THE DAY

WEMBLEY STADIUM

ROCKED THE WORLD

On July 13,1985, Wembley Stadium played host to the UK leg of Live Aid.

The charity concert featured some of the biggest names in rock and pop.

More than 72,000 people came to Wembley Stadium, while an estimated 1.9 billion people watched at home on TV across the world.

It is still regarded as one most iconic moments to ever take place at Wembley Stadium.

Bob Geldof

Bob Geldof was the brains behind Live Aid.

The singer said he was inspired to act after seeing news reports of starving children in Africa.

His vision was to put on the world's biggest music concert, straddling two continents at the same time.

Fellow singer Midge Ure, and the promoter Harvey Goldsmith, helped bring the dream to fruition.

The trio worked tirelessly over a six week period to bring everything together.

With no internet, no email and no mobile phones they convinced 27 of the UK's leading rock bands and artists to come together for one massive cause.

In addition to organising the event, Geldof played live on stage with his band The Boomtown Rats.

Geldof admitted to being nervous after he saw the large crowd crammed into Wembley Stadium that day.

Despite this, he delivered a rousing performance that set the tone for the day.

FAN FEVER

More than 72,000 people packed into Wembley Stadium on a steaming hot day.

Stadium staff had to use hosepipes to keep the crowd cool.

Tickets cost £25 - a small fortune back in 1985, when the average price of a top flight football match was around £2.50.

However, with a glittering line up of acts on the one bill, fans flocked to be a part of it.

Tickets were sold across the country with the last few remaining, sold on the morning of the concert outside the stadium.

Status Quo were the first act on stage and they kicked off proceedings with their hit 'Rockin all over the World'

Reid Moore

Reid Moore

Star of the Show

Queen came on at 18:41 on the evening of Live Aid.

They were given a 20 minute slot, which coincided with the prime-time TV audience, and the start of the global feed across the world.

It was a big burden to shoulder, but Freddie Mercury took it all in his stride.

Reid Moore

Reid Moore

In between delivering a selection of Queen's greatest hits, the enigmatic frontman engaged the audience with an acapella sing back.

His performance that day is still regarded as the greatest by any rock n roll artist ever.

Macca's Mishap

There were rumours Live Aid might see the three remaining Beatles come together, once again.

It wasn't to be. Paul McCartney was a late addition to the bill though, despite not having played in public for over six years.

McCartney was given the prime slot at the end of the show, but a technical fault meant his microphone cut out at the start of his set.

It was quickly rectified, and he led the crowd in a rousing rendition of 'Let it be'.

He was joined onstage by all of the other performers to bring the curtain down on one of Wembley's most memorable moments.

Lasting Legacy

Forty years on, people still describe Live Aid as one of the world's most memorable concerts.

It was an event that brought millions of people together across the globe - all for one cause.

More than £146 million was raised for famine relief.

There have been several muti-act charity concerts since Live Aid, but the one that took place in the summer of 1985 is still regarded as the best, and most important of a generation.

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