When Status Quo rocked the world at Live Aid

12 March 2025, 10:11

Queen, Paul McCartney, David Bowie and... Status Quo.

Live Aid is widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest – if not THE greatest – gigs of all time.

Thanks to the important cause it was supporting and the cajoling/trickery/bullying of organiser Bob Geldof, the lineup over the two venues was unarguably the most star-studded in music history.

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While there were a handful of striking exceptions (no Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen or Rod Stewart, for starters), the running orders in Philadelphia and London was a who's who of the great and good in pop music in 1985.

At Wembley Stadium the night was closed out by Band Aid's collective performance of 'Do They Know It's Christmas?'.

Before then you had (deep breath) Paul McCartney, Queen, Elton John, The Who, David Bowie, Dire Straits, U2 and Bryan Ferry (backed by Pink Floyd's David Gilmour).

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And before them, there was Sting, Phil Collins, Sade, Nik Kershaw, Elvis Costello, Spandau Ballet, Ultravox, Adam Ant, The Boomtown Rats and The Style Council.

Opening the whole event was the oldest band on the group. No, not them (yet). It was the Coldstream Guards, who originally formed in 1785.

They marked their 200th anniversary with a 'Royal Salute' and the opening parps of 'God Save The Queen', before things got started properly with none other than Status Quo.

Status Quo - Rockin' All Over The World (Live Aid 1985)

The Quo had enjoyed plenty of success since scoring a top ten hit with 'Pictures of Matchstick Men' way back in 1968.

And, while some may not remember today, they were still very much at the top of their game ahead of Live Aid.

Believe it or not, but Status Quo scored five top 20 hits in 1983 and 1984, including the number three single 'Marguerita Time', which shifted over a quarter of a million copies.

And while acts further down the bill had plenty of arena and even stadium experience, it was a wise choice to put on such experienced hands to open the event and make sure everything got started on the right foot.

Oddly enough, Status Quo had technically (sort of) split up for the first and only time not long before the concert.

Bad drugs and bad feelings had driven a wedge between the members and after their headline set at the Milton Keynes Bowl on July 21, 1984, things had come to a head. They had decided to stop touring.

Status Quo - Caroline (Live Aid 1985)

"Deciding to retire from the road – all that was about was getting Francis a solo career," said founding member Alan Lancaster.

"Nobody on the outside knew it, but he didn't want to work with me or Rick anymore."

But through a haze of cocaine and alcohol, the lineup of Francis Rossi, Alan Lancaster and Rick Parfitt (together with Andy Brown and Pete Kircher) played one final set together, at Live Aid.

"We told him, 'We’re not really together as a band,’” Rossi told Classic Rock of their dialogue with Geldof.

"We said, 'We’re under-rehearsed. We're not going to be very good' And Bob said, 'It doesn't matter a f**k what you sound like as long as you're there' which I thought was a bit too honest, but that's Bob for you.

"He said that if he could get one or two of the older bands to commit, then that would kick it all off."

Status Quo - Don’t Waste My Time (Live Aid 1985)

And of course, what better song could their be for this global event than 'Rocking All Over The World'?

The song, originally recorded and released by ex-Creedence Clearwater Revival man John Fogerty in 1975, had been covered by Status Quo a couple of years later, peaking at number three in the UK singles chart.

They followed it up with rollicking performances of 'Caroline' and 'Don't Waste My Time', and within 18 minutes, the Quo had successfully set the stage and laid down a marker for what was to follow.

"I will never forget the feeling as we walked out on to that stage – it was just magical," Parfitt told Classic Rock. "It was real hairs-standing-up-on-the-back-of-the-neck stuff."