Live Aid on July 13, 1985, captivated nearly 2 billion viewers with concerts in London and Philadelphia, featuring over 75 performances by legendary artists like Queen, David Bowie, and Madonna. Organized to combat the Ethiopian famine, the event was a monumental logistical achievement, led by Bill Graham in Philadelphia and musicians Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in London. Graham's innovative staging methods, including a rotating turntable for backlines, ensured seamless transitions between performances, emphasizing the event's historic magnitude and the potential of music to drive change.
First of all, from Bill's point of view, it was a logistical crowning achievement. Having 40-plus artists play on one stage in one day is truly epic. Especially since in 1985, rock 'n' roll production was still somewhat old-school.
His father's idea of putting the backline on a turntable to maintain a constant stream of music meant one band could load in while another performed, dramatically reducing set-change times. That was key to the whole success of the event.
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