Live Aid Turns 40: Does the World Still Care?
Forty years ago on July 13th, nearly two billion people—one out of every three humans alive—tuned in to a global concert called Live Aid.
They weren’t clicking “like.” They weren’t doom-scrolling. They weren’t arguing in the comments section.
They were watching. They were caring. They were donating.
From live stages in Lonon and Philadelphia—in front of 160,000 concertgoers– an unprecedented array of talent performed for 16 hours: Queen and Dylan, Jagger, Led Zeppelin, U2, Sting, Elvis Costello, The Who, Elton John, Run-DMC, Joan Baez, Neil Young, Madonna and Phil Collins, who performed at both venues, taking the Concord from London to New York and then a helicopter to Philadelphia.
Bob Geldorf, organizer and guiding spirit behind Live Aid howled, “Give us your f**ing money!”* and the world did. $150 million +. Aid got delivered. People got fed.
It was messy. Imperfect. Beautiful.
In fact, so beautiful that this groundbreaking event generated such massive awareness of the famine in Africa, especially Ethiopia and such positive publicity that western governments donated surplus food for immediate aid and went on to move humanitarian concern to near the top of their foreign policies.
Tragically, in the past six months the United States has withdrawn from those programs designed to help others most in need across the globe. In the blunt words of Bob Geldorf, Live Aid’s organizer, “Seriously, the strongest nation on Earth, the most powerful man on the planet, and the richest individual ever seen in the history of our world…cackle over feeding U.S. help to the weakest, most vulnerable people in the world into a wood chipper.”
Now ask yourself—could we do it today?
Could we stop long enough to care? Could we look up from the algorithm long enough to even see the famine, the flood, the fire? Could we ever again get two billion people to say, with one voice, “This matters.”
I wonder.
Because now, TikTok trends rise and vanish like smoke. Instagram makes suffering look filtered. Facebook feeds us rage faster than compassion. And YouTube? Sure, you can still watch Freddie Mercury commanding the crowd at Wembley Stadium like a god—but good luck finding that link before you’re dragged into some conspiracy rabbit hole.
Here’s what’s changed: In 1985, we were the audience. Now, we’re the product.
The machine runs on our attention. Not our action. Not our empathy. Just our clicks.
And yet—somehow—I’m sure most Agitator readers still believe in the power of people to show up. To speak up. To rise up. To give. We believe music can still stir the soul.We believe organizing still matters. We believe that hunger and war and injustice deserve more than 15 seconds of our time. And so do millions of the donors we serve.
So on this 40th Anniversary of Live Aid, crank up Queen. Replay “Let It Be.” Or any of the scores of great tracks on this Spotify Live Aid Playlist.
But don’t stop there. Ask yourself: What’s my generation’s Live Aid? What could we do if we really tried? And what the hell are we waiting for?
Roger
P.S.
If you remember Live Aid—tell someone who doesn’t.
If you don’t—look it up, and imagine what might happen if we turned our screens into signals again. Let’s not let the music die.
13 responses to “Live Aid Turns 40: Does the World Still Care?”
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Well said, as always, but there’s no way that was 40 years ago. If it was true, I’d be approaching dirt age and my Queen vinyl would be dusty. So I’ll thank you to keep your misguided chronology to yourself!
Ah yes Barry, the classic Time Denial Syndrome—a tragic affliction of those who still think 1985 was “just a couple years back” and that mullets are due for a comeback.
Look, I hate to break it to you, but your Queen vinyl is dusty, your knees do make that noise now, and yes—Live Aid was 40 years ago. Mick Jagger has grandkids. Bono wears readers.
We’re all creeping toward dirt age, pal—some faster than others. The trick is to embrace it with a little swagger. Dust off the vinyl, crank up “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and age disgracefully. Just don’t pretend it’s still 1985… unless you’re also planning to bring back payphones and Tab.
Cheers
I’m enjoying a Fresca and you can hardly hear my knees over the din of my back. Otherwise you’re spot on.
hi, Roger, thanks so much! Yes, I remember Live Aid and We are the World… I recently watched a great documentary about how it all came together, and it’s especially sad to see how many artists are not here any longer.
If the giving trends are any indication, I think that many donors still care very much. But I can see how things are much more fragmented now and people are simply overwhelmed with the many channels that are hitting us day in and out. And you know what happens if there are too many choices? Nobody chooses. I bet that if someone decides to put together something like a Live Aid, people would tune in from wherever they are and its reach would be even larger. But it would mean people need to band together to make it happen. Because if we don’t the situation will be very dire, in other countries and here.
