What’s Great About the 80’s—Queen’s Performance at Live Aid

1985’s Live Aid Concert organized by Sir Bob Geldof to focus attention on and give support to starving people in Africa was the first of its kind. A massive undertaking that took place July 13, 1985, the event featured the biggest names in the business, was a gigantic success, (rightfully) elevated Geldof to the status of Saint, and ultimately raised $140 million for the cause. The effort spawned an unprecedented music video featuring virtually everybody singing, “We are the World”. The story of the tragic love triangle between the powerful Geldof, his wife Paula, and hunky lead singer of INXS, Michael Hutchence, was yet to be played out, and is my favorite twisted love story of the decade, but that’s a whole ‘nother post (and one that I’ll definitely be writing here).

Anyway, back to the matter at hand, by the time Queen hit the stage at Wembley Stadium that sweltering July day, they were, shall we say, far from the peak of their popularity. Their recently released album, “The Works”, was not their best effort. Likewise, the Wembley crowd was feeling a little droopy. It had been a great, but sort of ultimately long day of performances many of which suffered somewhat in the unforgiving LIVE spotlight. The Wembley crowd, 72,000 strong along with 1.9 billion viewers in 150 countries—the largest television audience EVER at that time—that included me and everybody else I knew, was just a tad restless.

A Queen fan from way back, I was looking forward to the band’s performance perhaps more than your average viewer, but still, was keenly aware that the guys were a little passed their prime.

Thing is, we all forgot something. And that is that Queen virtually invented Stadium Rock. This was THEIR genre and, smartly, the band had taken a full week to rehearse and hone their set. So, when they hit the stage? They almost instantly converted the huge crowd into one big sea of slobbering minions. It was the surprise hit and high point of the entire event.

Sadly, unbeknownst to us all, it was to be Freddie’s last major live performance. He died of AIDS related complications in 1992.

But what a way to go out on top. See for yourself.