Live Aid: How Brian May convinced a reluctant Freddie Mercury to play the gig of a lifetime

2 July 2025, 10:13

Queen were the standout stars of Live Aid, but they very nearly didn't play at Wembley Stadium.

When people think about Live Aid, the first performance they think of is usually Queen's stunning 20-minute set.

That's quite the achievement, given just how many superstars performed on the day, from Status Quo to Paul McCartney and everything in between.

• 30 massive artists who DIDN'T play Live Aid and why: Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Rod Stewart and more
• Did you know Noel Edmonds flew Phil Collins in his helicopter for Live Aid?
• Listen to the Gold Radio Greats Live Playlist on Global Player, the home of Gold

But 40 years on, stories about the iconic concert are still emerging about that amazing day, including the fact that Queen very nearly didn't play Live Aid at all.

The band weren't really match fit for the performance, and while it's now recognised as an era-defining event, before it happened there were concerns that it would be a fiasco.

In fact, when they were first approached, only drummer Roger Taylor was keen on rocking up at Wembley Stadium, with Freddie Mercury, Brian May and John Deacon far from convinced by the idea.

Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody (Live Aid 1985)

"We weren't touring or playing, and it seemed like a crazy idea, this talk of having 50 bands on the same bill," Brian told Radio Times.

"We thought it was going to be a disaster. Freddie, in particular, said, ‘I haven’t got the right feeling for this.’ He wasn’t the leader of the band, but if he dug his heels in there was no dragging him, so we parked it."

But as the momentum behind the scenes grew, everyone seemed to get on board – except for Mercury.

Queen - Radio Ga Ga (Live Aid 1985)

"I said to Freddie, 'If we wake up on the day after this Live Aid show and we haven't been there, we're going to be pretty sad'," May revealed.

"He said, ‘Oh, f**k it, we’ll do it'."

If Brian's words to Freddie seem somewhat familiar it's because they were borrowed – and stuck in Freddie's mouth – for hit 2018 biopic Bohemian Rhapsody.

Queen - We Will Rock You (Live Aid 1985)

Recently it also emerged that not only were Queen unsure about playing Live Aid, they were almost not even asked to perform.

With the band a decade on from the high point of 'Bohemian Rhapsody', Bob Geldof apparently needed some convincing that they were still relevant enough to be on the bill.

Live Aid co-promoter Harvey Goldsmith has told Mojo that he had to twist Geldof's arm to agree to have Queen on the running order.

Queen - We Are The Champions (Live Aid 1985)

"Bob said, 'No, they’ve peaked. I don't think they should play'" Harvey said,

"I said to Bob, I really think they’ll be perfect to go on in that 5.30, 6 o'clock type slot – knowing Freddie as I did, I knew they’d really make a show of it.

"Bob and I went backwards and forwards. I had to do a lot of persuading. He said, ‘No, we’ve got other acts we could put on.’ I dug my heels in and said there’s no better act that could do this than Queen."