On 23 October 1984, Bob Geldof witnessed a BBC news report on the famine in Ethiopia, prompting him to act despite attending a lavish party. This moment sparked a major initiative that led to the creation of the charity single 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' by the supergroup Band Aid. Geldof's ability to persuade top artists to contribute to the project demonstrates a remarkable cultural shift. The retrospective reflects on the complexities and imperfections of his undertaking, leading to the monumental Live Aid concerts in 1985, interplaying the themes of privilege and humanitarian effort.
The tension between glamour and guilt is at the heart of this retrospective that doesn't ignore the flaws in Geldof's grand plan to use music to feed the world.
Bob Geldof had a social engagement on 23 October 1984 before being moved by a BBC news report about a famine in Ethiopia.
Episode one focuses on the cultural moment resulting from Geldof's impulse to raise funds for Ethiopia through the song Do They Know It's Christmas?.
Geldof demanded participation from A-list stars, who were willing to help after seeing the Buerk report, making something that shouldn't happen occur very quickly.
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