When Queen Ruled the World: Brian May Recalls the Magic of Live Aid

On July 13, the music world celebrated the 40th anniversary of Live Aid, the groundbreaking charity concert that shook both London’s Wembley Stadium and Philadelphia’s John F. Kennedy Stadium in 1985. The day was filled with unforgettable performances, but none have stood the test of time quite like Queen’s electrifying 20-minute set at Wembley — a performance many still hail as the greatest live show in rock history.

Recently, Queen’s legendary guitarist Brian May reflected on that iconic moment in an interview with WOAI TV. Surprisingly, he admitted he didn’t recognize its greatness at the time.

“I didn’t start off thinking it was the most incredible thing the world had ever seen,” May said. “I remember coming off and being very aware of the things we hadn’t quite got right.”

Asked whether he considered it the best performance of his life, he admitted that back then he probably would have said no.

But four decades later, May’s perspective has changed. Looking back, he now sees the magic that unfolded.

“Everything was the way it was meant to be. I think it was one of our finest hours, definitely one of Freddie’s finest hours. The planets were aligned, and the connection was incredible. The magic happened.”

Freddie Mercury: From Reluctance to Legend

One of the more surprising revelations May shared was that Freddie Mercury wasn’t initially eager to join the concert.

“He was kind of dragged into it by his heels,” May laughed, clarifying that the real story differed from its dramatization in the film Bohemian Rhapsody. “Mainly by me, as a matter of fact.”

Yet once Mercury committed, he gave the performance everything he had. His natural charisma, empathy, and showmanship allowed him to do what few artists could: reach out to every single person in Wembley’s vast crowd, from the front row to the very back.

A Setlist Built to Thrill

Live Aid’s tight schedule gave each act just 20 minutes. Organizer Bob Geldof made the instructions clear: “Play the hits. Don’t get clever.”

Queen took that advice to heart. They meticulously rehearsed shortened versions of their biggest songs to fit the time limit, delivering a set that was pure energy and precision.

They opened with part of Bohemian Rhapsody, before Mercury led the crowd into the now-legendary call-and-response during Radio Ga Ga. The band charged through Hammer to Fall and Crazy Little Thing Called Love, before closing with a rousing one-two punch: We Will Rock You and We Are the Champions.

The result was a performance so powerful it turned 70,000 fans into one unified voice.

The Spirit of Live Aid

The event itself was the brainchild of Bob Geldof, following the success of the charity single Do They Know It’s Christmas? in 1984. With an all-star lineup featuring the biggest names in British and American music, Live Aid was staged to raise funds for famine relief in Africa.

Despite the massive logistical challenges, the day went off seamlessly. May credited the sense of purpose that drove everyone involved:

“It sounded ludicrous, with so many artists and rapid transitions. But everybody came in with this incredible feeling of ‘let’s make it work and forget about our egos.’ Everybody’s heart was in the right place. It’s like, we have to make this work for Bob, because Bob will make it work for those starving kids.”

Forty Years Later

Four decades on, Queen’s Live Aid performance continues to inspire musicians and fans alike. It stands not just as a career-defining moment for the band, but as a testament to the unifying power of music.

As Brian May reflects today, what began as a reluctant step onto the stage became a performance for the ages:

“It was one of our finest hours — and a shining moment in rock history.”