Rock and roll saved the world — or at least that’s how the story went back in 1985. Four decades later, as we approach Live Aid’s 40th anniversary, both BBC and CNN are pulling back the curtain on what might be music’s most audacious shot at global change.
Remember that sweltering July day? Queen strutting across Wembley Stadium, Madonna in her prime, Bowie being, well, Bowie. Now, Brook Lapping and Ronachan Films are diving deep into the day that turned rock stars into would-be world saviors. Their ambitious documentary series isn’t just another greatest-hits package wrapped in nostalgia — it’s getting down to the nitty-gritty of how a bunch of musicians decided they could tackle global hunger.
The treatment’s different on each side of the pond. BBC’s going with a three-parter called “Live Aid at 40,” while CNN’s taking the longer route with “Live Aid: When Rock ‘n’ Roll Took On the World” spread across four episodes. Sure beats those choppy YouTube clips we’ve been making do with, right?
Behind the scenes, executive producer Tanya Shaw’s team has been doing some serious heavy lifting. They’ve dug up rare footage, tracked down the key players, and — perhaps most intriguingly — gotten some pretty heavyweight political figures to weigh in. We’re talking Bono and Sting (naturally), but also former President Bush and Nigeria’s Obasanjo. Not your typical rock doc lineup.
Here’s where it gets really interesting: BBC’s throwing in over six and a half hours of extended concert footage that hasn’t seen the light of day since ’85. Jonathan Rothery, their head of popular music TV, clearly knows what the people want — a chance to time-travel back to when rock still thought it could change the world.
But let’s not kid ourselves. As we sit here in 2025, watching celebrities launch their latest charitable ventures on TikTok and Instagram, Live Aid’s legacy hits different. The whole “white savior” debate? The questions about celebrity philanthropy? They’re all getting airtime. Bob Geldof’s still fighting back, mind you — called the criticism “the greatest load of b***ocks ever.” Classic Geldof.
The numbers still boggle the mind, though. Two billion viewers. Over a hundred countries. Billions raised. The series tracks how this monster of a concert somehow morphed from passing the hat around to reshaping international aid policies. Not bad for a day’s work.
Some genuinely fascinating bits are coming to light. Phil Collins doing the impossible by playing both London and Philadelphia (imagine trying that without a private jet). Ethiopian politicians Dawit Giorgis and Berhane Deressa offering perspectives from ground zero of the crisis. It’s the kind of stuff that makes you realize just how many moving parts were involved.
BBC’s Emma Hindley nails it when she calls it an “irresistible and entertaining ride.” Because that’s what it was — part concert, part telethon, part global group therapy session. For better or worse (and there’s plenty of both), Live Aid rewrote the playbook on celebrity activism.
Looking back from 2025, as influencers launch charitable NFT collections and AI-generated benefit concerts stream in the metaverse, Live Aid feels almost quaint. But that’s exactly why this documentary series matters. It’s catching a moment when rock and roll truly believed it could change the world — and for one remarkable day, maybe it did.