The story of Live Aid continues this Sunday, July 6, at 10:00 PM on BBC Two, with Live Aid at 40: When Rock ’n’ Roll Took on the World, Episode 2. This second hour moves beyond the concert’s triumph, grappling with the thorny challenges Bob Geldof faced in distributing the millions raised.
After the largest global fundraising concert in history, the immediate challenge became allocating the aid where it was most needed. The episode follows Geldof’s trip across Sub-Saharan Africa, where he found himself engaged with governments and aid agencies. He also becomes embroiled in controversy in Ethiopia itself, particularly concerning the Marxist government’s resettlement policy and broader questions about how aid was being used.
The program includes archival footage from both the London and Philadelphia Live Aid concerts, featuring performances from U2, Madonna, Phil Collins, and Patti LaBelle. There are interviews with Sting, Bono, Nile Rodgers, Mike Mitchell, and Birhan Woldu, the Ethiopian girl made famous by David Bowie.
Live Aid at 40: When Rock ’n’ Roll Took on the World: Episode 2 airs Sunday, July 6, at 10:00 PM on BBC Two.
