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The Star
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Judas Priest, Rick Springfield, John Oates and Bob Geldof reflect on 40 years of Live Aid
NEW YORK: Forty years ago, the legendary Live Aid concerts aimed to do a lot of good - helping to raise over US$100mil for famine relief in Ethiopia and inspiring worldwide awareness for a cause it might otherwise have ignored. Simulcast from Philadelphia and London on July 13, 1985, Live Aid was the most ambitious global television event of its time: 16 hours of live music in two different continents featuring Queen, The Who, a Led Zeppelin reunion and more. A lot has changed in the years since. "Live Aid, '85 to now, is the same distance as the Second World War from Live Aid," notes Rick Springfield, laughingly. "That's how long ago it was.' Artists who performed at Live Aid - Springfield, organizer Bob Geldof, Hall and Oates' John Oates and Judas Priest's Rob Halford - reflected on the event and its impact in interviews with The Associated Press ahead of the 40th anniversary on Sunday (July 13). Here's what they had to say: At John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, Springfield performed between Run-DMC and REO Speedwagon - just a taste of the diversity of performers featured on the transnational lineup. "Run-DMC, I remember thinking, 'What is this? Three guys talking over a record player. What is that? Little did I know that it was about to change the whole game," he says, laughing. He remembers playing an electric set - no "Jessie's Girl,' because "back then, it was just my first hit.... It hadn't gone on to become this cultural thing." Hall and Oates' John Oates had a different experience. His band also played in Philly - their hometown - and in 1985, his band was one of the biggest on the planet. They played near the end of the night, joined by the Temptations' Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin and remained on stage to back the Rolling Stones' dynamic frontman Mick Jagger. The British rockstar had a trick up his sleeve. "He didn't tell us that he was bringing Tina Turner out," Oates says. "We had rehearsed a certain amount of songs with him. But then when he brought her out, it just jacked up the level of energy like you can't believe." Judas Priest singer Rob Halford counts "Mike and Tina, of course,' as one of his Philly Live Aid highlights. "Led Zeppelin, too." But most exciting of all for the heavy metal frontman? Meeting folk hero Joan Baez. The band had previously covered her classic "Diamonds and Rust." "I thought, 'Oh my God, she's gonna come and kick me in the ass for wrecking her beautiful song,'" he recalls. "She gives me a quick hug and goes, 'The reason I'm here is because my son said to me, if you see Rob Halford from Judas Priest at the Live Aid Show in Philadelphia, will you tell him from me that I prefer Judas Priest's version to my mom's version?'... It was a display of such kindness." Twenty years after Live Aid, Geldof organized Live 8 - an even larger undertaking in the new internet era, with 10 concerts happening simultaneously and across the globe. If the trend were to continue, there should be another event taking place this year. Notably, there isn't. Geldof says that's because there couldn't be a Live Aid-type event in 2025. He cites social media as a cause. In his view, algorithmic fracturing has made it impossible to create monolithic musical and activistic moments. Instead, he views the current media landscape as bolstering "an echo chamber of your own prejudices." For something like Live Aid to work, "You need rock 'n' roll as a creature of a social, economic and technological movement," he says. "And I think the rock 'n' roll age is over.... It did determine how young people articulated change and the desire for it.... That isn't the case anymore." Springfield agrees. "I think we are too divided," he says. He believes the world wouldn't be able to agree on a single cause to support, or even which musicians to back. "You could never do a thing with the size of Live Aid unless it was some kind of universal thing of, 'Let's bring everybody together.'" "Never say never, but I highly doubt it,' says Oates. "The landscape of music and entertainment in general has changed so drastically." He points to "We Are The World," the 1985 charity single for African famine relief that included the voices of Michael Jackson, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Paul Simon and many more, as an example. "The idea of that happening with the stars of today all in one place, I can't even imagine that. And plus, who would they be?... How many songs are released every day?" Halford echoes the other's sentiments. There's an undeniable "extremism in the world right now,' he says, that would make a Live Aid event challenging to pull off in 2025. But he doesn't think it's impossible. He uses January's Fire Aid - the LA wildfire benefit concert featuring Billie Eilish, Stevie Wonder and a Nirvana reunion - as a recent example. "There will always be empathy from people,' and in the right hands, maybe another event like Live Aid could take place. "It was a tremendously beautiful, humanitarian example... that provided us opportunity to do something ourselves to help."
