Bob Geldof recently set the record straight about the iconic 1985 charity show. He clarified that the phone lines didn’t crash during Queen’s performance, but rather when David Bowie took the stage. This contradicts what was shown in the movie “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Geldof stated, “The movie isn’t right. Queen were completely, utterly brilliant. But the telephone lines collapsed after David Bowie performed.”
The massive event took place simultaneously at Wembley Stadium in London and JFK Stadium in Philadelphia. It raised an incredible $140 million to help those suffering from famine in Ethiopia. The show was broadcast in 150 countries, reaching an audience of 1.5 billion people.
Bowie was deeply affected by raw footage from a Canadian news report about Ethiopia. The clips showed heartbreaking scenes that were too harsh for regular TV. Geldof recalled, “David was crying and said he would cut a song from his set to show the CBC report instead.” After performing “Heroes,” Bowie shared the stark footage, delivering a powerful message that resonated with millions. His transition from rock star to humanitarian left the audience in awe.
Queen’s performance remains legendary. Roadie Peter Hince said, “They just nailed it. I think it was the right time. The audience had to sit through bands who maybe weren’t as exciting as Queen were.”
The lineup that day was star-studded, featuring The Beach Boys, Patti LaBelle, Hall and Oates, Sade, Sting, Phil Collins, U2, The Who, Elton John, and Paul McCartney. The idea for the event came to Geldof after he saw a BBC news report about Ethiopia in 1984. He and Scottish musician Midge Ure worked together to create this unforgettable event.
