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Wales Online
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Live Aid's Midge Ure admits 'it's different' as he makes admission on 40th anniversary
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Live Aid's Midge Ure admitted "it's different" as he made an admission on the event's 40th anniversary. The iconic event, which was co-organised by Midge and Bob Geldof, is marking its huge milestone this year. Held at London's Wembley Stadium and John F Kennedy Stadium in the US, the concerts raised millions of pounds for famine relief in Ethiopia. The events saw unforgettable performances from rock and pop legends including Queen, Status Quo, Mick Jagger, Phil Collins, Madonna, and David Bowie. On Monday (July 14), Midge reminisced about Live Aid whilst conversing with Richard Madeley and Charlotte Hawkins on Good Morning Britain. "I feel nostalgic for my hair. It's amazing, isn't it? None of us can believe it's 40 years. None of us can believe we're still here looking back at this and the fact that it's celebrated today," he expressed with fondness, reports the Mirror. (Image: Alamy Stock Photo) Describing the concert as more than just a music event, Midge highlighted its role in uniting people and drawing attention globally to pressing issues. "It wasn't just a music event, it was a social event. It pulled people and the planet together, and focused people on a particular problem, which is the wonderful thing about music," he said. However, Midge also touched upon factors that would make such an event a challenge in contemporary times. "There's enough trouble in the world to pull people together to try and sort. I think it's different, I think mobile phones have changed everything," he explained. "I think people live a more splintered life, very difficult now to try and coerce people into looking at one particular problem because we're all living in our own little worlds." (Image: ITV) "You can watch and listen to anything you want at any time day and night. Back then, we didn't have the internet." Richard then noted that "there wasn't a mobile phone in sight," with Midge continuing: "I don't think they were there in 1985." He concluded: "It's been noted that no flags flying, no holding phones, people remember being there. Same when I did when I was a kid watching other bands... They were living in the moment." An exhilarating new musical, titled Just For One Day, has begun playing at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London, and tells the story of Live Aid. The production, which will close in January 2026, captures the excitement and history of that incredible day, featuring songs from the many of the iconic artists who made history at the event. Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV1 and ITVX at 6am
Daily Record
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Live Aid's Midge Ure says 'none of us can believe it' as he makes 40th anniversary admission
Live Aid's Midge Ure said "none of us can believe it" as he made a milestone admission. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the iconic charity event, which Midge co-organised with Bob Geldof. The dual-venue concert, hosted at Wembley Stadium in London and John F Kennedy Stadium in the US, successfully raised millions for famine relief in Ethiopia. Audiences were captivated by unforgettable acts from music royalty such as Queen, Status Quo, Mick Jagger, Phil Collins, Madonna, and David Bowie. Midge reminisced about the historic occasion during his appearance on Good Morning Britain on Monday (July 14), speaking with presenters Richard Madeley and Charlotte Hawkins, reports the Mirror. "I feel nostalgic for my hair. It's amazing, isn't it? None of us can believe it's 40 years. None of us can believe we're still here looking back at this and the fact that it's celebrated today," he reflected. "It wasn't just a music event, it was a social event. It pulled people and the planet together, and focused people on a particular problem, which is the wonderful thing about music." Midge then touched upon the distinctive character of the event, and why it would be challenging to recreate something similar today. "There's enough trouble in the world to pull people together to try and sort. I think it's different, I think mobile phones have changed everything," he explained. "I think people live a more splintered life, very difficult now to try and coerce people into looking at one particular problem because we're all living in our own little worlds. "You can watch and listen to anything you want at any time day and night. Back then, we didn't have the internet." Richard also observed that "there wasn't a mobile phone in sight," with Midge continuing, "I don't think they were there in 1985." He concluded: "It's been noted that no flags flying, no holding phones, people remember being there. Same when I did when I was a kid watching other bands... They were living in the moment." An exhilarating new musical, titled Just For One Day, has begun playing at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London, and tells the story of Live Aid. The production, which will close in January 2026, captures the excitement and history of that incredible day, featuring songs from the many of the iconic artists who made history at the event.
RTÉ News
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Live Aid was 40 years ago this weekend
40 years ago this weekend, the world turned on the biggest global jukebox it had ever seen and heard as two massive concerts took place in London and Philadelphia to raise money for the famine-stricken people of Africa. It was a marathon of (mostly) great music, a typically forthright Bob Geldof, and some very emotional moments. Many will have their own personal highlights, from U2 stealing the Saturday afternoon, Elvis Costello's mic breaking down, Status Quo's rousing opening song, and the playing of The Cars' song Drive to heart-wrenching news footage of the dying peoples of Eritrea and Ethiopia. Like countless other TV and radio stations around the world, RTÉ broadcast the live feeds from both the London and Philadelphia concerts and anchored their own coverage of what was a truly global event. Live Aid concert OnThisDay 1985 Take a look behind the scenes @RTE Watch: July 13, 2017 The late broadcaster Vincent Hanley presented RTÉ Television's coverage of Live Aid and producer Niall Mathews went on to win a Jacob's Award for the day-long programme in 1986. As well as footage of outlandish perms and mullets (and that was just the men), and stone-washed denim, thousands of Irish viewers pledged donations and bid on items for auction. 32 years since Live Aid @morningireland speaks to Bob Geldof in 1985 about the generosity of the Irish — RTÉ Archives (@RTEArchives) July 13, 2017 This was long before online banking and the RTÉ Archive clip also shows a couple donating money at the Allied Irish Bank in Donnybrook in Dublin. Given our own history of famine, it was no surprise that the Irish people gave over £7 million to Live Aid - more per capita than any other country in the world.