7NEWS
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- 7NEWS
One-hit Australian wonder Rick Springfield laughs off US Today hosts singing wrong song, not Jessie's Girl
He's a one-hit rock legend. With a song so well known that everyone knows the lines. Well, almost everyone ... Perhaps the only three people on the planet who didn't know where embarrassingly all hosts on the hugely popular US Today show — and they welcomed the Aussie singer by belting his worldwide massive hit. Except Savannah Guthrie, Jenna Bush Hager and Kaylee Hartung's rendition of 867-5309/Jenny wasn't Rick Springfield smash song. It was another 1980s chart-topper by Tommy Tutone. Fellow co-hosts Al Roker and Craig Melvin quickly pointed out the gaffe, with Springfield quipping: 'Very close.' In fact, the 75-year-old's famous hit was Jessie's Girl. But just when viewers thought the interview couldn't get anymore awkward, it took another sticky turn. Talking about how Jessie's Girl had changed his life, Springfield stopped part way through and called out Melvin, who he was talking to on a couch along with Roker and Jill Martin. 'It's really taken on a life of its own after I recorded it and put it out,' Springfield said during the interview on Thursday. 'You can't really plan anything like that and you can't really foresee anything like that — that just happened.' He then paused before asking Melvin, who looked to have yawned: 'Am I boring you?' 'No, no, no, not at all, Rick. I apologise. It was a cough,' Melvin replied with a nervous laugh. In good humour, Springfield laughed it off and reassured Melvin: 'Dude, it's early. Don't worry about it. I'll probably yawn too.' More laughs were had later in the interview when Melvin questioned the singer about a brain injury he received after a fall onstage in 2000. Springfield looked blank, before replying: 'I'm sorry, what?' The joke prompted Roker to crack up: 'I like this guy!' Melvin was so impressed with Springfield's good humour that he invited him back on the show. 'Rick Springfield, I had no idea you were so funny,' he said. 'Come back, come back anytime. 'He has vaulted into the top five of favourite guests.' Despite the gaffes, Springfield took to social media to tell what a fun time he'd also had on the show. 'Had a fun time with the gang at @todayshow this morning!' he captioned a picture on Instagram.
New York Post
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Rick Springfield calls out ‘Today' show host Craig Melvin for yawning during live interview
Where can I find a yawner like that? Eighties pop-rock icon Rick Springfield called out NBC host Craig Melvin for yawning during his Wednesday interview on the '3rd Hour of Today.' The 'Jessie's Girl' vocalist was just over 90 seconds into the live segment discussing the '80s hit when he noticed Melvin yawn off-camera. 4 Springfield called out 'Today' show host Craig Melvin for yawning during Wednesday's interview. NBC The Grammy-winner seemed to be distracted as he tried to continue speaking, but then he paused, turned to Melvin and asked the anchor a direct question with the cameras rolling. 'Am I boring you?' Springfield asked. 'I actually-you're not at all,' Melvin replied. 'I apologize.' 'It's early, don't worry about it, I'll yawn too,' Springfield joked. Melvin tried to explain that he wasn't yawning and claimed 'it was a cough,' but his response was overshadowed by laughter from his co-hosts, Al Roker and Jill Martin. 4 'Am I boring you?' Springfield asked Melvin during the live broadcast. NBC The 'Today' Show' show weatherman tried to keep the interview moving along and the moment passed quickly. The music icon continued to joke with the hosts during the segment as he promoted his 'I Want My '80s Tour' and his greatest hits album, which was released in late February 2025. Despite the awkward start, the interview ended on a high note with Roker enthusiastically saying, 'Rick Springfield, I had no idea you were so funny, by the way. Come back, come back anytime!' 4 Melvin insisted that he had to 'cough' and not yawn. NBC Springfield seemingly doesn't appear to have hard feelings about the situation, as he gave the show a shout-out on his Facebook page. 'Had a fun time with the gang at the Today Show this morning!' Springfield wrote. 'You were hilarious. Although, remind me not to yawn if you're around…..' one fan quipped in the comment section of the Facebook post. During the interview, Springfield also opened up about discovering he had a brain injury after an onstage fall during a 2000 show in Las Vegas. 'I fell actually 25 feet through a steel stage,' Springfield shared. The singer-songwriter claimed he 'was supposed to be gravity fed on a beam' during a stunt at the MGM Grand, but the gear wasn't 'tied' correctly, and he fell and the beam hit him on the head. The 'Love Somebody' singer suffered a broken wrist and an annual Prenuvo scan revealed that the mishap caused a brain injury too. 'They found damage in my brain and we're just watching it,' Springfield said. 4 The 'Jessie's Girl' singer is on tour until October. Getty Images The 75-year-old has not let his health situation slow him down. Springfield will tour until mid-October as part of the 'I Want My '80s Tour,' and he plans to release new music, the Post reported. 'I'm writing a new album now. I have my guitar, keyboard and little recorder out here,' Springfield said on Wednesday. 'I put headphones so my wife doesn't have to listen to the same musical phrase over and over. It's my therapy and hobby. The new album will be a little heavier. More adventurous. I want to write a bunch of meaningful songs to me with big hooks and some flavor of what's going on.'
