Live Aid

In early 1985, Bob Geldof and Midge Ure came up with the idea of staging a large two continent concert to raise money for famine relief in Africa. They started asking their wish list of performers if they would join in, and everyone said yes. So the concert was set for July 13th, 1985, kicking off in London and being joined up to the Philadelphia event- except for one notable exception. Phil Collins played in London, then jumped on the Concorde and flew to New York, where he got in a limo and was driven to Philadelphia, where he played with Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones as a re-formed (almost) Led Zeppelin.

There were a bunch of celebrity announcers on stage during the show- my favorites were Jack Nicholson and Bette Midler, a match made in heaven.

Early in the day, George Thorogood from right up the road in Deleware, played a rousing set, joined by Bo Diddley.

Eric Clapton played a short, powerful set early in the afternoon.

Madonna came out with the Thompson Twins as her backup singers.

Led Zeppelin reunited (almost) with three out of four members.

Hometown Philly favorite Patti Labelle performed mid-afternoon.

Neil Young blasted through a set of his hits as the sun started going down.

Right at the end of the afternoon, I turned around to stretch and saw this photo happening. I shot a few frames, and this one ended up on the cover of the year-end issue of Parade Magazine.

During my only bathroom break of the day, I happened across Robert Plant and Tom Petty having an animated conversation.

One of the highlights of the day fro me was when two more Philly favorites, Hall and Oates, brought out Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin of the Temptations to harmonize on some great soul music.

Mick Jagger was one of the show closers and he brought Tina Turner out for what everyone thought was a great ending.

Bob Dylan, not one to resist rising to a challenge, brought Ron Wood and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones on stage to close the show.

The finale included Lionel Richie and Harry Belafonte (top) and Lionel and Dionne Warwick (bottom). Then everybody went home (or to a hotel) and slept.