Live Aid

Released on 8 November 2004

Produced by Jill Sinclair
Executive Producers: Bob Geldof and John Kennedy

This four DVD boxed set features the entire concerts recorded at Wembley Stadium, London and JFK Stadium, Philadelphia, on 13 July 1985, with the exception of performances where technical failures occurred or where footage is lost. It features the entire Queen set for the first time, including 'Is This The World We Created?', which suffered from technical problems on the original broadcast. Although this track still has some problems, such as feedback, the quality is much improved on the original.

As Queen only had a limited amount of time (around 20 minutes), most of their tracks are severely reduced in length.

Horizontal banding which appears over some performances is called Microphany and is because the volume of the music affects the cameras.

Queen's main set appears on Disc 2, and Brian and Freddie return to perform 'Is This The World We Created?' which is on Disc 4. Disc 4 also contains the Band Aid Finale, during which Freddie can be seen standing near to Bono and Paul McCartney. The bonus documentary on Disc 4 also contains alternative footage of the finale, and also some footage of Freddie at the Fashion Aid event.

The set was later edited down to a single disc set of highlights, called 'Live Aid - 20 Years Ago Today'. Queen's full performance can also be found on the double DVD set 'Queen Rock Montreal & Live Aid' (which also includes previously unreleased Rehearsal footage and TV interview)

Disc One:

• Michael Beurk BBC News Report (8 minutes)
• Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas? (1984) (5 minutes)
• USA For Africa - We Are The World (1985) (7 minutes)
• Concert (part one) (2 hours 18 minutes)
  1. Opening Ceremony
  2. Status Quo : 'Rockin' All Over The World'
  3. Status Quo : 'Caroline'
  4. The Style Council : 'Internationalists'
  5. The Style Council : 'Walls Come Tumbling Down'
  6. The Boomtown Rats : 'I Don't Like Mondays'
  7. The Boomtown Rats : 'Drag Me Down'
  8. Adam Ant : 'Vive Le Rock'
  9. Ultravox : 'Dancing With Tears In My Eyes'
  10. Ultravox : 'Vienna'
  11. Spandau Ballet : 'Only When You Leave'
  12. Spandau Ballet : 'True'
  13. Elvis Costello : 'All You Need Is Love'
  14. Nik Kershaw: 'Wouldn't It Be Good'
  15. Sade : 'Your Love Is King'
  16. Sting : 'Roxanne'
  17. Phil Collins : 'Against All Odds'
  18. Phil Collins & Sting : 'Every Breath You Take'
  19. Howard Jones : 'Hide And Seek'
  20. Bryan Ferry : 'Slave To Love'
  21. Bryan Ferry : 'Jealous Guy'
  22. Paul Young : 'Do They Know It's Christmas?'
  23. Paul Young : 'Come Back And Stay'
  24. Paul Young & Alison Moyet : 'That's The Way Love Is'
  25. Paul Young : 'Every Time You Go Away'
  26. Link up from Wembley to JFK Stadium by Bob Geldof
  27. Bryan Adams : 'Kids Wanna Rock'
  28. Bryan Adams : 'Summer Of '69'
  29. U2 : 'Sunday Bloody Sunday'
  30. U2 : 'Bad'
  31. U2 : 'Goodbye Ruby Tuesday'
  32. Interview with Phil Collins before boarding Concorde

Disc Two:

• Concert (part two) (2 hours 24 minutes)
  1. The Beach Boys : 'Wouldn't It Be Nice'
  2. The Beach Boys : 'Good Vibrations'
  3. The Beach Boys : 'Surfin' USA'
  4. Dire Straits & Sting : 'Money For Nothing'
  5. Dire Straits : 'Sultans Of Swing'
  6. George Thorogood & The Destroyers : 'Madison Blues'
  7. Queen : 'Bohemian Rhapsody'
  8. Queen : 'Radio Ga Ga' plus 'Freddie Singalong'
  9. Queen : 'Hammer To Fall'
  10. Queen : 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love'
  11. Queen : 'We Will Rock You'
  12. Queen : 'We Are The Champions'
  13. Simple Minds : 'Ghost Dancing'
  14. Simple Minds : 'Don't You Forget About Me'
  15. David Bowie : 'TVC 15'
  16. David Bowie : 'Rebel Rebel'
  17. David Bowie : 'Modern Love'
  18. David Bowie : 'Heroes'
  19. CBC Ethiopian Famine Film
  20. Joan Baez : 'Amazing Grace'
  21. The Pretenders : 'Stop Your Sobbing'
  22. The Pretenders : 'Chain Gang'
  23. The Pretenders : 'Middle Of The Road'
  24. The Who : 'Love Reign O'er Me'
  25. The Who : 'Won't Get Fooled Again'
  26. Kenny Loggins : 'Footloose'
  27. Elton John : 'Bennie And The Jets'
  28. Elton John : 'Rocket Man'
  29. Elton John & Kiki Dee : 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart'
  30. Elton John & George Michael : 'Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me'
  31. Interview with Phil Collins on Concorde

