9781917923392_

The authoritative, official inside story of 40 years of Live Aid, from Band Aid to today

In 1985, with 100 million in his back pocket from Live Aid the greatest rock concert the world had ever seen Bob Geldof took a trip across Africa to decide how the money should be spent. He asked Paul Vallely to accompany him. Over the next four decades Vallely became one of Geldofs closest advisers travelling with him to meet the worlds top rock stars and politicians.

Here, for the first time, Vallely gives his full eye-witness account of what happened backstage at Live Aid and Live 8, the biggest collective event in human history. Both of them, watched by more people than saw the moon landing.

Vallely reveals for the first time exactly how Geldof reunited the Pink Floyd, drank late night whisky with Margaret Thatcher, witnessed Bob Dylan take singing lessons from Stevie Wonder and met Vladimir Putin on a boat in the Mediterranean. Why was Bob forced to write a grovelling apology to Bill Clinton? What did Maria Carey say when Geldof told her that her dress was too short? Why did the prime minister of Italy once hide from Bob in a bathroom? Is Bob Geldof a bully or a charmer, saint or a white saviour, or simply a force of nature? This book reveals all.

With a foreword by Sir Bob Geldof this is the authoritative behind-the-scenes guide to four decades which rocked the world.

...(*_*)9781917923392_

The authoritative, official inside story of 40 years of Live Aid, from Band Aid to today

With a foreword by Bob Geldof this is the authoritative behind-the-scenes guide to four decades which rocked the world.

...(*_*)9781917923392_

The authoritative, official inside story of 40 years of Live Aid, from Band Aid to today

In 1985, with 100 million in his back pocket from Live Aid the greatest rock concert the world had ever seen Bob Geldof took a trip across Africa to decide how to spend the money he had raised for the Ethiopian famine. He asked Paul Vallely to go with him. Over the next four decades Vallely became one of Geldofs closest advisers travelling with him to meet the worlds top rock stars and politicians.

Here, for the first time, Vallely gives his full eye-witness account of those 40 years. The book, which has a foreword by Bob Geldof, is crammed with stories of how pop, poverty, politics and power are interwoven in the Live Aid story. Geldof encounters presidents, prime ministers and popes as well as the pop heroes who adorned his bedroom wall as a boy. Bob drinks late-night whisky with Margaret Thatcher, is forced to write a grovelling apology to Bill Clinton and meets Vladimir Putin on a boat in the Mediterranean. He pressurises The Who, sweet talks Pink Floyd, and is awestruck by Bowie. Is Bob Geldof a bully or a charmer, saint or white saviour, or simply a force of nature?

But there is more to this than music. The journey from Live Aid to Live 8 was one from giving money to calling for action, from charity to justice and an entire generation went on it with him. Live 8 in 2005 was the largest gathering in human history. Its eight simultaneous concerts created a seismic event which the leaders of the worlds most powerful nations could not ignore. It made a whole generation feel they could make a difference. In more ways than one, Live Aid rocked the world.

...(*_*)9781917923392_

A Classic Pop Music Book of the Year

FEATURING A FOREWORD BY BOB GELDOF

The authoritative, official inside story of 40 years of Live Aid, from Band Aid to today.

In 1985, with £100+ million in his back pocket from Live Aid – the greatest rock concert the world had ever seen – Bob Geldof took a trip across Africa to decide how to spend the money he had raised for the Ethiopian famine. He asked Paul Vallely to go with him. Over the next four decades Vallely became one of Geldof’s closest advisers – travelling with him to meet the world’s top rock stars and politicians.

But there is more to this than music. The journey from Live Aid to Live 8 was one from giving money to calling for action, from charity to justice – and an entire generation went on it with him. Live 8 in 2005 was the largest gathering in human history. Its eight simultaneous concerts created a seismic event which the leaders of the world’s most powerful nations could not ignore. It made a whole generation feel they could make a difference. In more ways than one, Live Aid rocked the world.

Live Aid: The Definitive 40 Year Story

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