30 Years ago today, July 13, 1985, a little concert event known as Live Aid played to the whole world.

 

Venue's were JFK Stadium in Philadelphia and Wembley Stadium in London. Both shows sold out and played roughly simultaneously much of the day (time difference excluded). The event was organized by Bob Geldof to raise money for the African famine and inspired by Band Aid and USA for Africa musical collaborations for the same cause. A few tidbits of the concert as I remember them:

 

Best estimate is 1.5 billion (with a B) people tuned in to the event, which was broadcast in 150 countries.

 

Phil Collins played in both venues, which set some sort of record for playing so far apart on the same day. He took a Concord from A to B.

 

Queen went from being a huge rock band to being legendary based on their show to close Wembley.

 

Everyone who was anyone at the time ended up performing. Pick an artist, if they were around in 1985 and didn't play there, it was their own fault.

 

I can't remember how many millions this raised but my guess is you can count it in 10's.

 

Personal notes: As a teen at the time, I was both disinterested and distracted by other things leading up to this concert. I had no idea it was anything at all. I was a smart kid.

 

I was on a long car ride the day of the event and kept listening to Westwood 1's coverage all day. Seemed like a lot of hyperbole to me by the announcer's but they kept talking about how big this was. I guess they were right.

 

There are some decent docs on the making of the concert. Some decent stuff from performances on Utube as well.

 

Read a bit about the event today if you get a chance, or share what your thoughts.

 

Final thought: for my money, best live music event ever. Could it be topped today?

I was in the hospital that day with a torn ACL and bruised kidney that happened at a softball game. They Woke me up just in time to see the Boomtown Rats perform one of my favorite songs 'I don't like Mondays'. I watched the entire concert. Great event. I had a couple of buddies that went to the event. They said the coolest thing they saw was when the 70,000 people performed 'air drums' at the same time when Collins performed ' in the air tonight'.

And no, this could not be redone at this moment. That was a once in a lifetime at a time when we had true musical stars.

I was in the hospital that day with a torn ACL and bruised kidney that happened at a softball game. They Woke me up just in time to see the Boomtown Rats perform one of my favorite songs 'I don't like Mondays'. I watched the entire concert. Great event. I had a couple of buddies that went to the event. They said the coolest thing they saw was when the 70,000 people performed 'air drums' at the same time when Collins performed ' in the air tonight'.

And no, this could not be redone at this moment. That was a once in a lifetime at a time when we had true musical stars.

 

BINGO, today there are a bunch of musical performers, not true musicians.

30 Years ago today, July 13, 1985, a little concert event known as Live Aid played to the whole world.

 

Venue's were JFK Stadium in Philadelphia and Wembley Stadium in London. Both shows sold out and played roughly simultaneously much of the day (time difference excluded). The event was organized by Bob Geldof to raise money for the African famine and inspired by Band Aid and USA for Africa musical collaborations for the same cause. A few tidbits of the concert as I remember them:

 

Best estimate is 1.5 billion (with a B) people tuned in to the event, which was broadcast in 150 countries.

 

Phil Collins played in both venues, which set some sort of record for playing so far apart on the same day. He took a Concord from A to B.

 

Queen went from being a huge rock band to being legendary based on their show to close Wembley.

 

Everyone who was anyone at the time ended up performing. Pick an artist, if they were around in 1985 and didn't play there, it was their own fault.

 

I can't remember how many millions this raised but my guess is you can count it in 10's.

 

Personal notes: As a teen at the time, I was both disinterested and distracted by other things leading up to this concert. I had no idea it was anything at all. I was a smart kid.

 

I was on a long car ride the day of the event and kept listening to Westwood 1's coverage all day. Seemed like a lot of hyperbole to me by the announcer's but they kept talking about how big this was. I guess they were right.

 

There are some decent docs on the making of the concert. Some decent stuff from performances on Utube as well.

 

Read a bit about the event today if you get a chance, or share what your thoughts.

 

Final thought: for my money, best live music event ever. Could it be topped today?

 

I watched most of this with a girlfriend.

30 Years ago today, July 13, 1985, a little concert event known as Live Aid played to the whole world.

 

Venue's were JFK Stadium in Philadelphia and Wembley Stadium in London. Both shows sold out and played roughly simultaneously much of the day (time difference excluded). The event was organized by Bob Geldof to raise money for the African famine and inspired by Band Aid and USA for Africa musical collaborations for the same cause. A few tidbits of the concert as I remember them:

 

Best estimate is 1.5 billion (with a B) people tuned in to the event, which was broadcast in 150 countries.

 

Phil Collins played in both venues, which set some sort of record for playing so far apart on the same day. He took a Concord from A to B.

 

Queen went from being a huge rock band to being legendary based on their show to close Wembley.

 

Everyone who was anyone at the time ended up performing. Pick an artist, if they were around in 1985 and didn't play there, it was their own fault.

 

I can't remember how many millions this raised but my guess is you can count it in 10's.

 

Personal notes: As a teen at the time, I was both disinterested and distracted by other things leading up to this concert. I had no idea it was anything at all. I was a smart kid.

 

I was on a long car ride the day of the event and kept listening to Westwood 1's coverage all day. Seemed like a lot of hyperbole to me by the announcer's but they kept talking about how big this was. I guess they were right.

 

There are some decent docs on the making of the concert. Some decent stuff from performances on Utube as well.

 

Read a bit about the event today if you get a chance, or share what your thoughts.

 

Final thought: for my money, best live music event ever. Could it be topped today?

 

I watched most of this with a girlfriend.

30 Years ago today, July 13, 1985, a little concert event known as Live Aid played to the whole world.

 

Venue's were JFK Stadium in Philadelphia and Wembley Stadium in London. Both shows sold out and played roughly simultaneously much of the day (time difference excluded). The event was organized by Bob Geldof to raise money for the African famine and inspired by Band Aid and USA for Africa musical collaborations for the same cause. A few tidbits of the concert as I remember them:

 

Best estimate is 1.5 billion (with a B) people tuned in to the event, which was broadcast in 150 countries.

 

Phil Collins played in both venues, which set some sort of record for playing so far apart on the same day. He took a Concord from A to B.

 

Queen went from being a huge rock band to being legendary based on their show to close Wembley.

 

Everyone who was anyone at the time ended up performing. Pick an artist, if they were around in 1985 and didn't play there, it was their own fault.

 

I can't remember how many millions this raised but my guess is you can count it in 10's.

 

Personal notes: As a teen at the time, I was both disinterested and distracted by other things leading up to this concert. I had no idea it was anything at all. I was a smart kid.

 

I was on a long car ride the day of the event and kept listening to Westwood 1's coverage all day. Seemed like a lot of hyperbole to me by the announcer's but they kept talking about how big this was. I guess they were right.

 

There are some decent docs on the making of the concert. Some decent stuff from performances on Utube as well.

 

Read a bit about the event today if you get a chance, or share what your thoughts.

 

Final thought: for my money, best live music event ever. Could it be topped today?

 

Live Aid eventually raised $127 million (283 million in today's dollars).

Also on this date in 2010, Legendary New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner dies

Also on this date in 2010, Legendary New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner dies

 

Weird Steinbrenner connection: I once ran across some tax documents for one of his shipping companies in Cleveland when I did seasonal work with the IRS at their facility on 25 in Boone Co.