Music History Today: July 13, 2020

July 13, 1985: The first Live Aid concerts were held at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia and Wembley Stadium in London. 

On July 13, 1985, at Wembley Stadium in London, Prince Charles and Princess Diana officially open Live Aid, a worldwide rock concert organized to raise money for the relief of famine-stricken Africans. 

Desktop Wallpaper

(sign up to follow by email) 

Continued at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia and at other arenas around the world, the 16-hour “superconcert” was globally linked by satellite to more than a billion viewers in 110 nations.

Read more:  History

July 13, 1985: Phil Collins became Live Aid's transcontinental MVP player.

During his Wembley set, the Genesis member performed an especially crowd-pleasing selection of songs, sitting at the piano for the solo hits "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" and "In the Air Tonight," and teaming up with Sting for their No Jacket Required collaboration "Long Long Way to Go." 

Phil Collins
Live Aid - Wembley

For good measure, Collins also contributed backing vocals when Sting performed the Police song "Every Breath You Take." Then Collins headed to a helicopter, which flew him to Heathrow Airport, where he then caught a supersonic Concorde jet to New York City, and then grabbed another helicopter to Philadelphia. 

Read more: Ultimate Classic Rock

July 13, 1985: Eric Clapton and Phil Collins rocked Live Aid with their spirited rendition Of "Layla."

If there was ever any doubt about Eric Clapton’s musical ability and stage presence, this is the performance that will change your mind! 

In 1985, Eric took the stage at Live Aid with Phil Collins for a spirited rendition of Clapton’s ‘Layla’. 

It was already a crowd favorite, but when Eric tore through it onstage that day in front of 72,000 people as effortlessly as breathing, his performance solidified his position as one of the most highly respected musicians and performers in his industry. 

Read more: Society of Rock

July 13, 1985: George Michael helped gift Elton John a Number 1 record (again.)

The syrupy and grand "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me," originally written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin (the man behind many of John's lyrics) and released in 1974, wouldn't be a bona fide success until 17 years later, thanks to George Michael. 

Michael and John first performed the song during 1985's Live Aid concert, converting the piano ballad into a stadium rocker, which then became a staple of Michael's solo live set.  It became a number on hit for the duo on February 4, 1992.

Read more: NPR

July 13, 1985: David Bowie triumphed at Live Aid in 1985.

The Live Aid set was arguably Bowie’s last triumph of the 1980s. His 1987 album Never Let Me Down was shredded by the critics, and the supporting Glass Spider tour was largely panned as well. 

He finished out the decade by putting together the Pixies-inspired group Tin Machine and playing small venues with them around the world. But as approximately two billion people sang along to “Heroes” during his Live Aid set in the summer of ’85, he still seemed like one of the biggest and most vital rock stars in the world.  

Read more:  Rolling Stones

July 13, 1985: Queen at Live Aid was the story of how one band made rock history.

Queen's Live Aid performance in July 1985 may have clocked in at just 17 minutes, but they were 17 minutes which would both make rock history and transform the band for good.

Kicking off with an abridged version of 1975 mega-hit Bohemian Rhapsody, Queen's Live Aid setlist tore through a medley of their best-loved hits: Radio Ga Ga gave way to Hammer To Fall, before Crazy Little Thing Called Love, We Will Rock You and a rousing We Are The Champions closed their set.  

Read more: Louder Sound

Do They Know It's Christmas? 

Band-Aid - (Live Aid 1985)