Live Aid was a large-scale benefit concert that was held on July 13, 1985, in London, England (Wembley Stadium) and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. The concert was organized to raise money and awareness for famine relief in Ethiopia, which was facing a severe famine at the time.
The event was organized by musician Bob Geldof, the lead singer of the Irish rock band The Boomtown Rats, and Midge Ure, the lead vocalist of the Scottish rock band Ultravox. The concert featured performances by many of the biggest musical acts of the time, including Queen, U2, David Bowie, Elton John, Madonna, Phil Collins, The Who, and many others.
The concert was broadcast live on television and radio around the world, and it is estimated that over a billion people in more than 100 countries tuned in to watch. The event raised over $125 million for famine relief in Ethiopia, and it is widely considered to be one of the most important charity concerts in history.
SIDEBAR: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers performing at Live Aid in front of 100,000 people in the John F. Kennedy Stadium, Philadelphia USA on the 13th July, 1985. The event was organized by Sir Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for the Ethiopian famine disaster. Broadcast across the world via one of the largest satellite link-ups of all time, the concerts were seen by around 40% of the global population.