Marillion, riding high in the UK charts that summer with their Misplaced Childhood album and " Kayleigh" single, missed out on an invitation to perform at Wembley because their manager had deemed it not worthwhile for singer Fish to participate in the "Do They Know It's Christmas?" single. Fish was quoted: "When it came to the bill for the concert we were passed over." [97]

During his opening number, " American Girl", Tom Petty flipped the middle finger to somebody off stage about one minute into the song. Petty stated the song was a last-minute addition when the band realised that they would be the first act to play the American side of the concert after the London finale and "since this is, after all, JFK Stadium". [55] Chalmers, Graham (15 May 2014). "Interview: Ali's battle for heart and soul of UB40". The North Yorkshire News . Retrieved 9 July 2017.Cliff Richard later stated he had been unable to perform as he was already committed to a gospel charity concert in Birmingham the same day. [95] It's twelve noon in London, seven AM in Philadelphia, and around the world it's time for Live Aid. [21] BBC - The Editors: Bob, Band Aid and how the rebels bought their arms". 1 October 2014. Archived from the original on 1 October 2014 . Retrieved 13 September 2021. How Bob Geldof's 1985 Live Aid concert changed celebrity fundraising forever". London Evening Standard . Retrieved 19 June 2020. The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Diverse Interpreten; 'Live Aid ')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.

Youngs, Ian (27 August 2004). "How Live Aid was saved for history". BBC News . Retrieved 6 March 2011. According to the BBC World Service, a certain proportion of the funds were siphoned off to buy arms for the Tigrayan People's Liberation Front. [81] This coalition battled at the time against Derg. The Band Aid Trust complained to the BBC Editorial Complaints Unit regarding the specific allegations in the BBC World Service documentary, and their complaint was upheld. [82] In 2010 the BBC issued an apology to the Trust and stated there was no evidence money had been diverted, [9] while the former British Ambassador to Ethiopia, Brian Barder, states, "the diversion of aid related only to the tiny proportion that was supplied by some NGOs to rebel-held areas." [10] Live Aid DVD – Premiere at European Cinemas in DTS Surround Sound; Exclusive Cinema Screenings of the Landmark 1985 Concert Recording Played in 5.1 DTS Digital Surround, 12 November 2004 Kent, Lucinda (13 July 2015). "Live Aid 30th anniversary: Seven things you may not know about Bob Geldof's charity concert". ABC Online . Retrieved 1 September 2020. The idea to stage a charity concert to raise more funds for Ethiopia originally came from Boy George, the lead singer of Culture Club. George and Culture Club drummer Jon Moss had taken part in the recording of "Do They Know It's Christmas?" and in the same month, the band were undertaking a tour of the UK, which culminated in six nights at Wembley Arena. On the final night at Wembley, 22 December 1984, an impromptu gathering of some of the other artists from Band Aid joined Culture Club on stage at the end of the concert for an encore of "Do They Know It's Christmas?". George was so overcome by the occasion he told Geldof that they should consider organising a benefit concert. Speaking to the UK music magazine Melody Maker at the beginning of January 1985, Geldof revealed his enthusiasm for George's idea, saying, "If George is organising it, you can tell him he can call me at any time and I'll do it. It's a logical progression from the record, but the point is you don't just talk about it, you go ahead and do it!" [18]Fiorillo, Victor (15 June 2012). "The 10 Most Painful Band Reunions". Philadelphia. Philadelphia . Retrieved 4 August 2015. Hughes, Rob (10 February 2023). "The Story Behind The Song: Sultans Of Swing by Dire Straits". Louder Sound . Retrieved 10 July 2023. a b c West, Aaron J. (2015). Sting and The Police: Walking in Their Footsteps. Rowman & Littlefield. p.92.