In the lead-up to Live Aid in 1985, legendary Queen frontman Freddie Mercury delivered a famously explicit and decisive response when bandmate Brian May suggested the band take part in the historic charity concert.
Following an exhausting tour in Australia and Japan, Queen was feeling “a bit wrecked” and hesitant about joining the mammoth event organized to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia. Promoter Harvey Goldsmith recalled that the band initially seemed reluctant, considering a much-needed break instead.
Freddie, wary of the concert’s political overtones and public perception, hesitated at first. But when Brian May pitched the idea in earnest, highlighting the importance of the moment, Mercury’s reaction was clear and to the point.
, May, now 77, recounted the exchange: “We weren’t touring or playing, and it seemed like a crazy idea, this talk of having 50 bands on the same bill… I said to Freddie, ‘If we wake up the day after this Live Aid show and we haven’t been there, we’re going to be pretty sad.’ He said, ‘Oh, f*** it, we’ll do it.’”
That spontaneous decision would lead to one of rock history’s most legendary performances. Live Aid, held on July 13, 1985, reached an estimated 1.9 billion viewers worldwide, simultaneously taking place at Wembley Stadium in London and John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia.
Despite doubts from some quarters—’s Sir Bob Geldof initially thought Queen had “peaked”—Goldsmith insisted Queen was perfect for the prime late afternoon slot. After some negotiation, Queen was booked, with Geldof cautioning them not to “get clever” and just “play the hits.”
Queen’s 21-minute set opened with “Bohemian Rhapsody” and flowed into the anthemic “Radio Ga Ga,” featuring Freddie’s now-iconic call-and-response “Aaaaaay-o” that electrified the crowd. The band rounded out their performance with “Hammer to Fall,” “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” “We Will Rock You,” and “We Are the Champions.”
Drummer Roger Taylor reflected on the moment, recalling the sea of 70,000 fans clapping in unison and describing the crowd as a “whole field of wheat swaying” during “Radio Ga Ga.” The performance’s impact was so profound it was dramatized in the Oscar-winning biopic
The Live Aid concerts raised around $200 million for famine relief and featured a star-studded lineup including Elton John, U2, David Bowie, The Who, Paul McCartney, Madonna, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Mick Jagger, and Bob Dylan.
Freddie Mercury’s frank “Oh, f*** it” not only sealed Queen’s place on the Live Aid stage but also etched the band’s performance into music history as one of the greatest live rock moments ever witnessed.
