World has changed since Live Aid but legacy lives on

ON JULY 13, 1985, the world witnessed a moment of collective action and cultural unity that, even now, has never quite been matched.

- DYLAN JONES-EVANS

Live Aid was simply unique, and the old footage of Wembley Stadium packed to the rafters and the sight of some of the biggest artists of the time standing shoulder to shoulder to fight famine in Africa still feels electric today.

And, in the immortal words of Max Boyce, "I was there!"

In the days before Ticketmaster, Live Nation and online ticket touts, I patiently queued outside Spillers Records in Cardiff - the world's oldest record shop - to buy four tickets for a group of us for the then expensive price of £25 (with 80% actually being donated directly to the Live Aid charity).

Forty years later, I still remember it like it was yesterday. Walking down Wembley Way to the old stadium on a gloriously sunny day with not a cloud in the sky, Status Quo opening at noon with Rockin' All Over the World, and Queen's showstopping set that many now consider one of the best live performances ever (and was only 21 minutes long).

It was a time before mobile phones and social media yet the memories are still vivid. I was lucky enough to be down at the front of the crowd for most of the evening, including when Paul McCartney came on to play Let It Be at the end of the show, his microphone failed and Bob Geldof, David Bowie, Pete Townsend and Alison Moyet ran on to sing along and save the day.