There were some fantastic positives resulting from Live Aid. Largely that, a bunch of muso’s with giant, inflated egos could actually leave their egos and performance bills at the door and do something for the greater good – en masse. (A few exceptions, granted “buy my new single, Vive Le Rock” still remains a cringeworthy one.)
It was interesting seeing the look back and memories people had of the day. But has the actual reason and significance of the occasion been left behind?
One shining legacy IS that musicians more than anyone else in the arts and cultural stream these days seem eager to club together and raise awareness and money for certain causes. But has that eagerness diluted things? Has it diluted the importance of Live Aid itself and its reason for being?
A few people talked about the ticket price. “Wow! All those acts for £25? Amazing.” Well, actually, it should have been hundreds of quid when you think about it – esp. when you consider what the money was for and where it was going.
Another comment I saw said “such a wonderful day for freedom and peace”….? Eh? Either you had mixed up your concerts or ….
This is why I am pondering whether the reason behind Live Aid has been lost on a new generation. That, as us kids of the 80s look back, we are so in awe of the talent on display and of the music, we forget to pass on the reason it happened.
It’s still happening around the world – in truly apocalyptic and horrendous fashion. sustained and deliberate.
Where are the musicians clubbing together and pulling together like this for Yemen? Where innocent children are starving and dying daily? Not fashionable enough? Not considered urgent enough? Have you SEEN what is going on over there?!! Should I be daring to compare Ethiopia to Yemen?
Parents – I have one request. That every year when the anniversary for Live Aid comes around and you reminisce about a world in which a band of musicians in the first world could pull their resources to create the biggest charity event the world has ever seen to raise funds for possibly the worst famine the world has ever seen, that you remind your kids that the day was for THEM – the famine victims. Those in East Africa, suffering on a scale that, mercifully, your children are unlikely to experience.
