From Planet Rock.
Status Quo guitarist and vocalist Francis Rossi has marked the 35th anniversary of Live Aid today (13th July) by reflecting upon the momentous concert at Wembley Stadium.
After the Coldstream Guards band opened with the Royal Salute and a brief version of ‘God Save the Queen’, at one minute past midday on a gloriously sunny Saturday 13th July 1985, Status Quo were the first band to grace the Wembley stage.
Live Aid was Status Quo’s first concert since the conclusion of the End of the Road Tour in Milton Keynes in July 1984, which, in Francis Rossi’s own words, ended with everybody “coked-up and hating each other.”
Despite these fraught tensions within the band, Status Quo triumphed during their 14-minute set at Live Aid and had the 72,000 strong Wembley crowd bouncing as they performed ‘Rockin’ All Over The World’, ‘Caroline’ and ‘Don’t Waste My Time’.
Ultimately it proved to be Status Quo’s only show of 1985 and their final gig with bassist Alan Lancaster (except the reunion Frantic Four tour in 2013-2014) and drummer Peter Kircher in their ranks.
Reflecting upon Live Aid on the event’s 35th anniversary today, Francis Rossi said:
“Whenever Quo step onto a stage we strive to give it our best, no one audience or gig is more important than another to the band, but it is undeniable that the 13th of July 1985 was special. There were serious tensions in the band at the time, I arrived in some ways wondering how I’d been persuaded to turn up.
“Some of the other acts were interested in who was going to play last, to headline, whilst we decided to go on first so that we could be done and dusted. Turned out to be a great decision, it was Quo’s music that kicked things off as seemingly the whole world’s attention came to bear to on what Live Aid was trying to communicate.
“It was over in a flash and, whilst I’m not one for nostalgia or dwelling on past glories, at the time it felt important and thirty-five years later it still does.”
Explore eil.com & 991.com sister – the world’s best online store for rare, collectable & out of print Vinyl Records, CDs & Music memorabilia since 1987.
EIL.COM Favourite Music Update Rare CDs, CD Singles, Rare Records, Vinyl Records, Albums and Music
- Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas - One Year On - UK - 12" vinyl - £8.00, $10.00, €9.28 (New Item) (arrived 09-May-2024 10:13)on May 12, 2024 at 9:35 pm
BAND AID Do They Know It's Christmas (1985 issue of the 1984 UK 12" vinyl single featuring the classic Christmas single, also including One Year On [Feed The World], glossy picture sleeve FEED112)
- Status Quo - On The Level - UK - vinyl LP - £12.00, $15.00, €13.92 (New Item) (arrived 11-Apr-2024 11:14)on May 12, 2024 at 9:35 pm
STATUS QUO On The Level (1975 UK 10-track vinyl LP including the classic hit 'Down Down', complete with lyric inner, textured gatefold picture sleeve. The sleeve shows just a little light shelfwear and the vinyl remains in excellent conditionwith few signs of play)
- Status Quo - Rockin' All Over The World - UK - vinyl LP - £10.00, $12.50, €11.60 (New Item) (arrived 28-Mar-2024 15:37)on May 12, 2024 at 9:35 pm
STATUS QUO Rockin' All Over The World (1977 UK 12-track vinyl LP including the classic title track. Complete with tracklisting inner, the picture sleeve shows just a little light shelfwear & the vinyl remains in excellent condition with few signs of play)
- Status Quo - Live + Inners - EX - UK - 2-LP vinyl set - £10.00, $12.50, €11.60 (New Item) (arrived 02-Apr-2024 08:04)on May 12, 2024 at 9:35 pm
STATUS QUO Live (1977 UK first press 15-track double LP on the 'spaceship' Vertigo label, comprising live recordings from their historic gigs at Glasgow's Apollo Theatre between 27th-29th October 1976, gatefold picture sleeve with the pictureinners. The sleeve shows light wear with a split to one inner, whilst the vinyl remains in Excellent condition)
- Status Quo - Piledriver - 1st - Complete - EX - UK - vinyl LP - £75.00, $93.75, €87.00 (Back In Stock) (arrived 02-Apr-2024 08:21)on May 12, 2024 at 9:35 pm
STATUS QUO Piledriver (1972 UK first issue 8-track vinyl LP on the 'swirl' label, the fifth studio album by the English rock band was also the first to be produced by the group themselves and first on the Vertigo label after their departure fromPye Records, including the single Paper Plane and a great cover of the Door's classic Roadhouse Blues. Housed in a matt gatefold picture sleeve printed with lyrics on the inside. The sleeve shows some light shelfwear and a little discolouration; the vinyl remains in excellent condition with just the odd light surface scuff)
Be the first to comment