Madonna was just one of many prominent artists who performed in front of 100,000 people at John F. Kennedy Stadium during the July 13, 1985, Live Aid concerts. (Credit: Instagram @live_aid1985)
WXPN is taking listeners on a musical time machine this Sunday to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Live Aid, the historic 1985 benefit concert that united artists and audiences across continents for a global cause—famine relief in Ethiopia.
From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on July 13, the Philadelphia-based public radio station will broadcast performances from the original Live Aid concerts in real time, matching the timeline of that day four decades ago.
Live Aid was a dual-venue benefit concert held on July 13, 1985. Spearheaded by musicians Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, the event featured simultaneous performances at Wembley Stadium in London and John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia - where the Wells Fargo Center is currently situated - with dozens of major artists donating their time.
The concerts were broadcast live across the globe, reaching an estimated 1.9 billion viewers in more than 150 countries, and ultimately raised over $150 million for humanitarian aid, making it one of the most significant and far-reaching charity events in music history.
The tribute will include music from legendary acts such as Queen, U2, Madonna, David Bowie, Hall & Oates and many more who performed in either London or Philadelphia.
Phil Collins performed at both venues, starting earlier in the day in London. He then boarded a Concorde jet and flew to Philadelphia, to perform that evening.
WXPN hosts Robert Drake and Bruce Warren—who both attended the original event—will guide the broadcast, offering commentary, personal reflections and interviews with special guests who were there. Scheduled appearances include Rob Hyman of The Hooters, Philadelphia radio personality Pierre Robert and cabaret performer Martha Graham Cracker, who is hosting a separate tribute concert Sunday evening at Union Transfer.
The Sunday evening concert will feature local artists performing songs from the original 1985 lineup. Like the first Live Aid concert, the celebration serves as a fundraiser, and proceeds will benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
This weekend’s WXPN tribute promises not only iconic performances but also behind-the-scenes stories from a day when music proved it could move the world.
More information about the broadcast and WXPN’s programming is available at www.xpn.org.
