Live Aid DVD Update-Release Set For November 2nd

[estranged4life]

Warner has issued the following press release regarding the forthcoming "Live Aid DVD, due out in November:

Warner Strategic Marketing is pleased to announce that the biggest concert in Rock n' Roll history, Live Aid, will be released on DVD worldwide on November 2nd, 2004. The unforgettable global event, staged in London and Philadelphia on Saturday, 13 July 1985, was watched on television by over 1.5 billion people around the world. These concerts led to pledged donations and royalties of over $140 million towards the devastating famine in Africa.

Billed as The Greatest Show on Earth, Live Aid was described by the world's media as "The Global Jukebox," "The Day Rock and Roll Changed the World" and "The greatest live show ever."

Live Aid was cited as the second most memorable event in two generations and only two weeks ago was defined, in a consumer poll, as the single greatest moment in the 50-year history of rock 'n' roll, beating not only the launch of MTV and Elvis' first record but also topping the poll ahead of the seminal festival of the '60s, Woodstock.

Live Aid, the greatest artists playing the greatest music for the world's poorest people and changing the global political agenda forever.

Live Aid was uniquely staged simultaneously on two continents and features an unbelievable line up of major Rock & Pop acts that took to the stage in July 1985 at London's Wembley and Philadelphia's JFK Stadiums.

Even today, after almost 20 years, the line up of stars put together by Bob Geldof in a matter of months remains both remarkable and unsurpassed. It is a who's who of contemporary music; united in their unequivocal support for Live Aid to prevent mass death for starving people.

The extraordinary line-up includes: U2, Sting, David Bowie, Elton John, George Michael, The Who, Madonna, Queen, Paul McCartney, Phil Collins, Mick Jagger, Tina Turner, Eric Clapton, Duran Duran, Neil Young, Ozzy Osbourne & Black Sabbath, Spandau Ballet, Dire Straits, Paul Weller, Sade, Paul Young, Adam Ant, The Boomtown Rats, The Cars, Bryan Ferry, Bryan Adams, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Crosby Stills & Nash, The Beach Boys, Judas Priest, The Style Council, Simple Minds, Thompson Twins, Nile Rodgers, Hall & Oates, Status Quo, The Pretenders, Elvis Costello, Howard Jones, Teddy Pendergrass, Alison Moyet, and Kenny Loggins.

Since that great day this historic concert footage has remained locked away and the announcement of its imminent DVD release is therefore indeed momentous. Unscrupulous bootleggers have tried to sell the concert on the black market but have been shut down and prosecuted on a number of occasions.

This has forced the Band Aid Trust to seek permission from all the artists to be included in the four-disc Live Aid set, an eventuality that was never anticipated at the time of Live Aid.

Now in time for the 20th anniversary of Live Aid and after 19 years in the vaults, Warner Strategic Marketing will release those unforgettable performances on a Live Aid, 4 DVD package out on November 2, 2004.

Currently in production with the master videotapes and over 10 hours of performances the DVD will be superbly presented and re-mastered in multi-channel surround sound and stereo audio options. Within the set additional gems include the "Food, Trucks & Rock 'n' Roll" documentary (sub-titled in 8 languages) and inspirational Live Aid performances from other parts of the globe.

Live Aid on DVD is the most eagerly anticipated music DVD of the decade.

The Band Aid Trust is obliged to maximize its assets and in a hotly-contested open bidding invitation London-based Warner Vision International secured a licence to represent and distribute, worldwide, the Live Aid 4-disc set. Live Aid remains the asset of the Band Aid Trust.

Warner Vision International's Ray Still commented. "There is only one music event that begs the question 'Where were you on that day?' and that is Live Aid. Over 1.5 billion TV viewers tuned in, on July 13, 1985, to the extraordinary event that was Live Aid.

"It's an understatement to say that it's a great pleasure and an honour for Warner Vision to be involved in bringing all the extraordinary moments and performances that encapsulated Live Aid to DVD for the
first time."

Bob Geldof added: "Twenty years ago they not only played 'real good for free,' they took an issue that was nowhere on the agenda of the political world and placed it at the very top.

"They also kept, directly or indirectly, millions of people alive and in so doing they reminded 1.5 billion people that individuals are not powerless in the face of monstrous human tragedy.

"By buying the Live Aid DVD, that day continues far off into some distant but hopefully better future for all those people in whose name those great artists played."

