Doghousesmall
Doghouse
43817
Live Aid
(1985)
Feed The World
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Stars: Bob Geldof, B.B. King, Daryl Hall, John Paul Jones, Darryl McDaniels
Director: Vincent Scarza
Writer: Bob Geldof
Language: English
Studio: Rhino / Wea
Duration: 600

Billed as "the day music changed history," the Live Aid concerts of July 13, 1985, were held to raise money to fight the horrifying famines sweeping Africa. The brainchild of Bob Geldof and representing the efforts of countless musicians and technicians, Live Aid was a genuine and inspiring effort to help the victims of an overwhelming calamity. Twenty years after the twin concerts (one in London, one in Philadelphia) were broadcast worldwide, the 4-DVD treatment furthers the cause, with proceeds going toward the Band Aid Trust.
The DVD set opens with a heartbreaking documentary on the crisis, followed by videos of the two hit songs that represented the collaborative nature of Geldof's efforts—Band Aid' s "Do They Know It's Christmas?" and USA for Africa's "We Are the World." Since Live Aid was never intended to be released in a recorded format, preservation of TV footage has been unreliable, resulting in some glaring omissions. Led Zeppelin's semi-reunion doesn't appear, and neither does a legendary session with Bob Dylan, Ron Wood, and Keith Richards. Some sets by performers who were popular at the time may inspire either nostalgic glee or head-scratching (Kiki Dee fans, you know who you are). Sprinkled amid these performances are a couple real gems, including a performance by Run DMC, the event's sole representative of the ascendant rap movement. Much of the music here was a passing fad, but the sentiment that brought it all together is timeless. -- Ryan Boudinot


Bob GeldofHimself
B.B. KingHimself
Griff Rhys JonesHimself
Daryl HallHimself
Tracey UllmanHerself
George Michael (II)
John Paul JonesHimself (as Led Zeppelin)
Darryl McDanielsHimself (as Run-D.M.C.)
Jim KerrHimself (as Simple Minds)
Mo AminHimself - photographer
Bryan AdamsHimself (at JFK Stadium)
Roger MooreJames Bond
Stuart AdamsonHimself (as Big Country)
Yaphet KottoKananga
Jane SeymourSolitaire
Adam AntHimself
Nick AshfordHimself
Clifton JamesSheriff J.W. Pepper
Joan BaezHerself
Julius HarrisTee Hee (as Julius W. Harris)
Geoffrey HolderBaron Samedi
Tom BaileyHimself (as Thompson Twins)
David HedisonFelix Leiter
Garry BeersHimself
Big CountryThemselves
Gloria HendryRosie Carver
Bernard LeeM
Black SabbathThemselves
BonoHimself (as U2)
Lois MaxwellMiss Moneypenny
The Boomtown RatsThemselves
Tommy LaneAdam
David BowieHimself
Earl Jolly BrownWhisper
Roy StewartQuarrel Jr.
Andrew BownHimself (as Status Quo)
Jeff BridgesHimself - Host
Lon SattonHarold Strutter
Arnold WilliamsCab Driver
Pete BriquetteHimself (as Boomtown Rats)
Charlie BurchillHimself (as Simple Minds)
Geezer ButlerHimself (as Black Sabbath)
Tony ButlerHimself (as Big Country)
Warren CannHimself
The CarsThemselves
Martin ChambersHimself (as The Pretenders)
Chevy ChaseHimself (at JFK Stadium)
Eric ClaptonHimself
Dick ClarkHimself / Host
Adam ClaytonHimself (as U2)
Albert CollinsHimself (with George Thorogood & the Destroyers)
Phil CollinsHimself
Billy ConnollyHimself
Elvis CostelloHimself
David CrosbyHimself (at JFK Stadium) (as Crosby Stills Nash and Young)
Crosby Stills Nash & YoungThemselves (at JFK Stadium)
Chris CrossHimself (as Ultravox)
Simon CroweHimself (as Boomtown Rats)
Alannah CurrieHerself (as Thompson Twins)
Billy CurrieHimself (as Ultravox)
Roger DaltreyHimself (as The Who)
John DeaconHimself (as Queen)
Paul DenhamHimself (Sade's backing band)
Ronnie James DioHimself (as Black Sabbath)
Dire StraitsThemselves
Duran DuranThemselves
Bob DylanHimself
John EntwistleHimself (as The Who)
Andrew FarrissHimself
Jon FarrissHimself
Tim FarrissHimself
Bryan FerryHimself
Sally FieldHerself
Johnnie FingersHimself (as Boomtown Rats)
Mel GaynorHimself (as Simple Minds)
David GilmourHimself (Bryan Ferry's backing band)
Band of H.M. Coldstream GuardsThemselves (as Regimental Band of The Coldstream Guards)
Tony HadleyHimself (as Spandau Ballet)
Andrew HaleHimself (Sade's backing band)
Michael HutchenceHimself (as INXS)
Chrissie HyndeHerself (as The Pretenders)
John IllsleyHimself (as Dire Straits)
INXSThemselves
Tony IommiHimself (as Black Sabbath)
Mick JaggerHimself
Elton JohnHimself
Howard JonesHimself
Casey KasemHimself / announcer
John KeebleHimself (as Spandau Ballet)
Gary KempHimself (as Spandau Ballet)
Martin KempHimself (as Spandau Ballet)
Eddie KendricksHimself
Andy KershawHimself
Nik KershawHimself
Mark KnopflerHimself (as Dire Straits)
Patti LaBelleHerself
Matt LettleyHimself (as Status Quo)
Alan LancasterHimself (as Status Quo)
Simon Le BonHimself (as Duran Duran)
Joe LeewayHimself (as Thompson Twins)
Genre: Musicals & Performing Arts
Media: DVD
Sound: Stereo
IMDb: 0261024