POO: Worst moment in Live Aid

Yes, Brian was there and in decent voice. Good Vibrations was a highlight of the DVD -- the Boyz didn't interact much but they pulled it off, harmonies and everything. Whenever Love threatened to go off on a preening tangent, Carl (in kempt beard and gray suit) reined him in.

Bowie and Queen were especially great. But why did Freddie cut off "Bohemian Rhapsody" after the first piano bit? What a tease.

Pete Townshend had the only haircut of the entire festival that still holds up today. I hope Bono preserved his for the R&R Hall of Fame.

All I remember is Simon Le Bon way flubbing a high note in that James Bond song, and the control-room guy quickly cutting to a shot of the bass player wincing. I rewound that part a few times.

One other thing, is this the only documented evidence of Aimee Mann and Madonna hugging in public (twice)? That seems footnotish.

Hahah I rember Le Bon fucking that high note in "View to a Kill". He does that a LOT live.

I adore Simon's attempt to play an acoustic guitar during "Save a Prayer."

You all forgot Elvis Costello doing the worst busker in the world impersonation with a cover of 'All you need is love'

That was pretty good, actually: he couldn't hide his contempt.

It all seems so weird watching it now, it seemed genuine and heartfelt to me as a 15 year old but god, now, it reeks of 80s overblown excess and pomposity.

Ultravox also do a pretty good rendition of "Vienna," with Midge wearing a pretty rad stiff-collared striped oxford and taking a great synth solo.

Ultravox @ Live Aid were fairly amazing overall. Their performance there was what got me into all the New Romantic stuff in the first place. Plus *embarrasing admission* it made me run out to the Generra store at the local mall and plop down nearly $200 on a black trench (busboy at a North Jersey m4fi4 hang back then meant no-joke tips.)

Oh, yeah: Worst Moment: The embarrasing Zep reunion. Made me stop listening to them for years after that debacle.

Best: Judas Priest/Queen/Kenny Loggins & Sheena Easton presenting Prince's awesome "4 The Tears In U're(sic) Eyes" video in full 80's mullet glory.

Just 'cos Bono looked like a complete tit still doesn't negate the fact that U2's "Bad" happened to be awesome.

Okay, that wasn't a worst moment, but still, all this hatin'...

1. Daltrey can't remember the words in one verse of "Won't Get Fooled Again," skips verse entirely, Townshend glares at him.

i'd put that (and the who's entire set) as one of the best live aid moments. they were called on to be TRIUMPHANT SELF-SERIOUS ARENA-ROCK GODS and instead came on as the who, flaws and glorious awkwardness intact (townshend attempting a kick and falling over; daltrey fucking up the time in "my generation" the long delay because entwistle's bass wasn't tuned).

and all this talk of queen's set being some kind of signpost of untouchableness has me confused, and a little worried. is it just me, or did they just do the same half-assed empty-gesture-filled schtick they always did? it's like what someone said about freddie hubbard: it's the rolls-royce aesthetic, but without the rolls-royce.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdcDswc97Bo

queen a few days before rehearsing, talking (and smoking) on uk breakfast television.

I went out and rented this today, it's something I've been meaning to do for quite awhile. I do remember watching it on TV as it happened (I was 14) but for some reason I really don't remember any of the performances except for U2, who I was absolutely insane about back then.

So far I just gotta say I feel like apologizing for all those mullets. I don't think back then it would have even occurred to me how many folks had the same hairstyle. And I don't remember a point when people suddenly decided that was the "in" hairstyle, either. Maybe hairdressers saw it that way, but other than that...I just don't get it.

It pisses me off that Sade has a whopping one song on this freaking thing. Christ almighty god that woman is gorgeous.

Also I agree, Ultravox seemed to do an uncommonly good job.

Okay, Paul Young is getting on my nerves, now. Why were so many people into him??

DAEREST ILM:

laugh now but you are all going to hell

love peace & debt relief,

BONO

He can say that, he's already in it:

http://idolator.com/assets/resources/2007/06/AP070606016627.jpg

Yeah I'm watching U2 now, and I gotta say I don't think Bono's hair was nearly as bad as I remembered. I may be confusing this performance with another one, though.

Can't believe how young Adam looks.

Bono's boots kindof make him look effeminate at times, though. Odd.

