In 1985, the legendary Live Aid benefit concert kicked off at Wembley Stadium in London, England. The event was organized by Midge Ure and Bob Geldof with the sole purpose of raising money to provide relief to those suffering from the mid-80s famine in Ethiopia. It all started with a charity single titled “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” in 1984. From there, an entire festival-like concert took off the following year, both in London and at John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, simultaneously.
Videos by American Songwriter
The London side of Live Aid was a huge deal in England at the time. The lineup was absolutely insane. The likes of Queen, David Bowie, The Who, Elton John, Paul McCartney, and more all performed. The whole thing was broadcast on multiple radio stations and television programs, including MTV.
Now, it looks like Greatest Hits Radio is seeking to relive that incredible event with an upcoming stream of Live Aid in its entirety.
Greatest Hits Radio To Broadcast the Original Live Aid in July To Celebrate 40th Anniversary
If you’re feeling nostalgic, be sure to tune in on July 13. Greatest Hits Radio is going to partner with the Band Aid Trust to allow listeners to hear the legendary benefit concert in real time, exactly when it occurred 40 years prior. Back then, the original broadcast attracted more than 1.5 billion people globally.
Greatest Hits Radio will air the original live performances from Wembley Stadium in a playback event that will likely attract millions. The Live Aid broadcast will also feature additional treats, such as messages from fans, people involved with the original production, and cast members from the upcoming London stage show Just For One Day. The day will close out with an episode of the documentary series Live Aid: 40 Years On.
“To be able to recreate Live Aid for a radio audience, exactly 40 years on, is a huge privilege,” said Network Content Director Andy Ashton. “We’re proud to celebrate this enduring moment in global music history with our listeners.”
Fans can tune into Greatest Hits Radio on the 13th of July to experience the event in full. And I wouldn’t be surprised if a similar event will happen Stateside to commemorate the Philadelphia Live Aid broadcast as well, though nothing has been announced quite yet. Stay tuned!
Photo by FG/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.