Daily Mirror
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Heartache behind Live Aid – overdoses, brain tumours and traumatic injuries
Live Aid brought a string of the biggest names together for one monumental occasion, but behind the success was heartbreak. It's often hailed as one of the most successful events in the history of music, and so famous that people hail it as Freddie Mercury's last major performance before his tragic death. On July 13, 1985, over 20 performers were watched by a sold-out Wembley Stadium and two billion people across the globe. Names such as Spandau Ballet, Status Quo, Sting, Alison Moyet and Phil Collins all took to the stage for the monumental occasion, with Phil even performing at the same event in Philadelphia on the same day. Live Aid raised a staggering £40 million for famine relief in Ethiopia, which, in today's money, is the same as around £100 million. But while the event was a huge success, those who took part in the iconic event faced ultimate heartache as they battled with grief and personal struggles... Sir Bob Geldof found fame fronting the 1970s band, The Boomtown Rats, and has now made a name for himself outside of music due to his philanthropy work. But the legendary musician who co-founded Band Aid and later Live Aid has faced heartbreak beyond imagination. At the age of six, Sir Bob's mother, Evelyn, sadly died of a cerebral haemorrhage and a stroke, which caused bleeding within her skull at the age of 41. In 1976, the I Don't Like Mondays singer struck up a romance with The Tube presenter, Paula Yates. The couple married in 1986 after welcoming their first daughter, Fifi. They went on to have two more daughters, Peaches and Pixie. However, Sir Bob and Paula's relationship became strained. In 1995, she left Bob and started dating Australian musician Michael Hutchence of INXS. She and Michael welcomed daughter Tiger Lily in July the following year. However, just one year later, Michael sadly took his own life after battling depression while under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Sadly, Paula died just three years later after suffering an accidental overdose at her home in Notting Hill, west London. She was discovered by Tiger Lily, who was just four and told a friend of Paula's she was unable to wake her mum. Tiger was later adopted by Sir Bob and raised with her three older sisters. However, tragedy struck again in 2014 when model and broadcaster Peaches also tragically died of a drug overdose. Prior to her death, Peaches had been clean from drugs for five months. At a coroner's hearing, her husband, Thomas Cohen, then 23, said that she had sadly relapsed and had been hiding heroin in the loft of their home. Detective Chief Inspector Paul Fotheringham, who had been leading the investigation, said: "There is no indication that Peaches intended to take her own life or harm herself in any way as she was reported to be of happy disposition and planning for the future with friends and family." Often hailed as one of the greatest musicians of all time, Freddie was the original rock star. Queen's performance at Live Aid has been hailed as one of the greatest of all time, which was documented in Mercury's biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody. Queen had just 17 minutes to perform, and Sir Bob gave the musician a warning to "don't get clever." But six years later, Freddie tragically died – just 24 hours after announcing he had been battling AIDS. On November 22, 1991, Freddie phoned Queen's manager, Jim Beach, to prepare a statement which was released the next day. He said: "Following the enormous conjecture in the press over the last two weeks, I wish to confirm that I have been tested HIV positive and have AIDS. I felt it correct to keep this information private to date to protect the privacy of those around me. "However, the time has come now for my friends and fans around the world to know the truth and I hope that everyone will join with me, my doctors and all those worldwide in the fight against this terrible disease. My privacy has always been very special to me and I am famous for my lack of interviews. Please understand this policy will continue." He died at his home in Kensington the day later from bronchial pneumonia, resulting from AIDS. His friend, Dave Clark, was at the bedside vigil when Freddie died. His close friend, Mary Austin, broke the heartbreaking news to Freddie's parents and sister before it was released to the media. Genesis star, Phil Collins, 74, performed at the US Live Aid after flying over from the UK to Philadelphia following his gig at Wembley. Sadly, the man known for one of the greatest ever drum solos in history is now unable to hold his sticks after undergoing surgery to repair the vertebrae in his upper neck. In a heartbreaking turn of events, the operation caused Phil to lose feeling in his fingers as he explained in the Mail last year: "After playing drums for 50 years, I've had to stop. My vertebrae have been crushing my spinal cord because of the position I drum in. "It comes from years of playing. I can't even hold the sticks properly without it being painful. I even used to tape the sticks to my hands to get through." Much-loved singer, George Michael, performed at Live Aid with Wham. Before his tragic death in 2016, the Everything She Wants star famously struggled with his sexuality during his four decades in the spotlight - admitting that he felt 'fraudulent' for staying in the closet for so long. . Five years after his beloved boyfriend, Anselmo, died of AIDS-related complications, George came out as gay in an interview with CNN and campaigned for HIV/AIDS charities. However, in later years, the Careless Whisper star struggled with depression and drug addiction and died of heart