Discussion
Before I moved into Toothless Towers I used to live directly opposite a guy who was a sound engineer at the BBC and was one of the crew who did Live Aid. He eventually moved into a senior position, training younger engineers. He often did classical outside broadcasts like the Promenade Concerts.
He once told me that before the show they were all absolutely bricking it. Nothing on that scale had ever been tried before and there were just so many things that could go wrong.
When Quo bounced out on the stage, spoke a few words to the audience (otherwise known as checking the microphones were working) and roared straight into the riff of Rocking All Over The World, everyone in the control box let out a long held breath, and leaned back into their seats. They knew it was going to work.
And when Quo finished, they all looked at the clocks and the band was second perfect.
Although not that familiar with the rock music scene, he was gobsmacked by their professionalism.
He once told me that before the show they were all absolutely bricking it. Nothing on that scale had ever been tried before and there were just so many things that could go wrong.
When Quo bounced out on the stage, spoke a few words to the audience (otherwise known as checking the microphones were working) and roared straight into the riff of Rocking All Over The World, everyone in the control box let out a long held breath, and leaned back into their seats. They knew it was going to work.
And when Quo finished, they all looked at the clocks and the band was second perfect.
Although not that familiar with the rock music scene, he was gobsmacked by their professionalism.
I went to see Bruce Springsteen at Wembley either the 3rd or 4th of July 85 I forget which day it was now. I know he wanted to be a part of the live aid thing but as he was in the middle of the Born in the USA tour it was not possible. IIRC his contribution to live aid was he left his stage there for them to use.
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hstewie said:
hstewie said: I was just randomly listening to some Ultravox and found myself watching the live performance of Dancing with Tears in My Eyes that they did for Live Aid.
I was a kid at the time and probably didn't pay the attention that I do now.
https://youtu.be/Eg6SaWUwDXM
The size of that fking crowd 
Random I know
This means nothing to me....Oh ViennaI was a kid at the time and probably didn't pay the attention that I do now.
https://youtu.be/Eg6SaWUwDXM
The size of that f
king crowd Random I know
Thank you, got me watching The Cars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ukfkqs9LU4E Just what I needed
Must get the DVD's out
Raygun said:
I might be a bit cynical but did anyone else think Geldof's concern for Ethiopia was more to do getting himself back in the limelight?
By 85 he was residing in the 'Where is he now?' file.
I know cynicism is the default status on PH, but really??By 85 he was residing in the 'Where is he now?' file.
Do you really think Bob woke up one morning thinking " it's been a while since we had a hit. I need to get some publicity...
I know! Everyone knows that the easiest way to get in the papers is to try and arrange several hundred artists, all with different managers, to perform at the biggest live event ever televised, across two continents, with royalty, TV networks, inflated egos and dodgy technology to contend with.
I'll have it all wrapped up by lunchtime..."
dandarez said:
cheddar said:
bhstewie said:
hstewie said: The size of that fking crowd
Attendance 82000.king crowd Queen absolutely stole the show, Freddie was magic, I felt sorry for any band following them.
Queen at Knebworth, one year later, their last ever performance, unofficial attendance 160,000 - twice that of Wembley.
That's not a 'crowd' at a concert.
THIS is a crowd at a concert!
Largest concert gathering in the UK - ever.
Crowd estimates go as high as 700,000!
I'm in there... somewhere
(snap is just a small clip of the whole area).
Still remember getting sunburnt.
50 yrs ago this August.
Naturally, an Act of Parliament was brought in to try and prevent it ever happening again.
crofty1984 said:
What gig was that?
Looks like the 1970 Isle of Wight festival?W.r.t Queen at Live Aid.
Yes a phenomenal performance, for a Band to come across so well to a General festival type (I.e not their fans) music crowd was something to behold.
They were one of only a handful of bands at the time that actually had done Stadium sized gigs, so they knew how to perform to that sized crowd. They were well rehearsed as stated above. There were a great live band in any case. But the two key things were:
- They understood what the day was about and put together a great set packed with ‘hits’ I.e it was a world audience not their fan club. So no obscure album tracks or pushing about to be released singles.
- They had Freddie, no one else managed to connect with the audience in the same way, he was capable of singing to the back row and was simply a magnetic force with a magnificent voice.
In short, No one else really came that close, but there were still some great and unusual performances, I’ll never forget it.
Edited by Green1man on Sunday 12th July 16:12
boyse7en said:
Raygun said:
I might be a bit cynical but did anyone else think Geldof's concern for Ethiopia was more to do getting himself back in the limelight?
By 85 he was residing in the 'Where is he now?' file.
I know cynicism is the default status on PH, but really??By 85 he was residing in the 'Where is he now?' file.
Do you really think Bob woke up one morning thinking " it's been a while since we had a hit. I need to get some publicity...
I know! Everyone knows that the easiest way to get in the papers is to try and arrange several hundred artists, all with different managers, to perform at the biggest live event ever televised, across two continents, with royalty, TV networks, inflated egos and dodgy technology to contend with.
I'll have it all wrapped up by lunchtime..."
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