Perth Now
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Aussie rock legend's worldwide smash hit mangled by US hosts
He's a one-hit rock legend. With a song so well known that everyone knows the lines. Well, almost everyone ... Perhaps the only three people on the planet who didn't know where embarrassingly all hosts on the hugely popular US Today show — and they welcomed the Aussie singer by belting his worldwide massive hit. Except Savannah Guthrie, Jenna Bush Hager and Kaylee Hartung's rendition of 867-5309/Jenny wasn't Rick Springfield smash song. It was another 1980s chart-topper by Tommy Tutone. Fellow co-hosts Al Roker and Craig Melvin quickly pointed out the gaffe, with Springfield quipping: 'Very close.' In fact, the 75-year-old's famous hit was Jessie's Girl. Rick Springfield's guest appearance on US Today was full of awkward moments. Credit: NBC But just when viewers thought the interview couldn't get anymore awkward, it took another sticky turn. Talking about how Jessie's Girl had changed his life, Springfield stopped part way through and called out Melvin, who he was talking to on a couch along with Roker and Jill Martin. 'It's really taken on a life of its own after I recorded it and put it out,' Springfield said during the interview on Thursday. 'You can't really plan anything like that and you can't really foresee anything like that — that just happened.' He then paused before asking Melvin, who looked to have yawned: 'Am I boring you?' 'No, no, no, not at all, Rick. I apologise. It was a cough,' Melvin replied with a nervous laugh. Host Craig Melvin seemed to yawn mid-interview. Credit: NBC Rick Springfield asked Craig is he was getting 'bored'. Credit: NBC In good humour, Springfield laughed it off and reassured Melvin: 'Dude, it's early. Don't worry about it. I'll probably yawn too.' More laughs were had later in the interview when Melvin questioned the singer about a brain injury he received after a fall onstage in 2000. Springfield looked blank, before replying: 'I'm sorry, what?' The joke prompted Roker to crack up: 'I like this guy!' Melvin was so impressed with Springfield's good humour that he invited him back on the show. 'Rick Springfield, I had no idea you were so funny,' he said. 'Come back, come back anytime. 'He has vaulted into the top five of favourite guests.' Despite the gaffes, Springfield took to social media to tell what a fun time he'd also had on the show. 'Had a fun time with the gang at @todayshow this morning!' he captioned a picture on Instagram. Rick Springfield said that he had a 'fun time' on the show in an Instagram post. Credit: Instagram
Herald Sun
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Herald Sun
TV hosts insult iconic rocker: ‘Am I boring you?'
Don't miss out on the headlines from TV. Followed categories will be added to My News. It was all sorts of awkward when Rick Springfield made a guest appearance on the US Today show on Thursday, with the rock legend calling out one of the host. Anchors Savannah Guthrie, Jenna Bush Hager and Kaylee Hartung, delivered a cringe-worthy TV moment when they welcomed the rocker onto the show by belting out one of his hits. But as it turned out, they were singing the chorus of another '80s hit, 867-5309/Jenny, by Tommy Tutone. Fellow co-hosts Al Roker and Craig Melvin quickly pointed out the embarrassing gaffe, before 75-year-old Springfield quipped, 'Very close.' Things got more awkward when Sydney-born Springfield sat down on the couch with Roker, Melvin and Jill Martin for a more intimate chat. As the singer was discussing his 1980s hit Jessie's Girl, an action from Melvin caused him to get off track. 'It's really taken on a life of its own after I recorded it and put it out,' Springfield began. 'You can't really plan anything like that and you can't really foresee anything like that – that just happened.' He then paused briefly before asking Melvin, 'Am I boring you?' after the host apparently yawned mid-interview. 'No, no, no, not at all, Rick. I apologise. It was a cough,' Melvin replied with a nervous laugh. But Springfield was a good sport about it all, laughing off the incident while assuring Melvin: 'Dude, it's early. Don't worry about it. I'll probably yawn too.' Later in the interview, Melvin asked Springfield about a brain injury he sustained during an onstage fall in 2000. Springfield replied with a blank expression and looked around the room before playfully replying, 'I'm sorry, what?' The joke prompted Roker to crack up and say, 'I like this guy!' At the conclusion of the interview, the hosts were so impressed by Springfield's quips that Melvin said, 'Rick Springfield, I had no idea you were so funny, by the way. Come back, come back anytime.' 'He has vaulted into the top five of favourite guests,' he added. Indeed, Springfield later took to Instagram to say he had a blast on the program. 'Had a fun time with the gang at @todayshow this morning!' he captioned a happy snap of them posing for a photo. Originally published as Rocker Rick Springfield calls out host in awkward TV interview: 'Am I boring you?'