Since the concert the Band Aid Trust in the UK alone has raised over $50 million and continues to operate in famine affected countries in Africa."

[gldstwmn]

It will be great to see this again. I can't wait to show it to my daughter. I can't wait to see Mick and Tina's performance again.

[estranged4life]

to finally have an updated version of the audio of the show...

Should be an interesting day, At least with purchasing the DVD's there will be something worth watching on my TV on Tuesday November 2nd

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by estranged4life

to finally have an updated version of the audio of the show...

Should be an interesting day, At least with purchasing the DVD's there will be something worth watching on my TV on Tuesday November 2nd

I haven't seen or heard it for 19 years, with the exception of the occasional soundbite on a VH1 or music tribute type show. I distinctly remember where I was. I watched it on a black and white tlelevision! Remember Phil Collins flying cross continents to do two shws in one day? Man, whatever happened to rock and roll? Sigh. Those were the days.

[estranged4life]

remember Phil Collins introducing Led Zeppelin from the Live Aid show in Philly after his flight from London among a SST.

Queen (Whom I personally believe stole the show in Wembley), Bowie/Jagger's "Dancing In The Street" & Led Zeppelin are the 3 performances I remember the most.

[ryan8472]

I'm SO buying that....Being born in 88' I missed all the good festivals

[darklinensuit]

I was at the Philly show - my second concert. I was fifteen & a couple of days before the show my best friend Eric offered me the ticket if I wanted it. We weren't even old enough to drive there. The ticket was $35, which seemed so expensive at the time but worth it. We missed the first acts (not my choice). I remember it being unbearably hot & crowded, & the hoses they sprayed the crowd with didn't reach us. We didn't leave our seats even once to eat, drink, or use the restroom. Eric's Mom had packed a cooler for us, but it was empty in two hours. The guy in front of me was snorting coke, the first time I've seen that.

Other memories:

- The sound kept giving out, but Patti LaBelle was the only one who was loud enough to be heard still.

- To this day I've never seen a crowd go so wild as when Led Zeppelin was onstage.

- When Madonna said "I ain't taking sh!t off today!" we thought that made her a bad girl. How times have changed.

- I enjoyed Tina & Mick, though it was clear the guy couldn't sing. Tina seemed so old to us then.

- I bought a sweatshirt that was stolen when I moved to Chicago.


- Jake

[dissention]

I used to have a video with Bowie's performance and Tina and Mick's. Who the heck knows where it is now, but I am psyched that this is being released. Mick and Tina were the highlights, IMO. They shined brighter than anyone there.

[Nixxxed]

Is this going to be the complete concert as broadcast, the complete concert in full (all songs performed whether broadcast or not), or just highlights from each artist's set? The press release is a little confusing -- it says "10 hours of performances", but that doesn't seem right considering everyone that played all day in London and all day in Philly.

If it's edited, I think I'll wait for a box set or something that has everything performed from everyone. That would rock -- especially if they cut out all the awful DJ/VJ interruptions and comments. I remember wanting to strangle Alan Hunter (my least fave MTV VJ of all time) because he kept babbling.

One of my fave performances of the festival was Duran Duran. They opened with "A View to a Kill", which was #1 on the charts that weekend. It was also their last live performance with all the original members.

[estranged4life]

the set-changes between artists and announcers are edited out the show is 10 hours long...

It is the complete show.

[xdreamsunwindx]

I am so buying this, if only for U2's and Tom Petty's (and... Edit: The Pretenders! Didn't notice them) performances. I have a bad-quality MPEG of U2's performance... Can't wait to upgrade it.

-Kate

[dissention]

Originally Posted by xdreamsunwindx

I am so buying this, if only for U2's and Tom Petty's (and... Edit: The Pretenders! Didn't notice them) performances. I have a bad-quality MPEG of U2's performance... Can't wait to upgrade it.

-Kate

And Tina and Mick. Those two will blow you away together!!!

[xdreamsunwindx]

Originally Posted by dissention

And Tina and Mick. Those two will blow you away together!!!

Oh, of course. I love Tina and Mick .

I can't wait to get this DVD. It's at the very top of my Christmas list .

-Kate

[Livia]

I taped it and stayed glued to the TV for ALL of it- Yup, the Mick and Tina performance is priceless!

[dissention]

Originally Posted by Livia

I taped it and stayed glued to the TV for ALL of it- Yup, the Mick and Tina performance is priceless!

You lucky devil! Do you still have the tape? People would pay hundreds for it.