Iconic frontman Freddie Mercury had a blunt two-word response when Queen bandmate Sir Brian Might pitched him a “loopy” concept. The band had just lately completed sold-out excursions in Australia and Japan when Reside Support got here round in 1985.

And when promoter Harvey Goldsmith approached the band to participate within the iconic fundraiser, he stated they appeared “a bit reluctant”. He advised Mojo journal that the band felt “a bit wrecked” and needed to “step again” after their tour.

Freddie, who died in 1991, was initially stated to be hesitant concerning the live performance being seen as “too political”, as an alternative eager to gauge public notion. However after guitarist Sir Brian Might approached the singer, he had a blunt response to performing the present.

Chatting with the Radio Occasions, Sir Brian, 77, stated: “We weren’t touring or enjoying, and it appeared like a loopy concept, this speak of getting 50 bands on the identical invoice… I stated to Freddie, ‘If we get up on the day after this Reside Support present and we haven’t been there, we’re going to be fairly unhappy.’ He stated, ‘Oh, f*** it, we’ll do it.’

“It was one of many few moments in anybody’s life that you’re doing one thing for all the correct causes.”

Held on July 13, 1985, Reside Support is assumed to have been watched by round 1.9 billion folks in additional than 150 nations. With greater than 50 acts on the invoice, it was held concurrently at Wembley Stadium in London and John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia.

Queen’s 21 minute efficiency has turn out to be considerably of a rock ‘n’ roll legend. That’s regardless of Sir Bob reportedly believing the band’s greatest days have been behind them.

Harvey advised Mojo: “I considered it, and stated for the late afternoon slot the proper act could be Queen. Bob stated, ‘No, they’ve peaked. I don’t assume they need to play.’ I stated to Bob, I actually assume they’ll be good to go on in that 5.30, 6 o’clock sort slot – understanding Freddie as I did, I knew they’d actually make a present of it.”

Harvey says that, after some “forwards and backwards”, Sir Bob agreed to e book Queen. Though he had one situation for the band forward of their set, Sir Bob insisted they “don’t get intelligent” and “simply play the hits”.

Fortunately for the organiser, Queen opened their set with Bohemian Rhapsody earlier than transitioning into the quicker Radio Ga Ga. Freddie’s name and response “Aaaaaay-o” section within the efficiency turned referred to as The Notice Heard Across the World.

Queen accomplished the set with Hammer to Fall and Loopy Little Factor Referred to as Love earlier than We Will Rock You and We Are the Champions. The lead as much as the efficiency was even became the Oscar-winning biopic Bohemian Rhapsody.

Recalling the legendary efficiency, Queen drummer Roger Taylor, 75, felt like 70,000 folks have been “in unison” as they clapped to Radio Ga Ga with Freddie. He described the gang as trying like a “complete discipline of wheat swaying” because the band closed with We Are the Champions.

It’s thought the Reside Support live shows have raised round £150 million for famine aid in Ethiopia. In addition to Queen, performers included Sir Elton John, U2, David Bowie, The Who, Paul McCartney, Madonna, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Mick Jagger and Bob Dylan.