topic Live Aid concert 1985 in What's On

Live Aid concert 1985

Mr+Ripley — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 12:07:46 GMT

I heard today that Greatest Hits Radio station will be broadcasting the entire 1985 Live Aid concert in real time. Whilst this is at least something, I was rather hoping that the full concert would be broadcast on BBC on the 40th anniversary next month. I didn't get to see much of the first part of the show, the afternoon section, as I was working. I think Queen were the first band I saw.

However, BBC are not ignoring it. BBC Two will be showing a documentary - " A coproduction between the BBC and CNN Originals, Live Aid at 40 delves deep into the complex, sometimes controversial, stories behind this historic event and its legacy, in Britain, in the US, in Ethiopia and Africa as a whole. "

"Also coming to BBC Two in July is Live Aid the Concert.

Now, for the first time since 1985, BBC Two gives viewers a chance to relive over 6.5 hours of extended highlights of the London and Philadelphia concerts, in addition to backstage footage, including interviews with Bono, Brian May, David Bowie, Elvis Costello, Howard Jones, Roger Daltrey, Spandau Ballet, Sting, The Style Council and a transatlantic interview with Phil Collins on Concorde. " *

So, there is something to look forward to after all, to commemorate a major day in history.

* Information from BBC Media Centre

Re: Live Aid concert 1985

GD1 — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 13:44:52 GMT

@Mr+Ripley And the entrire Live aid concerts are available on DVD

Re: Live Aid concert 1985

ozsat — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 15:22:51 GMT

The official DVD release has quite a bit missing - mainly due to rights issues and techincal issues. Seems some bits were just lost too.

Some tv channels were showing their own thing during some performances - so they were not recorded by those that did keep thr actual broadcast material.

The BBC (and others) were requested to destroy their recording - not sure if they did.

There's around 20 artists and 60 or so songs missing from the full(est) DVD. You can get unofficial DVDs of the missing performances but even then a few still were not located.

@GD1 wrote:
@Mr+Ripley And the entrire Live aid concerts are available on DVD

Re: Live Aid concert 1985

Doc5907 — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 16:33:57 GMT

Not the full concert but all the songs in the playlist ..

Live aid Wembley (1985)

Re: Live Aid concert 1985

GD1 — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 16:44:16 GMT

@ozsat I did have the off air recording from the BBC on the day with the radio 1 stereo soundtrack, lost tapes long time ago.

It had the full wembly & USA concerts

Re: Live Aid concert 1985

ozsat — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 18:50:53 GMT

The audio still exists run for ten hours.

The issue is that the channels were not meant to be recording the concert - and many didn't.

Of those that did record their own output - not all showed all performances.

It seems some have been lost.

Re: Live Aid concert 1985

Mr+Ripley — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 11:48:11 GMT

Live Aid at 40: When Rock 'n' Roll Took on the World. This is a 3-part documentary that starts next Sunday at 9 pm on BBC Two. Part 2 follows on the same night at 10.00 pm. Not sure when part 3 is being aired.

Re: Live Aid concert 1985

ozsat — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 12:14:11 GMT

Most likely the following Sunday.

This is the CNN/BBC series showing as four parts on CNN.

@Mr+Ripley wrote:
Live Aid at 40: When Rock 'n' Roll Took on the World. This is a 3-part documentary that starts next Sunday at 9 pm on BBC Two. Part 2 follows on the same night at 10.00 pm. Not sure when part 3 is being aired.

Re: Live Aid concert 1985

Daniel0210 — Sun, 06 Jul 2025 06:45:59 GMT

Live Aid next Saturday evening (12/07) from 6pm on BBC2. It's in two parts, second part at 9.25pm.

Re: Live Aid concert 1985

Mr+Ripley — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 18:26:06 GMT

@Mr+Ripley wrote:
Live Aid at 40: When Rock 'n' Roll Took on the World. This is a 3-part documentary that starts next Sunday at 9 pm on BBC Two. Part 2 follows on the same night at 10.00 pm. Not sure when part 3 is being aired.

I watched this 3-part documentary earlier this week & I was very impressed with it. It was an extremely interesting slice of history with a lot of archival footage I've never seen before. I really liked seeing Bob Geldof as he is now, with all his comments & insights on what went on back in the day. It was good to see he hasn't changed too much.