Hi Erica,
I think you’re absolutely right. In fact the “No Kings” protests and other citizen actions are proof there’s a vein of concern and willingness to get involved.
Onward,
Roger
Roger, thanks for some great memories!
Hi Jay,
Great memories indeed. Now, we have to translate memories to action. Each of us must do our part now to stand up and speak out. Can’t wait for another Live Aid.
Good to hear form you and trust all’s well.
Great post, Roger. I was at Live Aid in Philly and it was life changing. My friend and I convinced our moms to drive us from NJ because we couldn’t drive yet and we didn’t want to miss this historic event. It was packed. It was unbearably hot. The lineup was amazing. It was an experience I will never forget. My mom and I still talk about it.
Most importantly, it was an introduction to the role I can and should play as a global citizen. Live Aid, Amnesty International, and Greenpeace (all advertised on MTV) opened to teens like me the world and the role—no matter how small—I could play.
Such a great memory, Barbara. Thanks for sharing. And far greater thanks for all you’ve done since that “unbearably hot” July day 40 years ago.
Forward!
Thanks for this, Roger. It’s a moving memory, a sad commentary, and a mighty wake-up call.
It’s also worth remembering that Live Aid was directly inspired by George Harrison’s Concert for Bangla Desh a few years earlier, and that an offhand comment by Bob Dylan at Live-Aid inspired Willie Nelson to found the Farm-Aid concerts, which are still taking place today.
Harrison, Geldorf, Dylan, and Nelson … reminders of what four single individuals with influence were able to accomplish not that many years ago. Who do we have like that now?
Hi Willis. Great too hear from you. You’re absolutely right on to remember the inspiration behind Live Aid and the ongoing inspiration Live Aid provided for all that followed and still continues–at least in the form of Farm Aid. I have no idea what’s likely to spring up next but have absolute faith that the backlash of good deeds and clear voices will continue to spring up and grow.
Great post, Roger! I watched the first segment of the 4-part series titled “Live Aid: When Rock ‘n’ Roll Took on the World,” last evening (July 13th) on the CNN network.
The description: “…tells the definitive story of what was among the largest global music events in history, which featured performances from numerous top artists of the day.”
Bob Geldof, the Irish singer-songwriter and political activist who spearheaded the original Live Aid event, was behind the very recent “Just For One Day” musical event, which commemorated the 40th anniversary of the
original Live Aid event in 1985.
You write: “What’s my generation’s Live Aid? And what could we do if we really tried? And what the hell are we waiting for?”
I want to note that what “we” do, or don’t do, begins with what “I” do or don’t do. In that regard, I pose what are known as “The Two Principal Principles of GoldenRuleism” for your readers’ awareness and action(s):
“Do for all others, both directly and indirectly, what you would want done for you. Don’t do to any others, either directly or indirectly, what you wouldn’t want done to you.”
When each one of us embraces the overarching ethic of GoldenRuleism, we’ll each be personally engaged, in one way or another, to actually “do something” about the issues which directly or indirectly affect us all.
We may not be able to totally end famine in Ethiopia, for which cause Live Aid raised between $125 and $145 million, but we can each seek to end “food insecurity” and hunger in each of our own communities — where we live.
Our GoldenRuleism Team stands for what we describe in the booklet of GoldenRuleism as a “Community Ethic.”
Here’s a since-modified version of what appears in the booklet:
“We will not tolerate food insecurity, nor shelter insecurity, in our community — especially as these twin scourges adversely affect our children. We will unite together to identify and eradicate such scourges wherever they exist here.”
So, each community, to your point, can create its own “Live Aid” form of action — to address food insecurity and any other scourges which adversely affect the quality of life for those who live in the community.
Your readers can get a FREE copy of the e-book, in either English or Spanish, “GoldenRuleism/Living A GoldenRuleism-Guided Life,” at the Team’s website: https://goldenruleismcan.org
I love your question: “And what the hell are we waiting for?” Let’s wait no more!
Let’s each of us put the overarching ethic of GoldenRuleism into active practice in our own communities. When we each do something individually to improve conditions “where we live,” we create a model for others to follow.
Ultimately, what begins as a simple Community Ethic can become a Global Ethic.
Let’s get started by putting “The Two Principal Principles” to work — “up close and personal” — where we live.
Thanks much Craig. Good advice. Good resource material. At work in my corner of the word.
Onward.