Live Aid politicizes pop

It didn't solve the problem of hunger in Africa, but Live Aid certainly put the issue on the world's radar and inspired the social conscience of countless individuals and future musicians. The massive concert, which occurred July 13, 1985, in London, England, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was co-organized by The Boomtown Rats frontman Bob Geldof and Ultravox singer Midge Ure. The duo had co-written Do They Know It's Christmas? the previous fall and organized the British super-group Band Aid to record it, but wanted to do more. Hence, Live Aid. Geldof's efforts were later criticized, as little of the money raised seems to have gone to affected individuals.