THE DAY THE WORLD UNITED
LIVE AID CONCERT ROCKS THE GLOBE FOR FAMINE RELIEF
PHOTO: WEMBLEY STADIUM, LONDON - JULY 13, 1985
LONDON stood at the center of the universe yesterday as Wembley Stadium played host to the greatest show on Earth. Over 72,000 fans packed the arena, while an estimated 1.5 billion people watched across 150 nations, all united by a single cause: to "Feed the World." The Live Aid concert, organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, has already raised over £50 million for Ethiopian famine relief, a figure that continues to climb as donations pour in via telephone marathons.
The atmosphere was electric from the moment Status Quo opened with "Rockin' All Over the World." Highlights included a show-stopping performance by Queen, led by a charismatic Freddie Mercury, and a transatlantic dash by Phil Collins, who performed in London before flying by Concorde to play at the Philadelphia leg of the event. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher praised the "unprecedented generosity" of the British public. "It is a testament to the power of music and the human spirit," she said in a statement from Downing Street late last night.


