For many, Queen were the standout performers of the event, with Freddie Mercury in ultimate showman mode, leading a medley of their greatest hits, and the famous call and refrain of Ay-Oh.
However, one of the day’s most famous incidents didn’t quite happen in the way that would later enter into folklore. Bob Geldof became associated with the phrase “Give me your f**king money“, despite the fact he never actually said it.
He did though utter an expletive during an appeal for donations. “Take the money out of your pocket. Don’t go to the pub tonight please, stay in and give us the money. There are people dying now so give me the money. And here’s the numbers.” he said, before swearing when TV presenter David Hepworth mentioned the postal address for donations.
“F**k the address, let’s get the numbers,” was Geldof’s response.
Another memorable moment that stopped everyone in their tracks came in the form of a video introduced by David Bowie that illustrated the devastation caused by the famine in Ethiopia, movingly set to the track Drive by The Cars. This, along with Geldof’s passionate pre-watershed swearing, marked a turning point for donations, which flowed in for the rest of the night and beyond.
Phil Collins, meanwhile, holds the distinction of being the only performer to appear at both the UK and US legs of the event. Following a set alongside Sting at Wembley, he hot footed it across the Atlantic via Concorde to Philadelphia where he performed a couple of solo hits, and played drums during Led Zeppelin’s set.
Also in Philadelphia, rising star Madonna sang two of her biggest hits at that time, Holiday and Into The Groove, before teaming up with The Thompson Twins and Nile Rodgers for Love Makes the World Go Round and a cover of The Beatles’ Revolution.
Back in London, another Beatles classic, Let It Be, was performed by Paul McCartney, with a little help from David Bowie, Bob Geldof, Alison Moyet and Pete Townshend, when McCartney’s mic failed.
