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Live Aid

One of the biggest events of the entire 80's decade was, of course, the Live Aid concert. On July 13th 1985, around $70 million was raised by this huge pop concert with the proceeds going to the famine victims of Africa.

Organised by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, two simultaneous concerts took place at Wembley Stadium, London and JFK Stadium, Philadelphia with performances by Mick Jagger, Tina Turner, Queen, David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Madonna, Phil Collins, Status Quo and many, many more.

Attended by the Prince and Princess of Wales, it's estimated that between 1.5 and 2 billion people watched the event live on TV.

Band Aid single - Do They Know It's Christmas - Live performance at Live Aid, London.

Official Video

Simple Minds performing Don't You (Forget About Me) live in Philadelphia at Live Aid.

Don't You Forget About Me featured on the soundtrack to the movie The Breakfast Club and is Simple Minds best-known song. Regularly requested at discos and nightclubs in the 80s (by myself, at least!) the song topped the Billboard Hot 100 in nthe U.S. and peaked at #7 in the UK.

Phil Collins performing Against All Odds at Live Aid, Wembley, London.

This was from the days when Phil Collins actually had some hair! Against All Odds was a U.S. number one and UK #2 in 1984, and was the sountrack to the film of the same now. The song was also murdered, I mean, covered by Mariah Carey and Westlife in September 2000 and reached #1 in the UK.

One of Quo's most well-known tunes is actually a cover of John Fogerty's U.S. hit from 1975, although this features a heavier rock sound. Quo's version reached #3 in the UK singles chart in 1977 and was a worldwide hit. It was the title track from their tenth studio album and has become their signature tune.

The English rock band are still achieving success and their most recent album, Quid Pro Quo, reached #10 in the UK album charts during 2011.

Status Quo - In The Army Now

Status Quo - Rollin' Home