied permission to add his voice to the song had he'd been asked. Taking to his Instagram stories, the Shape Of You hitmaker re-shared a message from Ghanaian-British musician Fuse ODG, who has been vocal in his criticism of the charity single claiming it 'dehumanises Africans and destroys our pride and identity in the name of 'charity'.' He wrote: 'My approval wasn't sought on this new Band Aid 40 release and had I had the choice I would have respectfully declined the use of my vocals. 'A decade on and my understanding of the narrative associated with this has changed, eloquently explained by @fuseodg. This is just my personal stance, I'm hoping it's a forward-looking one. Love to all x.'