Disc Three:

• Concert (part three) (2 hours 17 minutes)
  1. Introduction in Philadelphia
  2. Madonna : 'Holiday'
  3. Madonna : 'Get Into The Groove'
  4. Freddie Mercury & Brian May : 'Is This The World We Created?'
  5. Paul McCartney : 'Let It Be'
  6. Band Aid Finale : 'Do They Know It's Christmas'
  7. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers : 'American Girl'
  8. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers : 'Refugee'
  9. Black Sabbath featuring Ozzy Osbourne : 'Paranoid'
  10. REO Speedwagon : 'Can't Fight This Feeling'
  11. REO Speedwagon : 'Roll With The Changes'
  12. Crosby, Stills & Nash : 'Teach Your Children'
  13. Judas Priest : 'Living After Midnight'
  14. Judas Priest : 'Green Manalishi'
  15. The Cars : 'Just What I Needed'
  16. The Cars : 'Heartbreak City'
  17. Neil Young : 'The Needle And The Damage Done'
  18. Neil Young : 'Nothing Is Perfect (In God's Perfect Plan)'
  19. Thompson Twins, Steve Stevens, Nile Rodgers & Madonna : 'Revolution'
  20. Eric Clapton : 'White Room'
  21. Eric Clapton : 'She's Waiting'
  22. Eric Clapton : 'Layla' (part 1)
  23. Eric Clapton : 'Layla' (part 2)
  24. Introduction with Jack Nicholson and Bette Middler
  25. Phil Collins : 'In The Air Tonight'
  26. Duran Duran : 'Union Of The Snake'
  27. Duran Duran : 'Save A Prayer'
  28. Duran Duran : 'The Reflex'
  29. Patti Labelle : 'Imagine'
  30. Patti Labelle : 'Forever Young'

Disc Four:

• Concert (part four) (47 minutes)
  1. Hall & Oates : 'Hamster'
  2. Hall & Oates with Eddie Kendricks : 'Get Ready (Cos Here I Come)'
  3. Hall & Oates with Eddie Kendricks & David Ruffin : 'Ain't Too Proud To Beg'
  4. Hall & Oates with Eddie Kendricks & David Ruffin : 'My Girl'
  5. Mick Jagger : 'Just Another Night' (part 1)
  6. Mick Jagger : 'Just Another Night' (part 2)
  7. Mick Jagger : 'Miss You'
  8. Mick Jagger & Tina Turner : 'State Of Shock'
  9. Mick Jagger & Tina Turner : 'It's Only Rock 'n' Roll'
  10. Bob Dylan with Keith Richards and Ron Wood : 'Blowing In The Wind'
  11. USA For Africa Finale : 'We Are The World'
• INXS : 'What You Need'
  INXS : 'Don't Change'
• BB King : 'Why I Sing The Blues'
  BB King : 'Don't Answer The Door'
  BB King : 'Rock Me Baby'
• Ashford & Simpson with Teddy Pendergrass : 'Reach Out And Touch'
• Run DMC : 'King Of Rock'
• Cliff Richard : 'A World Of Difference'
• Overseas Contributors
  1. Austria For Afrika
  2. Band Aid (Germany)
  3. Loudness (Japan)
  4. Eikichi Yazawa (Japan)
  5. Autograph (USSR)
  6. Yu Rock Mission (Yugoslavia)
  7. All Of Us (Norway)
• Dancing In The Street (David Bowie & Mick Jagger)
• Documentary - 'Food & Trucks & Rock 'n' Roll'

Bohemian Rhapsody
Click here for the original song details. Length 2:12
This track is preceded by a short (12 second) piano warm up and segues into 'Radio Ga Ga'
Lyrics:
Mama, just killed a man
Put a gun against his head
Pulled my trigger now he's dead
Mama, life had just begun
But now I've gone and thrown it all away

Mama, oooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Didn't mean to make you cry
If I'm not back again this time tomorrow
Carry on, carry on, as if nothing really matters

Too late, my time has come
Sends shivers down my spine
Body's aching all the time
Goodbye everybody, I've got to go
Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth

Mama, oooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
I don't want to die
I sometimes wish I'd never been born at all

