Radio Ga Ga - Queen, Live Aid 1985
Live Aid was, of course, not simply, about raising money for Ethiopia. For the artists and groups participating it represented a glorious showcasing opportunity.
As it turned out, however, despite the global exposure granted via LiveAid, it did very little to change the trajectory of participants' careers. Those artists who were on the way up, U2, say, or Dire Straits, continued on the way up. Those who were on the way down, The Boomtown Rats, Adam Ant, The Cars, The Hooters (who? precisely), continued on their way down.
Queen were the only band for whom Live Aid was a turning point in their careers. Of course they'd scored massive hits world-wide in the 70s, but then they'd produced a career-killing (in the US, at least)
video to accompany their single "I want to break free." released in April 1984
Queen had intended it to be an affectionate tribute to their favourite soap stars. In the UK soap operas tend 1) to be gritty, blue-collar epics, 2) to be broadcast in early-evening prime-time 3) to feature indomitable women who each time they get knocked down by everything life (more precisely the feckless men in their lives) throws at them, get back up, dust themselves down and do whatever it takes to keep the family (
da fahmly(!)) together. So they had the idea of staging the video in a domestic scene with them dressed up like female characters from '
Coronation Street' the longest-running and most famous of all British soaps.
This attempt at humour went right over the heads of the US networks and down like a lead balloon Stateside. MTV banned the video and despite the single reaching #3 in the UK charts and (at least top 5 in all other European charts), it got no higher than #45 in the US. Brian May later commented "After '
I want to break free', we never had another hit in the US."
When Queen got the call to participate in Live Aid, lead singer Freddie Mercury immediately realised the significance of the opportunity presented them, and drilled the band mercilessly to prepare them for the challenge – in huge contrast to the ramshackle performances put in by many participants, notably Duran Duran and Led Zeppelin. Although relatively low down the bill, their 25 minute slot in which they played "Bohemian Rhapsody","Radio Ga Ga","Hammer to Fall", "Crazy Little Thing Called Love","We Will Rock You","We Are the Champions" nonetheless stole the show, and was later named "
the world's greatest rock gig" in an industry poll.
The highlight of the highlight was of course
Radio Ga Ga. Freddie sings it in F. I'm a 5th lower, in B♭ ☺
They tore down the old Wembley Stadium in 2002. Construction of the new stadium dragged on and on, caused by changes in the brief, and disputes with subcontractors. Finally, the main contractors brought in my brother, David, and within 6 months, put him in charge of the whole project. Within 12 months of him taking over, he was able to hand over the new stadium to its owners, the Football Association.
#proudbrother
When David & I were little boys, our dentist was one Mr Bulsara, Freddie's uncle.