Memorable festival flashes to heal this summer’s ‘no festivals’ pain…

On 13th July 1985, 35 years ago today, the massive concert marathon LIVE AID was organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for the immensely dramatic Ethiopian famine.

Announced as the ‘global jukebox’, the event was held simultaneously at Wembley Stadium in London for 72,000 people, and at John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia with a crowd of 89,500. And an audience of 1.9 billion TV viewers across 150 nations, that’s nearly 40% of the world population!

Probably the most explosive performance in Philadelphia was by GEORGE THOROGOOD & THE DESTROYERS with a rousing and steamy rendition of Elmore James‘ blues classic MADISON BLUES. And when ALBERT COLLINS, the master of the Telecaster, joined him the heat turned up even more. Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

Manic blues electricity…

GEORGE THOROGOOD: Facebook