Live Aid Concerts 40th Anniversary
Forty years ago on July 13, 1985, the Live Aid benefit rock concerts were held simultaneously in London and Philadelphia and simulcast to a global audience, helping to raise millions for famine relief in Ethiopia.
The shows included performances by David Bowie, Queen, U2, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Madonna, Mick Jagger, Tina Turner, and dozens of others.
It began with Band Aid, an all-star group in the U.K. brought together by future Live Aid organizer Bob Geldof and recording artist Midge Ure that included Bono, Phil Collins, George Michael and numerous others on the 1984 single, “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” with proceeds going to Ethiopian famine relief. The American version, “We Are the World,” was released in 1985. Later that summer, Geldof helped organize Live Aid, the most ambitious global television event of its time.
This curated collection of photos shows coverage by Associated Press photographers of the iconic charity event.
London
Bob Geldof speaks on stage at the start of the Live Aid concert for at Wembley Stadium, London, July 13, 1985. (AP Photo/Joe Schaber)
Bob Geldof talks on stage at the beginning of the Live Aid concert at London's Wembley Stadium, on July 13, 1985. (AP Photo/Joe Schaber)
Bob Geldof performs onstage at the Live Aid concert at London's Wembley Stadium, on July 13, 1985. (AP Photo/Joe Schaber)
Elvis Costello performs at the Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium in London, July 13, 1985. (AP Photo)
Sting performs during the Live Aid concert at Wembley stadium in London, July 13, 1985. (AP Photo/Joe Schaber)
Phil Collins, left, and Sting are shown on stage during the Live Aid concert held at London's Wembley Stadium, July 13, 1985. (AP Photo/Joe Schaber)
Following his performance, Phil Collins flew on the Concorde to perform at the Live Aid concert in Philadelphia later that day.
Princess Diana, left, and Prince Charles attend the Live Aid concert as they acknowledge the crowd with event organizer Bob Geldof, right, at London's Wembley Stadium, on July 13, 1985. (AP Photo/Joe Schaber)
Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits performs during the Live Aid concert at London’s Wembley Stadium, July 13, 1985. (AP Photo)
David Bowie performs on stage at London's Wembley Stadium during the Live Aid concert, July 13, 1985. (AP Photo/Joe Schaber)
David Bowie performs on stage at London's Wembley Stadium during the Live Aid concert, July 13, 1985. (AP Photo/Joe Schaber)
David Bowie performs on stage at London's Wembley Stadium during the Live Aid concert, July 13, 1985. (AP Photo/Joe Schaber)
The Who, from left, John Entwhistle, Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend, perform at the Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium in London, July 13, 1985. (AP Photo)
Elton John and his German wife Renate Blauel, right, walk past a police line on their arrival at Wembley Stadium, July 13, 1985, for the Live Aid concert. (AP Photo/Bob Dear)
Singer Elton John adjusts his hat during his performance at the Live Aid concert at London's Wembley Stadium, on July 14, 1985. (AP Photo/Joe Schaber)
George Michael of Wham, center-left, concert promoter Harvey Goldsmith, U2 lead singer Bono, Paul McCartney and Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury perform during the Live Aid concert finale, July 13, 1985 at Wembley Stadium in London. (AP Photo/Joe Schaber)
George Michael of Wham, center-left, concert promoter Harvey Goldsmith, U2 lead singer Bono, Paul McCartney and Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury perform during the Live Aid concert finale, July 13, 1985 at Wembley Stadium in London. (AP Photo/Joe Schaber)
Fans wave flags, the U.S. Stars and Stripes and Britain's Union Jack, at Wembley Stadium, in London, July 13, 1985, at the end of the Live Aid concert. (AP Photo/Joe Schaber)
Paul McCartney, center, and his wife Linda McCartney, applaud David Bowie, left, and Bob Geldof, right, at the end of the Live Aid concert at London’s Wembley Stadium, Saturday, July 13, 1985. (AP Photo/Joe Schaber)
The crowd is shown at the Live Aid concert for Africa at Wembley Stadium, in London, July 13, 1985. (AP Photo/Joe Schaber)
Philadelphia
Joan Baez, onstage at right, opens the Live Aid concert at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia, July 13, 1985. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Ozzy Osbourne, left, and Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath perform during the Live Aid concert in Philadelphia, July 13, 1985. (AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy)
Rick Springfield performs at the Live Aid concert at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia, July 13, 1985. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
From left, David Crosby, Graham Nash and Stephen Stills, performing collectively as Crosby, Stills and Nash, acknowledge the crowd during the Live Aid concert at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia, July 13, 1985. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Rob Halford of Judas Priest performs at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia during the Live Aid concert, July 13, 1985. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Chrissie Hynde, lead singer of the Pretenders, performs at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia, during the Live Aid concert, July 13, 1985. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Ashford and Simpson, Valerie Simpson, left, and Nicholas Ashford, right, perform with Teddy Pendergrass at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia during the Live Aid concert, July 13, 1985. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Madonna performs during the Live Aid concert at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia, July 13, 1985. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Neil Young smiles while performing during the Live Aid concert at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia, July 13, 1985. (AP Photo/George Widman)
The Thompson Twins' Alannah Currie, left, and Tom Bailey perform during the Live Aid concert at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia, July 13, 1985.(AP Photo/George Widman)
Eric Clapton performs during the Live Aid concert at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia, July 13, 1985. (AP Photo/George Widman)
Phil Collins smiles during his performance at the Live Aid concert at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia, on Saturday, July 13, 1985. (AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy)
Former Led Zeppelin bandmates, bassist John Paul Jones, left, and singer Robert Plant, appear onstage at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia during the Live Aid concert, July 13, 1985. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Former Led Zeppelin bandmates, singer Robert Plant, left, and guitarist Jimmy Page, reunite to perform for the Live Aid concert at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia, July 13, 1985. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Simon LeBon of Duran Duran performs during the Live Aid concert at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia on July 13, 1985. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Patti Labelle performs during the Live concert at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia, July 13, 1985. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
From left, John Oates, G.E. Smith and Daryl Hall perform collectively as Hall and Oates onstage at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia for the Live Aid concert, July 13, 1985. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Mick Jagger performs during the Live Aid concert at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia, July 13, 1985. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Tina Turner joins Mick Jagger for a special performance during the Live Aid concert in Philadelphia on July 13, 1985. (AP Photo)
Bob Dylan, center, performs at the Live Aid concert, accompanied by Rolling Stones guitarists Ron Wood, left, and Keith Richards, July 13, 1985 at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Text and photo curation by photo editor Kathleen Elliott.
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