Paul Young's perf of "Come Back and Stay" was pretty good, and Alison Moyet does her peeved-big-voice thing on that Marvin Gaye song.

Yeah, it was alright, but the third song he did was atrocious. I don't even want to talk about it.

I love seeing how many of these acts were also there in 1992 for the Freddie Mercury tribute.

had Bowie worn that lime-green suit at Live Aid he'd have been a sensation.

What I enjoyed from watching DVD #1 was how it kindof sorted out who was currently reaching their peak artistically in 1985, and who was well past their sell-by date and on the way out. Who the hell cared about Spandau Ballet by then? I mean really! Sade had just put out her first album, I didn't realize before just how late that album came out. She was a new kid on the block then! Unbelievable. But U2 were the only band that really mattered, evidenced by my deep love for them then and all the flags flown in their honour down the front. Bono's a pretentious twat, I know, but I thought his effort to connect with his audience during Bad were downright extraordinary. Shame on the others who wouldn't have dared.

Although I must admit I found Howard Jones' performance surprisingly well done and enjoyable.

Bryan Ferry was great, too. At least he didn't succumb to the cult of Mullets!

Bimble, in your honor I'm watching my Live Aid DVD before some friends come over for movies and wine. I'm watching Paul Young's "Everytime You Go," the performance of which causes an audible thrill in the audience (the song hit #1 in the US the following week). I guess he's one of those stars-in-the-making whose career trajectories were confirmed with this perf.

As for the Spands...normally I detest them, but that's a very solid version of "Only When You Leave" they performed.

OHMY GOD! I JUST GOT TO SIMPLE MINDS! EVEN WITH THE BAD CHOICE OF CLOTHING YOU KNOW THEY WILL TAKE YOUR SOUL

But don't you understand that I was just a poor American, I was forced to sit through the American crap when my heart, my heart wanted so much to see the Brit acts. I think this is why I don't remember much. Even U2 seemed to play when the US folks did. And I swear, I wanted so much to see the Brit acts, but I wasn't awake and it was all live. What a tragedy of time zones. Well at least we got to see the beautiful Lady Di at the beginning.

But seriously it really does make me sad that I didn't see Simple Minds at the time.

Also is Prince up in this bitch?

"Don't You Forget About Me"

See, I told you. This concert separates the has-beens from those bands who were at the top of their creative careers.

Spandau Ballet still get the worst hair/worst clothes award.

Look familiar?

http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Palladium/7994/index.jpg

I don't buy the Who-were-regular-guys-not-rock-Gods defense. Townshend tried to salvage the thing with jumps and windmills and a good haircut and falling down but Daltrey was just intent on showing off his chest muscles. A couple times he didn't even seem interested in, y'know, singing the song.

Also I wanted to add that especially the Spandau Ballet drummer made a really bad choice of clothes/hair. That really bothered me. He just needed someone to tap him on the shoulder and say "hey man, friends don't let friends dress like that"

Also, sorry I missed your cross posts, Alfred. Too drunk. I've read them now, though. And I welcome your friends over for drinks.

aaargh those Spandau mullets.

Srsly, why did everyone want hairdos like Princess Di?!

Heheheh but let's be honest, they WEREN'T like Princess Di! She DID NOT HAVE A MULLET!!!

But yeah, what the hell is Nik Kershaw's excuse I wonder?

Wow, look at the ancient computer next to the keyboardist of the Cars.

Also I think Madonna's outfit is outstanding and very tasteful. It has a little bit of her earlier style wrapped up in something new, and it's modest, too. I love it.

Well I guess I'm subverting the original intent of this thread. But what happened to Donut anyway? I actually had a dream about him the other night, woke up and wondered why he doesn't seem to post anymore.

The Thompson Twins version of Revolution is even worse than it's been described as here! FUKCIN HALARIOUS!!! I mean shit, I wanna own this DVD just for that because if I ever get down that will be the perfect thing to drag me out of the doldrums. That is FUNNY.

And Steve Stevens too, Billy Idol's guitarist! It's WAY over the top. I feel so sorry for Nile Rodgers. Let's not blame him, okay? This is not his fault.

And for fuck's sake even the singer of the Thomspon Twins has a mullet, now! WHY?

And the look on Madonna's face when she hugs the lady from the Thompson Twins afterwards is priceless...she looks so revolted by what she was just heard/was involved with.