Remember Watching Live Aid 30 Years Ago?

It was July 13, 1985 when a huge music event was broadcast around the world. Performers on stages in London and Philadelphia shared their talents to raise money for African famine relief.  I consider it one of the best days of my life.

As someone who loves music, I was thrilled to be able to see some of my favorite musicians, from morning until night,  all for the price of whatever I called in to donate that day. It was a bargain!  Plus I recorded a lot of it on my VCR so I could relieve my favorite moments after the broadcast was done.

We hear so much about big egos and diva behavior in the music industry.  One of the things I loved about Live Aid was it was an opportunity for artists to work together, to collaborate rather than compete.  Remember some of the great duets that day:  Tina Turner with Mick Jagger?  Sting and Phil Collins?  Elton John with George Michael?

I remember being captivated by The Boomtown Rats performance, impressed with the energy of Bob Geldof, exhausted from working so hard to organize this massive event. The look of pride and joy on his face was just beautiful and well-deserved.

His partner in Band Aid/Live Aid efforts, Midge Ure who was the lead singer of Ultravox, was another one who did a moving and memorable set.  The image of his smile and the reflection of the huge London crowd in his mirrored sunglasses is ingrained in my brain forever.  What a moment.  What an event.

Do you have a favorite memory from Live Aid?  Please share in the Comments Section below.