Radio Ga Ga
Click here for the original song details. Length 3:57
This track segues from 'Bohemian Rhapsody'
The edit on the 'Live Aid - 20 Years Ago Today' DVD is identical to the full version but begins about 1.5 seconds after the first drums of the track, reducing the length to about 3:55.
Lyrics:
I'd sit alone and watch your light
My only friend through teenage nights
And everything I had to know
I heard it on my radio
(Radio)

You gave them all those old time stars
Through wars of worlds invaded by Mars
You made 'em laugh, you made 'em cry
You made us feel like we could fly
(Radio)

So don't become some background noise
A backdrop for the girls and boys
Who just don't know or just don't care
And just complain when you're not there
You had your time, you had the power
You've yet to have your finest hour
Radio (radio)
Everybody

All we hear is radio ga ga
Radio goo goo, radio ga ga
All we hear is radio ga ga
Radio blah blah
Radio what's knew?
Radio, someone still loves you

We watch the shows, we watch the stars
On videos for hours and hours
We hardly need to use our ears
Our music changes through the years
(Radio)

Let's hope you'll never leave old friend
Like all good things on you we depend
So stick around 'cos we might miss you
When we grow tired of all this visual
You had your time, you had the power
You've yet to have your finest hour
Radio (radio)

All we hear is radio ga ga
Radio goo goo, radio ga ga
All we hear is radio ga ga
Radio goo goo, radio ga ga
All we hear is radio ga ga
Radio blah blah
Radio what's knew?
Radio, someone still loves you
Loves
You

Freddie Singalong
Click here for details of other singalongs. Length 0:38
This singalong was originally released on 'Rare Live', but this edited out some of the middle section.

Hammer To Fall
Click here for the original song details. Length 3:57
Lyrics:
Freddie: Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hammer to fall

Here we stand, here we fall
History don't care at all
Make the bed, light the light
Lady Mercy won't be home tonight

You don't waste no time at all
Don't hear the bell but you answer the call
Comes to you as to us all, yeah
And it's time for the hammer to fall

Every night, every day
A little piece of you is falling away
Lift your face, the western way, baby

Toe your line and play their game
Till the anaesthetic covers it all
Till one day they call your name, yeah
Then it's time for the hammer to fall

Rich or poor or famous for
Your truth it's all the same, oh no, oh no
Lock your door 'cos rain is pouring
Through your window pane, oh no
Baby now your trouble's all in vain, yeah

For he who grew up tall and proud
In the shadow of the mushroom cloud
Convinced our voices can't be heard
Just want to scream it louder and louder and louder

What the hell we fighting for?
Just surrender and it won't hurt at all
Just got time to say your prayers
Then it's time for the hammer to, hammer to fall

Going to fall

Hey, hey
Hey, hey
Yeah, yeah, one more time

Waiting for the hammer to fall

Give it to me one more time

Freddie: This next song is only dedicated to beautiful people here tonight. It means all of you. Thank you for coming along and making this a great occasion.

Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Click here for the original song details. Length 3:30
Lyrics:
This thing called love I just can't handle it
This thing called love I must get round to it
I ain't ready
Crazy little thing called love

This thing (this thing) called love (called love)
It cries (like a baby)
In a cradle all night
It swings (woo, woo)
It jives (woo, woo)
It shakes all over like a jelly fish
I kinda like it
Crazy little thing called love

There goes my baby
She knows how to rock 'n' roll
She drives me crazy
She gives me hot and cold fever
And leaves me in a cool, cool sweat

I gotta be cool, relax, get hip
And get on my tracks
Take a back seat, hitch hike
Take a long ride on my motorbike
Until I'm ready
Crazy little thing called love

Audience: Gotta be cool, relax, get hip
Audience: And get on my tracks
Audience: Take a back seat
A hitch hike
Take a long ride on my motorbike
Until I'm ready (ready Freddie)
Crazy little thing called love

This thing called love I just can't handle it
This thing called love I just out of it, baby love me
Crazy little thing called love
Crazy little thing called love, hey
Crazy little thing called love, take it Brian

Crazy little thing called love, yeah, yeah
Crazy little thing called love, hey
Crazy little thing called love, alright

We Will Rock You
Click here for the original song details. Length 1:15
This track originally appeared on 'Rare Live'
The fourth DVD featured an edited version of this track on the menu. This featured the first 20 seconds of guitar build up then the last 23 seconds of the guitar outro.
Lyrics:
Buddy you're a boy make a big noise
Playing in the street gonna be a big man some day
Mud on your face
Big disgrace
Kicking your can all over the place
Singing

Audience: We will, we will, rock you
Yeah, do it
Audience: We will, we will, rock you
I like it, sing it again
We will, we will, rock you
One more time
Audience: We will
We will rock you

