Live Aid is one of the most famous concerts of all time. The event brought the biggest names in music together for a singular cause. It’s one of the few times the music world has banded together at that scale. Few people have anything negative to say about Live Aid, but Keith Richards (ever the outspoken, contradictory voice) had a qualm or two. Learn why Richards had issues with the famous concert, below.
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Keith Richards’ Qualms With the Legendary Live Aid Concert: “Makes Me Uneasy”
Richards’ first qualm with Live Aid was rock music’s place within the lineup. He felt rock was better done subtly than with grand gestures.
“For myself, first off, I don’t think that rock and roll music or popular music’s main strength or main effect is done in that way,” Richards once said. “I don’t think making a few big shows and making a bit of money to send to somebody and preaching to people is the strength of this music. I think the strength of this music is far more indirect, far more subtle.”
Despite his opinion on the matter, many rock legends signed up to play both Live Aid shows, including Queen, David Bowie, Paul McCartney, Dire Straits, Sting, and even Richards himself. Moreover, Queen’s set at this historic event became one of the most famous performances of all time. Though Richards might disagree, rock music found a comfortable home at Live Aid.
[RELATED: Remember When: Keith Richards Shocked the Crowd at the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2024]
Fake Empathy
Another issue Richards had with Live Aid was his fellow musicians’ fake empathy to the cause. He found charity concerts, in general, to not be completely altruistic.
“Some people played the Free Nelson Mandela show and couldn’t even spell his name,” he added. “It was an opportunity for them to get on worldwide satellite TV, and that makes me uneasy.”
Despite Richards’ well-explained reasoning, not all rock fans share his beliefs on this particular matter. Revisit a powerful rock moment, courtesy of Bowie, at Live Aid 1985, below.
(Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images)
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