disease in 2016. George's boyfriend, Fadi Fawaz, said he discovered the star singer unconscious in bed on Christmas morning in his Oxfordshire home, leaving George's legions of loyal fans bereft. Alison Moyet brought the house down when she performed at Live Aid in 1985. However, behind the scenes, she was battling crippling insecurity and agoraphobia.. She once said: "By the time I was a teenager I was so absolutely convinced of my Elephant Man distortedness that I went all out to be as physically unattractive as I could as an act of defiance." For almost 10 years, the All Cried Out star said she hated the idea of being recognised on the street and barely left the house. Alison told the Guardian: "I'd sit at home getting enormously fat, watching TV and all the time I'd be thinking: 'I can't go on television... I can't do that'. I was becoming more and more distanced from the world that I normally work in." In 2014, she heartbreakingly revealed she wiped her computer so as not to be reminded of any of her 'success'. Alison also admitted on Desert Island Discs that she had smashed up all of her precious gold discs with a hammer. Live Aid star, Martin Kemp, was one-sixth of one of the world's hottest bands, Spandau Ballet, when he performed at the iconic event. However, in 1995, Martin's life changed forever when he was told he had two brain tumours. He told the Daily Mail in 2009: "The first tumour was the size of a squashed grapefruit and doctors could cut my skull to get to it. What was terrifying was the second tumour - doctors avoided talking about it. I was very worried about the little guy in the middle of my head." The father-of-two then went on to have an "early form of Gamma Knife technology" radiation, which Martin says killed the tumours, adding: "and today there is nothing left of it". However, speaking recently on his son Roman's podcast, he admitted that his diagnosis left him 'resigned to the fact that I was going to die'. Talking to his dad on FFS, Roman asked his dad how much longer he thinks he'll live to which Martin replied: "I'll be really honest with you, 10 years." The NHS Choices website lists the following helplines and support networks for people to talk to.
Daily Mail
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Status Quo's Francis Rossi, 76, admits he's constantly worried about his health and mortality after lifestyle overhaul: 'Will I last too much longer?'
Status Quo's Francis Rossi has admitted that he's constantly worried about his health and mortality. The rocker, 76, spoke candidly in a new interview as he said he often now asks himself: 'Will I last too much longer?' Francis is the co-founder, lead singer, lead guitarist and the sole continuous member of the rock band Status Quo. In recent years he has embraced vegetable smoothies, herbal supplements and 60 sit ups-a-day as part of his impressive lifestyle overhaul following years of alcohol and drug addiction. He told The Mirror this week: 'My wife asks me when we have coffee at about 7ish, 7.30 am, she says, 'How are you today?'. I go, 'Well...' It's in the morning I get, 'What the f*** am I doing?' 'And I can't get that out of my mind, whatever I do. I'll be alright as the day goes on. I'm going into the studio in a while. And then I look forward to the next meal, and that's it really. 'Will I last too much long. Being 76 gets to me most mornings'. Back in 2021 he quipped that he hadn't got 'long left' as he discussed his strict health regime to prepare for his OUT OUT QUOING tour in 2022. He said to The Sun on Saturday at the time: 'Coming out [of lockdown ] is a problem for me. Going back to work with Quo is a problem for me. 'Physically, can I do the Quo gig? I'm fit, but I cannot emulate the lung capacity any more and I have to increase that. 'I've been practising in my room at night. I've been trying to sing Paper Plane and I get about a quarter of the way through it and it just tires you out.' His intense fitness schedule included 30-length dips in his swanky indoor pool at 7am, followed by eight minutes of crunches and 60 sit-ups. Francis, who lives in Surrey with his wife of 32 years Eileen, fills his nutrition-packed smoothies with broccoli, kale, spinach, carrots, raspberries and strawberries, with apple cider vinegar to aid digestion. Breakfast includes a diverse selection of fruit and vegetables while 'dinner' takes place at 3.30pm, giving the Status Quo star plenty of time for his stomach to settle ahead of exercising his vocal cords or going on stage. Francis revealed he prefers to eat early as he performs better on an empty stomach. Dinner is followed by a one-hour scenic power walk around his leafy neighbourhood. Francis confirmed he has ditched prescription medicines in favour of herbal remedies and a long list of supplements including probiotics, Omega 3, vitamin D and magnesium tablets. He decided to go teetotal several years ago after abusing alcohol in the 80s and developing a £1.7million cocaine habit which caused his septum to fall out in the shower. Francis said any type of drug, including prescription medications, can be a 'slippery slope' for him, after struggling to give up the legal drug, Valium, in the past. He also watched the deterioration of his band mate Rick Parfitt - who he has known since the age of 16 - after the rock 'n' roll lifestyle took a toll on his body. Rick passed away in 2016 at the age of 68. While he has turned his life around for the better, Francis confirmed he still has one vice, a single cigarette which he savours between 5.15pm and 6.30pm daily. He opts for an American spirit tobacco which is free of nasty preservatives and additives Francis said of his one-a-day habit: 'I light it and the nicotine hits worse than any drug or alcohol. I've got to have one vice!'
