13 July 1985 - Wembley Stadium, London
"It's 12 noon in London, 7 AM in Philadelphia, and around the world it's time for Live Aid," announced Richard Skinner. "Wembley welcomes their Royal Highnesses, the Prince and Princess of Wales."
The Beatles and their families had finally arrived at Wembley Stadium in London; they were now watching Prince Charles and and his wife Diana on the television screen as the former greeted the crowd with a wave. Bob Geldof was to the Prince's left (right in viewer's perspective).
"Ladies and gentlemen, the Royal Salute!"
No sooner had Tommy Vance made this announcement, the Coldstream Guards kicked off the Wembley show with the first six bars to "God Save the Queen". They'd been performing for the British Army for two hundred years, and it seemed fitting that they be the ones to kick off the show.
"And now, to start off sixteen hours of Live Aid," Vance announced again, "would you welcome, Status Quo!"
"Let's leave the telly on," John Lennon told his bandmates. "This concert's a big deal."
"This'll be even bigger than when we did the one for Bangladesh," remarked George Harrison. "Well, back when we weren't on the best of terms with Paul," he added, acknowledging his south-pawed friend.
"Yeah, but y'know, it's all in the past," Paul McCartney assured, slightly smiling, "and we're all good friends again. We have to stick together, y'know, no matter what life throws our way."
John and George, as well as Ringo Starr, could not have agreed more; they had reunited at the start of the 1980s, which became a huge deal in the music world, but lately? They were being viewed by some critics, especially in the United States, as relics of the 1960s having gone way beyond their prime despite not playing together that much in the previous decade. In the United Kingdom, however, they had managed to salvage things by starring in a successful children's television program based upon a series of books by a clergyman, and even had a number one single the previous year.
The Beatles performing at Live Aid was a huge deal for John, Paul, George and Ringo. Either they'd pull off a hugely successful performance and maybe record a new album with renewed optimism, or it would all come crashing down on them and they'd break up once more, this time for good. If there was something between the two extremes... well, who knew? Nobody could predict what would happen.
They spent the next several hours going over their planned setlist and making sure everything was tuned just right; they planned on kicking off with a few rockers, then an acoustic medley, and then a piano-based closer. John would then come back on stage towards the end of the concert, about 22:45-ish (5:45 PM in Philadelphia), and everyone within their party knew what song he would be performing at that time, along with a little surprise before the Band Aid group performance at the very end.
At long last, the Beatles were told by a stagehand that it was almost time for them to appear on the stage.
"Well, this is it, lads," John said to the others. "An event that's been nearly thirty years in the making." Had anyone told him, back in the 1950s, that he'd be playing for a charity concert on this exact date, he would've laughed and dismissed it with a rude, possibly even vulgar, remark. But now, this was happening, and there was no backing down now.
Ringo could see Phil Collins leaving the stage with the three surviving members of the Who; Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey and John Entwistle. Several years ago, Phil has been a part of the progressive rock group Genesis, but he left the group to pursue a gig with the Who, succeeding Keith Moon, who had died seven years ago. Alongside his work with the Who, Phil had also pursued a solo career, having so far put out three albums.
The Beatles and their families had finally arrived at Wembley Stadium in London; they were now watching Prince Charles and and his wife Diana on the television screen as the former greeted the crowd with a wave. Bob Geldof was to the Prince's left (right in viewer's perspective).
"Ladies and gentlemen, the Royal Salute!"
No sooner had Tommy Vance made this announcement, the Coldstream Guards kicked off the Wembley show with the first six bars to "God Save the Queen". They'd been performing for the British Army for two hundred years, and it seemed fitting that they be the ones to kick off the show.
"And now, to start off sixteen hours of Live Aid," Vance announced again, "would you welcome, Status Quo!"
"Let's leave the telly on," John Lennon told his bandmates. "This concert's a big deal."
"This'll be even bigger than when we did the one for Bangladesh," remarked George Harrison. "Well, back when we weren't on the best of terms with Paul," he added, acknowledging his south-pawed friend.
"Yeah, but y'know, it's all in the past," Paul McCartney assured, slightly smiling, "and we're all good friends again. We have to stick together, y'know, no matter what life throws our way."
John and George, as well as Ringo Starr, could not have agreed more; they had reunited at the start of the 1980s, which became a huge deal in the music world, but lately? They were being viewed by some critics, especially in the United States, as relics of the 1960s having gone way beyond their prime despite not playing together that much in the previous decade. In the United Kingdom, however, they had managed to salvage things by starring in a successful children's television program based upon a series of books by a clergyman, and even had a number one single the previous year.
The Beatles performing at Live Aid was a huge deal for John, Paul, George and Ringo. Either they'd pull off a hugely successful performance and maybe record a new album with renewed optimism, or it would all come crashing down on them and they'd break up once more, this time for good. If there was something between the two extremes... well, who knew? Nobody could predict what would happen.
They spent the next several hours going over their planned setlist and making sure everything was tuned just right; they planned on kicking off with a few rockers, then an acoustic medley, and then a piano-based closer. John would then come back on stage towards the end of the concert, about 22:45-ish (5:45 PM in Philadelphia), and everyone within their party knew what song he would be performing at that time, along with a little surprise before the Band Aid group performance at the very end.
