July 13 marks the 40th anniversary of the iconic Live Aid concert that took place over 16 hours in Philadelphia and London. The venues were John F. Kennedy Stadium and Wembley in England. Sir Bob Geldof created the concept to raise funds for the famine that was gripping Ethiopia. Everyone who was anyone found their way to the stages. Phil Collins played at Wembley and then took a Concorde to the United States to play in Philadelphia. More than $125,000,000 was raised through the simultaneous events. It is believed 1.9 billion people overall watched Live Aid, which was televised globally.
Live Aid
Aerial view of the more than 90,000 music lovers jamming the JFK Stadium in Philadelphia for the Live Aid Concert to hear rock stars sing out against world hunger on July 13, 1985. On stage, Crosby, Stills and Nash is performing. M
Live Aid
Music lovers surround the exterior of the JFK Stadium in Philadelphia for the Live Aid Concert.
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Aerial view of the more than 90,000 music lovers jamming the JFK Stadium in Philadelphia.
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Queen front-man Freddie Mercury during the Live Aid concert.
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British singers Phil Collins (L) and Sting pose after performing on July 13, 1985 at Wembley Stadium in London during the “Live Aid” concert.
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British musicians Jimmy Page (left) and Robert Plant pictured backstage at Live Aid in Philadelphia after performing with a re-formed Led Zeppelin.
Live Aid
Picture taken July 13, 1985, in London’s Wembley Stadium at the beginning of the “Live Aid” concert.
Live Aid
General view of the crowd and stage during the Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium in London, July 13th 1985.
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Staff member sprays water on spectators during the first Live Aid concert at the JFK Stadium, in Philadelphia on July 13, 1985.
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Tina Turner and British singer Mick Jagger perform on stage during the first Live Aid concert at JFK Stadium.
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British singer Phil Collins performs on stage during the first Live Aid concert at JFK Stadium.
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Mike Love of the Beach Boys performs on stage during the first Live Aid concert.
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Irish organizer Bob Geldof poses after a press conference, 17 June 2005 in Paris, to present Live8 charity concert.
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Bob Geldof holds a press conference to present the Live8 charity event.
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Crowds queuing at Wembley Arena in London, possibly for tickets for the upcoming Live Aid concert.
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A Christies employ poses with a guitar played at Wembley in 1985 during a Live Aid performance by British rock guitarist Pete Townshend that was estimated to fetch between 10,000 and 15,000 British pounds (16000 – 24000 US dollars).
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24-year-old student Birhan Woldu, former Ethiopian famine victim and the inspiration for Live Aid 1985, speaks on stage as Sir Bob Geldof looks on during “Live 8 London” in Hyde Park on July 2, 2005, in London, England.
Live Aid
Madonna and 24-year-old student Birhan Woldu, former Ethiopian famine victim and the inspiration for Live Aid 1985, are seen on stage during “Live 8 London” in Hyde Park on July 2, 2005, in London, England.
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Sir Bob Geldof attends the “Live Aid: Then & Now” private view at the Getty Images Gallery on June 29, 2005 in London, England.
Live Aid
Sir Bob Geldof attends the “Live Aid: Then & Now” private view at the Getty Images Gallery on June 29, 2005 in London, England.
Live Aid
David Bowie and his PA, Corinne ‘Coco’ Schwab at the Live Aid benefit concert at Wembley Stadium
This article originally appeared on List Wire: Legendary Live Aid rock concert 40th anniversary on July 13