Queen Delivers Legendary Live Aid Performance, Raises Over $100 Million for Ethiopia

The 1985 Live Aid concert, organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for Ethiopian famine relief, remains a landmark event in music history, watched by over 1.5 billion people worldwide. Despite early tensions and skepticism about Queen's participation, the band delivered one of the most legendary performances, which many credit with saving their career and reviving their unity amid internal struggles. Geldof initially resisted including Queen, viewing them as emblematic of the excesses punk rock opposed, but later acknowledged their pop genius. Behind the scenes, the event was marked by artist rivalries, scheduling challenges, and controversies, including criticism over the exclusion of black British artists and questions about the distribution of funds, some of which reportedly fell into the hands of the Ethiopian regime. While estimates suggest Live Aid raised around $150 million, concerns persist about how much aid actually reached starving Ethiopians, with Geldof admitting to dealing with problematic authorities to get aid delivered. Despite its flaws and backstage drama, Live Aid's cultural and humanitarian impact endures, immortalizing moments like Queen's iconic Wembley Stadium set and spotlighting the power of global musical collaboration for charity.