At long last, the Beatles were told by a stagehand that it was almost time for them to appear on the stage.
"Well, this is it, lads," John said to the others. "An event that's been nearly thirty years in the making." Had anyone told him, back in the 1950s, that he'd be playing for a charity concert on this exact date, he would've laughed and dismissed it with a rude, possibly even vulgar, remark. But now, this was happening, and there was no backing down now.
Ringo could see Phil Collins leaving the stage with the three surviving members of the Who; Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey and John Entwistle. Several years ago, Phil has been a part of the progressive rock group Genesis, but he left the group to pursue a gig with the Who, succeeding Keith Moon, who had died seven years ago. Alongside his work with the Who, Phil had also pursued a solo career, having so far put out three albums.
Neither the Who nor the Beatles said anything to one another as the former left the stage to make way for the latter, but their facial expressions and the odd hand gesture were enough of a sign to show that the Who had done very well out there, and in return, they were telling the Beatles to break a leg. (Ironically, it is a theatrical superstition that it's actually bad luck to say "good luck" to someone when they're about to perform on stage.)
Not too far away from the Beatles, Julian Lennon could see his younger half-brother Freddie playing with James and Dhani, the respective sons of Paul and Linda, and George and Olivia. Although the three boys were still quite young, many had somewhat expected that one day, they'd form a band of their own like their dads before them, but of course, they were also free to pursue solo careers.
Zak Starkey looked over at his new wife, Sarah Menikides, who was having a bit of a "girls' hangout" with James' older sisters, Heather, Mary and Stella, Zak's younger sister Lee and Julian and Freddie's little sister Alice (Jason was helping to look after the smaller kids). Zak kissed Sarah, who then placed his hand onto her stomach; seven months pregnant. Expecting in September, they would be bringing in the first ever Beatle grandchild into the world.
But what about Maddy, Linda, Livvy and Babs? Much like their respective husbands, they were in their own group, sitting on chairs, gossiping about anything. They were also joined by Cynthia, Pattie and Maureen, the respective ex-wives of John, George and Ringo.
Out of the first Beatle wives, Linda was the only one who stayed married to Paul, a marriage of sixteen years and counting. In 1969, John was married to Yoko Ono, and while she and Linda never really hated each other - unlike their husbands at the time - the latter did sometimes feel intimidated by the former. But now, Madeline Kahn had taken Yoko's place as John's wife, and so far his most successful marriage. She was warm, kind-hearted and funny, and it always brought a sense of delight whenever she, Linda, Olivia and Barbara were in the same room.
Yes, since the beginning of the 1980s, the Beatles had become more than just a musical affair. They were a family. And no one wanted to trade that for anything in the world.
John, Paul, George and Ringo were now close to the stage entrance, holding onto their guitars and (in Ringo's case) drumsticks, feeling excited but a little anxious about what was going to happen. Bob Geldof, one of the people responsible for organizing this event, was giving his introduction.
"This could be the most important performance of the entire concert," he was saying, "let alone the entirety of rock music history. So, please let me introduce to you, the act you've known for all these years..." He paused for dramatic effect; there was some scattered chuckling at the reference Geldof had just made, but they were drowned out by unstoppable clapping and screaming the moment he said their name...
"THE BEATLES!"
Zak Starkey looked over at his new wife, Sarah Menikides, who was having a bit of a "girls' hangout" with James' older sisters, Heather, Mary and Stella, Zak's younger sister Lee and Julian and Freddie's little sister Alice (Jason was helping to look after the smaller kids). Zak kissed Sarah, who then placed his hand onto her stomach; seven months pregnant. Expecting in September, they would be bringing in the first ever Beatle grandchild into the world.
But what about Maddy, Linda, Livvy and Babs? Much like their respective husbands, they were in their own group, sitting on chairs, gossiping about anything. They were also joined by Cynthia, Pattie and Maureen, the respective ex-wives of John, George and Ringo.
Out of the first Beatle wives, Linda was the only one who stayed married to Paul, a marriage of sixteen years and counting. In 1969, John was married to Yoko Ono, and while she and Linda never really hated each other - unlike their husbands at the time - the latter did sometimes feel intimidated by the former. But now, Madeline Kahn had taken Yoko's place as John's wife, and so far his most successful marriage. She was warm, kind-hearted and funny, and it always brought a sense of delight whenever she, Linda, Olivia and Barbara were in the same room.
Yes, since the beginning of the 1980s, the Beatles had become more than just a musical affair. They were a family. And no one wanted to trade that for anything in the world.
John, Paul, George and Ringo were now close to the stage entrance, holding onto their guitars and (in Ringo's case) drumsticks, feeling excited but a little anxious about what was going to happen. Bob Geldof, one of the people responsible for organizing this event, was giving his introduction.
"This could be the most important performance of the entire concert," he was saying, "let alone the entirety of rock music history. So, please let me introduce to you, the act you've known for all these years..." He paused for dramatic effect; there was some scattered chuckling at the reference Geldof had just made, but they were drowned out by unstoppable clapping and screaming the moment he said their name...
"THE BEATLES!"
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