Conceived by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in response to the devastating Ethiopian famine, Live Aid transcended a mere charity event to become a landmark musical spectacle. This bicontinental concert, held on July 13, 1985, simultaneously at London’s Wembley Stadium and Philadelphia’s John F. Kennedy Stadium, captivated a global audience estimated at nearly 2 billion people. It built upon the success of the Band Aid single “Do They Know It’s Christmas?,” co-written by Geldof and Ure, which had already raised over $28 million for famine relief. Live Aid ultimately raised approximately $140 million, establishing a new template for high-profile musical benefits.

Geldof’s determination to secure top artists for Live Aid involved a degree of strategic persuasion, famously bluffing artists like Elton John and David Bowie into believing others were already committed. The event featured an unprecedented lineup of more than 50 of the music industry's biggest names, including Queen, U2, David Bowie, Elton John, Paul McCartney, The Who, Bob Dylan, and Madonna. Broadcast rights were sold to 150 countries, with MTV and ABC carrying the feed in the United States.

Many performances from Live Aid are etched into pop history. Queen’s 21-minute set at Wembley, featuring classics like “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “We Are The Champions,” is widely regarded as one of the greatest rock gigs ever. U2's powerful rendition of “Bad,” during which Bono famously danced with a fan, solidified their status as future stadium headliners. Phil Collins embarked on an audacious journey, performing with Sting in London before flying via Concorde to Philadelphia to play his own set and drum for Eric Clapton and a reunited, albeit reportedly under-rehearsed, Led Zeppelin. Other highlights included Run-DMC introducing hip-hop to a mainstream global audience, Madonna’s energetic performance, Mick Jagger and Tina Turner’s electrifying duet, and Elton John and George Michael’s collaboration. Bob Dylan's performance also notably sowed the seeds for Farm Aid, another charity concert dedicated to supporting struggling American farmers.

Despite its monumental success, Live Aid was not without its controversies, particularly regarding artist diversity and the efficacy of aid distribution. Organizers were criticized for an initial lack of Black artists on the bill, a sentiment amplified by Stevie Wonder's reported refusal to participate, stating he would not be