Iconic '70s Rock Band Initially Said No to Legendary Concert

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Iconic '70s Rock Band Initially Said No to Legendary Concert originally appeared on Parade.

The remaining members of a legendary 1970s rock band have spoken out about one of its most iconic performances.

Live Aid celebrates its 40th anniversary on July 13, 2025. It was a global phenomenon that featured simultaneous massive concerts held at Wembley Stadium in London and John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with Live Aid-inspired concerts also staged in dozens of other countries, all to raise money for the famine in Ethiopia.

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Queen was one of the headliners at the Wembley Stadium concert and in a new interview with the Radio Times, remaining members Brian May and Roger Taylor reminisced about the famous event, including the fact that they all thought it would be a total disaster, especially Queen frontman, the late Freddie Mercury, so they initially said no to organizer Bob Geldof.

"We weren’t touring or playing, and it seemed like a crazy idea, this talk of having 50 bands on the same bill. We thought it was going to be a disaster. Freddie, in particular, said, ‘I haven’t got the right feeling for this.’ He wasn’t the leader of the band, but if he dug his heels in, there was no dragging him, so we parked it," said May.

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But May said that Geldof kept calling, and tickets were selling out, so he finally said to Mercury that he thought they would regret not playing Live Aid.

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"I said to Freddie, ‘If we wake up on the day after this Live Aid show and we haven’t been there, we’re going to be pretty sad.’ He said, ‘Oh, f**k it, we’ll do it,'" recalled May, adding, "[O]nce he said yes, he led the charge. He jumped in like a lion.”

Drummer Taylor added that they were given "a strict 17 minutes" for their performance, but they ended up going 21 minutes because of Mercury and his electric connection to the crowd.

"[It was] obvious to open with the verse of 'Bohemian Rhapsody'; it was so immediately recognizable. Then to finish with 'We Will Rock You' and 'We Are the Champions' was a no-brainer. We were told a strict 17 minutes was allowed, although I think it ended up at 21," said Taylor. "That was Freddie and his call and response…"

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They also recall being in the Royal Box before their performance slot, just hanging out with then-Royal family members Princess Diana and Prince Charles, as he was known then. They were also surrounded by some of the greatest music acts of all time.

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"Elton [John] had his own English rose garden with an actual fence,” recalled Taylor. “David [Bowie] was there. I think he was quite jittery.”

But in the end, it became one of Queen's most iconic performances.

"At the end, I came off thinking that went OK, but also very aware of the places where it nearly fell apart. It came off the rails quite significantly at the end of 'Hammer to Fall.' If you look at it, you might think that was on purpose, but it wasn’t, because there were little tweaks and nobody quite knew where we were. Live shows aren’t perfect. But most of the things we tried to do worked out. I came off very conscious of the flaws in our performance, but I also knew Freddie had been great," said May.

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Iconic '70s Rock Band Initially Said No to Legendary Concert first appeared on Parade on Jul 1, 2025

This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.

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Aaron

The iconic '70s rock band' decision initially to decline their historical appearance at the legendary concert stands as a near-mythic footnote in music history.

2025-07-08 09:00:42 reply
Eithan

I cannot imagine the iconic '70s rock band' refusal to perform at their legendary concert, which would have been an unthinkable omission in music history.

2025-07-08 09:00:57 reply
Davion

The iconic '70s rock band' initial reluctance to participate in the legendary concert not only speaks of their humble开始 Background, but also serves as a testament to its groundbreaking status that eventually transformed into an unforgettable musical milestone.

2025-07-10 12:53:56 reply
Rudy

The iconic '70s rock band' unforeseen refusal to the legendary concert setting, a testament both of their pragmatic caution and an unexpected setback in music history’ traders. It echoes how at times the stars align perfection for others while forbidding opportunities seem just out-of reach.

2025-07-11 07:01:37 reply
Cora

The story of an iconic ‘70s rock band initially turning down the invitation to a legendary concert underscores their humility yet foreshadowed history-making decisions made by subsequent members, cementingtheir legacy amidst music legends.

2025-07-11 07:01:52 reply
Trinity

An iconic '70s rock band's initial reluctance to participate in the legendary concert ultimately played a pivotal role behind their historical place, an undeniable testament of how moments transform legends.

2025-07-14 19:09:38 reply
Kimberlyn

The iconic '70s rock band'S initial no' to their legendary concert, a tribute etched in the annals of musical history as one heart-stopping moment amidst epic jams.

2025-07-14 19:09:53 reply
Coralie

The tale of an iconic '70s rock band initially turning down the opportunity to perform at a legendary concert is nothing short than near-miss history—a testament not only to their initial doubt but also humanity'S fickle fate in perpetuating groundbreaking moments.

2025-07-14 19:10:08 reply
Anya

Rejecting the iconic '70s rock band' first invitation to their legendary concert marks an omission that time couldn’t erase, celebrating instead how seemingly but illusory a simple turn down can be in music history.

2025-07-23 13:20:49 reply
Aisling

An unforgettable anecdote recounting how the iconic '70s rock band initially resisted participating in their legendary concert, capturing both historical reverence and musical intrigue.

2025-07-23 13:21:04 reply
Eileen

The storied rejection by the iconic '70s rock band from participating in a legendary concert underscores both their initial unawareness of its historic proportion and later regret at missing such an opportunity.

2025-07-23 13:21:19 reply
Easton

The iconic '70s rock band' refusal to participate in the legendary concert initially underscores their determination and pride, stating a bold precedent for not playing with history.

2025-07-25 15:15:24 reply

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