Live Aid's forgotten stars from Noel Edmonds to Jack Nicholson

Yahoo

2 days ago

Live Aid is celebrating its 40th anniversary. On Saturday, 13 July 1985 Sir Bob Geldof and Midge Ure organised a charity concert with the aim of helping to end famine around the world. Some of the world's most famous musicians signed up to perform at Wembley Stadium in London - from Beatle Paul McCartney and David Bowie, to George Michael and Sir Elton John.
Anyone who was lucky enough to be there will remember it as an electrifying moment in pop history, and just hearing the phrase Live Aid summons iconic images of Freddie Mercury entertaining the crowd with his extravagant dance moves, and The Who bringing down the house with their timeless hit My Generation.
And for those not lucky enough to be in the audience, Live Aid was broadcast live on the BBC, with viewers encouraged to call in and donate money toward the fight against global poverty.
The BBC has made a new documentary, Live Aid: When Rock 'n' Roll Took On the World, looking back at the celebrated musical event, 40 years on.
Give us your f***ing money!Bob Geldof
Like many, you probably can recall Mercury's dance moves, Bowie's stylish grey suit, Elton John and Kiki Dee's duet and Geldof famously shouting to the crowds "Give us your f***ing money!" But there were some famous faces at Live Aid who may have slipped your mind. So let us jog your memory.
These days, former Deal Or No Deal host Noel Edmonds is busy making a new life for himself in New Zealand. But back on the day of Live Aid 1985, the Top Of The Pops and Noel's House Party presenter appeared on stage to introduce rock stars Sting and Phil Collins duetting together. Sting performed his hits Roxanne and Message In A Bottle, while Collins Against All Odds and In The Air Tonight. Then the pair dueted for two songs, finishing with Every Breath You Take.
Princess Diana was a big fan of Wham! and later went on to become friends with George Michael as well as Live Aid performer Elton John.
The Princess of Wales and King Charles were both invited to represent the Royal Family at the special British event. They were sitting in the VIP box in front of David Bowie, Roger Taylor and Brian May.
Paula Yates, Bob Geldof's wife, once revealed she stopped at a petrol station on the way to Wembley to buy flowers to present to the princess.
Movie star Jack Nicholson made a surprise appearance at Live Aid. The star of The Shining and One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest was at the US Live Aid concert, which took place on the same day in Philadelphia. Nicholson appeared by video link at the Wembley concert to introduce U2 and The Who to the stage.
Comedian Billy Connolly was among the original Live Aid line-up. The Scottish comedian entertained the crowd before introducing Elton John's set.
Elton John wowed the crowds with hits I'm Still Standing, Bennie and the Jets and Rocket Man, before he was accompanied by Kiki Dee for their duet Don't Go Break My Heart. He was then joined on stage by Wham!'s George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley to sing Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me.
There weren't many female performers at Live Aid, but Alison Moyet was one of them. The singer lent her incredible voice to The Beatles' hit Let It Be, along with The Who's Pete Townshend, David Bowie, Bob Geldof and Paul McCartney. A real goosebumps moment.
The historic concert kicked off at midday, with the British Army's official band, The Coldstream Guards, playing a Royal Salute to mark the arrival of the Prince and Princess of Wales to their seats in Wembley Stadium. This was followed by the National Anthem.
After the military band had officially opened the show, the first act was Status Quo, famously kicking things off with their own anthem Rockin' All Over The World.
Comedy duo Mel Smith and Gryff Rhys Jones, known collectively as Smith and Jones, also helped to introduce Queen. The pair appeared dressed in police uniforms and told the crowd, "We have had a bit of a complaint about the noise... from a woman in Belgium."
They went on: "We would like you to bear in mind there are a lot of people in the area, perhaps older people, who aren't quite up to date with modern music. Perhaps Status Quo, for example."
We have had a bit of a complaint about the noise... from a woman in BelgiumSmith and Jones
The late actor John Hurt — known across generations as the star of The Elephant Man and the Alien films, as well as Mr Ollivander the wand maker in the Harry Potter films — lent his dulcet tones to Live Aid.
Hurt did not sing, but introduced Freddie Mercury and Brian May, doing an encore.
Influential soul band Sade performed three tracks at Live Aid, coming on ninth in the billing just before Sting and Phil Collins. Following Live Aid, their career really started to take off, with the release of hit single Smooth Operator, and they won Album of the Year at the Brit Awards for their debut album Diamond Life. Sade has gone on the have a long and successful career, and last year was nominated to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Prog rock stars Pink Floyd did not appear at Live Aid, Roger Waters had recently left the band, and things were a bit muddy between them. But David Gilmour did perform on stage at the event, playing the guitar for Roxy Music's Bryan Ferry. They performed Slave To Love and John Lennon's Jealous Guy.
Pink Floyd eventually reunited for Live 8, a series of benefit concerts in 2005 on the 20th anniversary of Live Aid.
Teen pop idol Paul Young had the girls all swooning and screaming when he appeared at Live Aid. He was joined by Alison Moyet for a cover of That's The Way Love Is and closed with his hit single Every Time You Go Away.
Rockers Dire Straits were on the line-up, performing their debut hit Sultans of Swing and dueting with Sting on Money For Nothing.
After The Jam disbanded and before he became The Modfather, Paul Weller was frontman of The Style Council.
And it was as The Style Council that Weller appeared on the billing at Live Aid, with bandmate Mick Talbot. They performed their crowd-pleaser You're The Best Thing.
Prince Charming, Adam Ant himself, appeared on stage at the Wembley live show for just one track - Vive Le Rock.
Read more: Live Aid 40th anniversary
Bob Geldof looks back at Live Aid in new trailer for 40th anniversary documentary (Music Radar, 1 min read)
Live Aid 40th Anniversary Celebration To Include Musical Cast Album, Behind-the-Scenes BBC Doc and Highlight Broadcast (Billboard, 2 min read)
On 40th Anniversary Of Live Aid, Bob Geldof Denounces 'Thuggery' Of Trump, Vance, Musk As He Questions Why Charity Has Become 'Almost An Embarrassment' (Deadline, 2 min read)
Pop heartthrobs Spandau Ballet were another favourite of Princess Diana's. Brother Gary and Martin Kemp, and their bandmate Tony Hadley treated the crowd to three songs, finishing with their romantic ballad True.
Crooner and acclaimed lyricist Elvis Costello also made a brief appearance and sang The Beatles All You Need Is Love.
Everyone remembers Bob Geldof at Live Aid because of his infamous profanities as he shouted for the crowd to donate money to the fundraiser. Geldof came up with the idea for the Band Aid charity Christmas single Do They Know It's Christmas and the subsequent Live Aid concert with his friend Midge Ure.
After Geldof's band, Boomtown Rats, sang I Don't Like Mondays, Ure's band, Ultravox, also got a chance to shine, performing four singles, including Vienna.
Live Aid: When Rock 'n' Roll Took On the World airs on BBC Two at 9pm on Sunday, 6 July and will be available to stream on BBC iPlayer.