We Are The Champions
Click here for the original song details. Length 3:27
Lyrics:
I've paid my dues
Time after time
I've done my sentence
But committed no crime
And bad mistakes
I've made a few
I've had my share of sand
Kicked in my face
But I've come through

We are the champions, my friends
And we'll keep on fighting till the end
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cos we are the champions
Of the world

I've taken my bows
And my curtain calls
You've brought me fame and fortune
And everything that goes with it, I thank you all
But it's been no bed of roses
No pleasure cruise
I consider it a challenge before the whole human race
And I ain't gonna lose

We are the champions, my friends
And we'll keep on fighting till the end
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cos we are the champions
Of the world

We are the champions, my friends
And we'll keep on fighting till the end
Oh, we are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cos we are the champions
Of the world

Freddie: So long, goodbye. We love you.

Is This The World We Created?
Click here for the original song details. Length 2:26
Performed by Brian May and Freddie Mercury.
There is approximately 24 seconds of guitar warm-up before the track begins.
Lyrics:
Just look at all those hungry mouths we have to feed
Take a look at all the suffering we breed
So many lonely faces scattered all around
Searching for what they need

Is this the world we created, what did we do it for
Is this the world we invaded, against the law
So it seems in the end is this what we're all living for today
The world that we created

You know that everyday a helpless child is born
Who needs some loving care inside a happy home
Somewhere a wealthy man is sitting on his throne
Waiting for life to go by

Ooh, oh, is this the world we created, we made it on our own
Is this the world we devastated, right to the bone
If there's a God up in the sky looking down
What must he think of what we've done
To the world that he created

Freddie: Thank you very much

Rehearsal Footage and Interview
Note: This footage only appears on the 'Queen Rock Montreal & Live Aid' double DVD set; not on the original 'Live Aid' boxed set.

This feature lasts 10:48 and features rehearsal footage of 'Hammer To Fall' (0:42), 'Bohemian Rhapsody' (1:58) and 'Radio Ga Ga' (3:50), plus an interview with all members of Queen (although John doesn't speak) (4:15). 'Hammer To Fall' is only a short excerpt, but the other tracks are the full versions as performed at the show. The footage was originally broadcast on the UK TV programme 'TV-AM' in the week before Live Aid.

As this is a rehearsal, the sound quality is not the best, and the tracks are mixed differently to how they would normally sound; the drums and guitar dominate, Freddie's vocals are clearly audible, but less prominent than normal.

This page only includes the lyrics to the songs, and not a transcript of the interview section.

'Hammer To Fall' Lyrics:
Here we stand, here we fall
History don't care at all
Make the bed, light the light, yeah
Lady Mercy won't be home tonight

You don't waste no time at all
Don't hear the bell but you answer the call
Comes to you as to us all
And it's time for the hammer to fall

Interview Section

'Bohemian Rhapsody' Lyrics:
Mama, just killed a man
Put a gun against his head
Pulled my trigger now he's dead
Mama, life had just begun
But now I've gone and thrown it all away

Mama, oooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Didn't mean to make you cry
If I'm not back again this time tomorrow
Carry on, carry on, as if nothing really matters

Too late, my time has come
Sends shivers down my spine
Body's aching all the time
Goodbye everybody, I've got to go
Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth

Mama, oooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
I don't want to die
I sometimes wish I'd never been born at all

'Radio Ga Ga' Lyrics:
I'd sit alone and watch your light
My only friend through teenage nights
And everything I had to know
I heard it on my radio
(Radio)

You gave them all those old time stars
Through wars of worlds invaded by Mars
You made 'em laugh, you made 'em cry
You made us feel like we could fly
(Radio)

So don't become some background noise
A backdrop for the girls and boys
Who just don't know or just don't care
And just complain when you're not there
You had your time, you had the power
You've yet to have your finest hour
Radio (radio)

All we hear is radio ga ga
Radio goo goo, radio ga ga
All we hear is radio ga ga
Radio blah blah
Radio what's knew?
Radio, someone still loves you

We watch the shows, we watch the stars
On videos for hours and hours
We hardly need to use our ears
Our music changes through the years
(Radio)

So don't you never leave old friend
Like all good things on you we depend
So stick around 'cos we might miss you
When we grow tired of all this visual
You had your time, you had the power
You've yet to have your finest hour
Radio (radio)

All we hear is radio ga ga
Radio goo goo, radio ga ga
All we hear is radio ga ga
Radio goo goo, radio ga ga
All we hear is radio ga ga
Radio ga ga
Radio what's knew?
Radio, someone still loves you
Loves
You