Music

Live Aid at 40! Rare Behind-the-Scenes Photos of the 1985 Concert That Rocked the World

From Madonna to Paul McCartney to David Bowie to Bob Dylan, the lineup was pretty impressive

By Abbey Bender July 13, 2025

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1. Paul McCartney and David Bowie

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Oh, nothing to see here—just two musical geniuses casually posing together backstage! David Bowie performed four songs at Live Aid and joined Paul McCartney for a heartfelt duet on “Let It Be.”
2. George Michael and Elton John

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George Michael and Elton John struck a pose after performing “Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" together for the first time on the Live Aid stage. After Michael’s untimely death in 2016, John dedicated his performance of the song at the 2023 Glastonbury Festival to the late ’80s pop star.
3. Mick Jagger and Tina Turner

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Mick Jagger and the late, great Tina Turner were two of the most powerful performers around, and sparks flew when the two legends played “It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)” together. Jagger and Turner went way back, as she opened for the Rolling Stones in the ’60s, and many have said that she inspired his signature dance moves.
4. Freddie Mercury

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Queen frontman Freddie Mercury was the voice of many an anthemic hit, and during the band’s Live Aid performance, he famously sang an a cappella note so impressive it became known as “the Note Heard Around the World.” In 2005, a BBC poll named Queen’s set the greatest live performance in the history of rock.
5. Madonna

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It’s funny to think about it now, given how long Madonna has been a star for, but the Queen of Pop was still relatively new on the scene when she performed at Live Aid, having released her breakthrough album, Like a Virgin, less than a year before the show. She charmed the crowd as she performed while wearing an of-the-moment pastel and floral ensemble topped off with her signature jumble of accessories.
6. Sade

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Sade brought an elegant sense of chill to Live Aid with her performance, and the singer, who is of British and Nigerian descent, was the only African-born artist to perform at the concert.
7. Bono

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Bono has always been one of the more socially conscious rock stars out there, so it’s no surprise that U2 performed at Live Aid. While onstage, he rocked one of the most impressive ’80s mullets we’ve ever seen.
8. Joan Baez

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While Live Aid was filled with ’80s chart-toppers, there were also a number of ’60s acts on the bill, including folk trailblazer Joan Baez, who performed an inspirational rendition of “Amazing Grace.”
9. Ozzy Osbourne

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Live Aid even had something for the metalheads, as Black Sabbath reunited for the first time since 1978, and Ozzy Osbourne dressed for the occasion in an embellished ensemble.
10. Brian Wilson, Mike Love and Al Jardine

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Al Jardine, Mike Love and Brian Wilson (pictured left to right) of the Beach Boys wore some fabulously colorful shirts as they played five of their classic ’60s hits.
11. Chrissie Hynde

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Pretenders frontwoman Chrissie Hynde rocked out in a cool suit covered in an eyeball print.
12. Tom Petty and Robert Plant

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Tom Petty and Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant (who reunited with his band for the show) had fun chatting backstage, though Led Zeppelin’s highly-anticipated set was notoriously considered a disappointment.
13. Simon Le Bon

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Duran Duran frontman Simon Le Bon signed a fan’s t-shirt after performing at Live Aid. We can’t help but wonder where that shirt is now—and how much it would be worth!
14. Patti LaBelle

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Patti LaBelle belted out soulful covers of “Imagine,” “Forever Young” and “Over the Rainbow” while wearing an exaggerated black-and-white look that only a diva could get away with.
15. Bob Dylan, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood

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Talk about a supergroup! Bob Dylan shared the stage with Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones to play three songs, including “Blowin’ in the Wind.”
16. Jack Nicholson and Bette Midler

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The presenters at Live Aid were almost as impressive as the musicians! Jack Nicholson and Bette Midler went onstage to introduce a number of performers.
17. Cher

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Cher wasn’t a featured performer at Live Aid, but she attended the Philadelphia concert and took part in the finale performance of “We Are the World.”
18. Princess Diana

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Princess Diana was a fixture at many of the most important events of the ’80s, so of course she was in the audience at Live Aid.

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