Live Aid to Be Re-Broadcast for 40th Anniversary on U.K. Radio
One of the most iconic concerts in music history is getting a second airing.
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Live Aid, Greatest Hits Radio will re-broadcast the legendary 1985 benefit concert in a 10-hour special airing July 13, 2025. Hosted by British radio veteran Simon Mayo, the special, titled Live Aid Relived, will feature original performances by Queen, David Bowie, Paul McCartney, The Who, and more.
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The broadcast will run from noon local time, and include commentary from Live Aid performers like Spandau Ballet's Martin Kemp and cast members from the upcoming Live Aid musical Just For One Day.
The special will close with the final episode of Live Aid: 40 Years On, a documentary series featuring interviews with Bob Geldof, Midge Ure, Queen's Roger Taylor and Brian May, and promoter Harvey Goldsmith.
'I was there as a paying customer 40 years ago and I can't wait to relive that extraordinary day,' Mayo said in a statement. 'Apart from finding a place to park in Wembley, of course.'
Queen's iconic 21-minute set, widely regarded as one of the greatest live performances of all time, will air in full, alongside Bowie's emotional 'Heroes' dedication to children around the world.
Originally broadcast to 1.9 billion people across 150 countries, Live Aid was a global benefit event staged at London's Wembley Stadium and Philadelphia's JFK Stadium to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia. The concert raised over £114 million but has also since faced criticism regarding perceptions of African nations and aid distribution.
Bob Geldof, co-founder of the Band Aid Charitable Trust and the man behind the original concert, said the re-broadcast serves as a reminder of music's enduring power.
'Thank you Greatest Hits Radio for hopefully letting people know that they are not powerless in the face of human monstrosity,' Geldof said. 'What better time than now to know and understand the power of music and what it can achieve.'
Live Aid Relived airs July 13 via Greatest Hits Radio.
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