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MusicRadar
Entertainment
Neil Crossley

“That's when the phone lines all over the world collapsed… The moment came when people fully understood what this was for”: The creation of The Cars’ song Drive and how it soundtracked a humanitarian catastrophe

JULY 13: LIVE AID Photo of Benjamin ORR and Elliot EASTON and CARS, Elliott Easton and Ben Orr of The Cars performing at Live Aid in Philadelphia.

There is a defining moment in the BBC TV coverage of Live Aid on 13 July, 1985, when the whole humanitarian purpose of the global star-studded benefit concert is brought into stark and harrowing perspective. 

At just before 8pm, straight after David Bowie and his hastily-assembled backing band wind up a rousing performance of Heroes, Bowie returns to the microphone to make an announcement. “Lest we forget why we’re here,” he begins, “I’d like to introduce a video made by CBC [Canadian Broadcasting Corporation] Television. The subject speaks for itself. Please send your money in.”

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