Bob Geldof and Midge Ure were back on familiar ground as they reunited to celebrate the forthcoming 40th anniversary of Live Aid. 

The original two-venue benefit, held on July 13 1985, was organised by Geldof and Ure to raise relief funds for the two year Ethiopian famine that claimed approximately 300,000 to 1.2 million lives. 

And they were back at Wembley Stadium on Thursday to announce Just for One Day: The Live Aid Musical Original cast recording. 

Almost forty years after 72,000 fans converged on the venue for an epic string of performances from some of the biggest stars of the 1980s, the pair posed for pH๏τos on its hallowed turf. 

Echoing that legendary summer’s day in 1985, the sun beat down on Wembley as Geldof, 73, and Ure, 71, recalled fond memories of the fund-raising event. 

Bob Geldof and Midge Ure were back on familiar ground as they reunited to celebrate the forthcoming 40th anniversary of Live Aid

The pair were back at Wembley Stadium on Thursday to announce Just For One Day: The Live Aid Musical Original Cast Recording

L-R: Bob Geldof, Adam Ant, Sir Elton John, Gary Kemp, Tony Hadley and Midge Ure attend a Wembley Stadium press conference ahead of Live Aid in 1985 

Launched at London’s Old Vic in 2024, jukebox musical Just For One Day: The Live Aid Musical details the events leading up to the two concerts, while featuring a series of fictionalised dramatic sub-plots. 

Following a recent two month run at Toronto’s Mirvish Theatre, it will open at London’s Shaftesbury Theatre from May 15 for a further eight weeks, in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of Live Aid. 

Watched by an estimated 1.9billion people across the world, the two concerts raised an astonishing £150 million in total for famine relief. 

Just seven-months after the release of Band Aid charity single Do They Know It’s Christmas?, Geldof and Ure brought together some of the biggest artists of the 1980s for two huge concerts at Wembley Stadium and Philadelphia’s John F. Kennedy Stadium. 

David Bowie, Sir Paul McCartney, Status Quo, Sir Elton John and Queen led a lengthy roster of performers in London, while Black Sabbath, Joan Baez, Run D.M.C and The Beach Boys joined a host of stars in Philadelphia. 

Ahead of the anniversary, BBC Two and BBC iPlayer have announced plans to broadcast Live Aid at 40, revealing the behind-the-scenes story of the 1985 concert that brought the idea of charity to a new generation. 

Exclusive interviews include iconic figures such as Bob Geldof, Bono and Sting – along with US President George Bush, President Obasanjo of Nigeria and Birhan Woldu, the woman who as a dying child, became the abiding image of the Wembley concert and the famine.

Almost forty years after 72,000 fans converged for an epic string of performances from some of the biggest stars of the 1980s, the pair posed for pH๏τos on Wembley’s hallowed turf

Geldof (L) wore a Breton shirt and jeans for his visit to the stadium, while Ure (R) wore a thick roll-neck sweater, despite the weather pushing thirty degrees

Echoing that legendary summer’s day in 1985, the sun beat down on Wembley as Geldof and Ure recalled fond memories of the fund-raising event

The series weaves the back room stories of two gangs of musicians, from the UK and the US with the political stories that both inspired them and brought them to a worldwide audience. 

Archive of the performances and back stage of the record and the concert feature Paula Yates, Boy George, Status Quo and George Michael whilst interviews with Nile Rodgers, Lenny Henry, Phil Collins, Lionel Richie, Patti LaBelle, Roger Taylor and Brian May are set against the memories of the Ethiopian politicians at the heart of the relief effort, Dawit Giorgis and Berhane Deressa. 

Emma Hindley, BBC Commissioning Editor, said: ‘The series takes the audience on an irresistible and entertaining ride through the 40 years since the biggest live concert ever was shown on TV. 

‘Featuring exclusive behind the scenes interviews with an array of stars of rock & pop, Live Aid at 40 revels in the music, unravels the politics and explores the legacy of Live Aid.’

The BBC will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Live Aid with a series of programmes detailing the behind-the-scenes story of the iconic concerts on July 13, 1985

Freddie Mercury’s mesmerising performance with Queen at Wembley Stadium is one of the most enduring memories of Live Aid

Also coming to BBC Two in July is Live Aid the Concert, a look back at the 16-hour concert in full, with performances from the likes of Madonna, Mick Jagger, Patti LaBelle, Phil Collins, Queen, Spandau Ballet, Sade, Sting, Status Quo, Tina Turner and U2. 

Approximately two billion people watched the broadcast in more than 100 countries. Now, for the first time since 1985, BBC Two gives viewers a chance to relive over 6.5 hours of extended highlights of the London and Philadelphia concerts, in addition to backstage footage. 

Jonathan Rothery, Head of BBC Popular Music TV said: ‘This summer we’re delighted to be giving viewers a chance to relive one of the biggest concerts in history for the first time on TV since it was originally broadcast on the BBC.   

‘By providing over 6.5 hours of footage that was captured on the day Live Aid took place, we want viewers to feel transported back to 1985, and to enjoy all those classic songs that we all still know and love to this day, as they were performed on that stage.”

The Making of Do They Know It’s Christmas, which was broadcast on BBC Four in November 2024, is also available for viewers to enjoy on BBC iPlayer.

BBC Radio 2 will be marking the anniversary on Sunday 13th July, exactly 40 years since the concert, as the station broadcasts Live Aid – The Fans Story. 

Last November, Ed Sheeran claimed he wasn’t asked permission from Band Aid 40 organisers to use his vocals on the a new version of the charity single

The musician originally featured on the 2014 version of the track – spearheaded by Geldof and Ure (pictured in 2004) – alongside the likes of Sting and Harry Styles

Last November, Ed Sheeran claimed he wasn’t asked permission from Band Aid 40 organisers to use his vocals on the a new version of their charity single.

The musician originally featured on the 2014 version of the track – spearheaded by  Geldof and Ure – alongside the likes of Sting and Harry Styles which aimed to raise money for the Ebola relief efforts.

However,  the regarding 2024 Ultimate Mix of the song to celebrate its 40th anniversary, Sheeran has told how he would have denied permission to add his voice to the song had he’d been asked.

Taking to his Instagram stories, the Shape Of You hitmaker re-shared a message from Ghanaian-British musician Fuse ODG, who has been vocal in his criticism of the charity single claiming it ‘dehumanises Africans and destroys our pride and idenтιтy in the name of ‘charity’.’

He wrote: ‘My approval wasn’t sought on this new Band Aid 40 release and had I had the choice I would have respectfully declined the use of my vocals.

‘A decade on and my understanding of the narrative ᴀssociated with this has changed, eloquently explained by @fuseodg. This is just my personal stance, I’m hoping it’s a forward-looking one. Love to all x.’