Live Aid was one of the most incredible concerts ever, held on July 13, 1985, the event took place in London at Wembley Stadium and Philadelphia at John F. Kennedy Stadium.

The two concerts, organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, were held to raise awareness (and funds) to address a horrific famine in Ethiopia.

Among the performers on stage were Led Zeppelin, Queen, Black Sabath, Duran-Duran, U2, Judas Priest, Santana, The Who, Bob Geldof, Phil Collins, Eric Clapton, Sting, Mick Jagger, David Bowie, George Michael, Sting, Andrew Ridgeley, Howard Jones, Elton John, Roger Daltrey, Adam Ant etc.

 

Led Zeppelin Performed on Live Aid Concert, 1985: A Historic Yet Controversial Reunion

Led Zeppelin, one of the most iconic and influential rock bands in music history, participated in the globally televised Live Aid concert on July 13, 1985. This was a monumental moment, not just because of the cause it supported—the famine crisis in Ethiopia—but also because it marked one of the band’s rare reunions following their breakup in 1980 after the death of drummer John Bonham. Their performance at Live Aid remains a significant cultural event, though it was met with mixed reactions due to technical issues and limited rehearsal. Despite its shortcomings, the appearance was emotionally charged and is remembered as an ambitious attempt to revive the magic of Led Zeppelin, even if only temporarily.

Live Aid: The Context

Live Aid was organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure as a massive dual-venue concert held simultaneously in London’s Wembley Stadium and Philadelphia’s JFK Stadium. The goal was to raise money for the ongoing Ethiopian famine. Featuring some of the biggest musical acts of the era—including Queen, U2, David Bowie, Madonna, and more—the event is considered one of the most significant musical gatherings in history, watched by an estimated 1.9 billion people across 150 nations.

Led Zeppelin’s involvement was a major surprise and a major draw for the Philadelphia portion of the concert. The band had disbanded in 1980 following the tragic death of John Bonham, and fans had been longing for a reunion ever since.

The Line-Up and Challenges

For Live Aid, surviving Led Zeppelin members Robert Plant (vocals), Jimmy Page (guitar), and John Paul Jones (bass and keyboards) agreed to perform. To fill in for Bonham, they enlisted two drummers: Phil Collins of Genesis and Eric Clapton’s drummer, Tony Thompson. Collins had also performed at the London concert earlier in the day and famously took the Concorde to Philadelphia to join the Zeppelin set.

However, the dual-drummer setup, combined with little to no rehearsal time, resulted in a performance that felt disjointed and lacked the tight cohesion for which the band was known. Both Collins and Thompson were talented in their own right, but the chemistry that had existed between the original four members of Led Zeppelin was irreplaceable. Moreover, the band reportedly only had a few hours of soundcheck, further compounding the performance issues.

The Setlist and Performance

Led Zeppelin performed three songs:

1. “Rock and Roll”
2. “Whole Lotta Love”
3. “Stairway to Heaven”

These tracks were among their most celebrated anthems and were natural choices for a high-profile reunion. However, problems quickly surfaced. Jimmy Page’s guitar was out of tune during parts of the performance, and Plant’s vocals, strained from years of solo touring and age, couldn’t quite reach the soaring heights they had in the band’s prime. The drummers seemed out of sync at times, leading to a fragmented rhythm section.

“Stairway to Heaven,” while emotionally stirring for many fans, also suffered from technical difficulties, and lacked the haunting precision that had made it a generational anthem. Page later lamented the lack of rehearsal and called the performance “a total shambles.”

Reception and Aftermath

Reactions to the performance were mixed at best. Fans were ecstatic to see Led Zeppelin reunited, if only briefly, but critics and even the band members themselves were harsh in their assessments. Plant, Page, and Jones all expressed dissatisfaction with the performance. They were particularly unhappy with the lack of preparation and the use of two drummers, which they felt diluted the power and chemistry of their original lineup.

In fact, Led Zeppelin was so disappointed with their performance that they refused to allow it to be included on the official Live Aid DVD release decades later. This act of self-censorship is almost unique among major acts from the event and speaks volumes about their own perception of the show.

Phil Collins later defended his performance, noting that he was asked at the last minute and did his best under the circumstances, but he too acknowledged that it wasn’t one of his proudest musical moments.

Legacy and Significance

Despite the technical failures and critical responses, Led Zeppelin’s appearance at Live Aid remains an important part of their legacy. It was the first time the surviving members performed together after Bonham’s death, and it opened the door for future reunions, albeit limited ones.

In 1988, they performed again at the Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary concert, with Jason Bonham, John Bonham’s son, on drums. This too received mixed reviews. However, in 2007, the band stunned audiences and critics alike with a powerful and well-rehearsed performance at the Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert at the O2 Arena in London. This time, with Jason Bonham again on drums, they delivered what many considered a performance worthy of their legendary status—perhaps even making up for the missteps of Live Aid.

From a broader perspective, their participation in Live Aid demonstrated their willingness to support global causes and to use their fame for good. While the musical execution fell short, the spirit of the event—uniting the world through music—remains intact in the memory of their appearance.

Cultural Resonance

Led Zeppelin’s Live Aid performance has become a case study in the complexities of legendary bands reuniting after long absences, especially when integral members are no longer alive. It highlighted the challenges of re-creating chemistry, the importance of preparation, and the unforgiving nature of live televised events. However, it also served as a reminder of the sheer anticipation and emotional power that the name “Led Zeppelin” could evoke, even five years after the band had disbanded.

For younger generations who never experienced the band during their 1970s peak, Live Aid may have served as an introduction—albeit flawed—to the music and mythos of Led Zeppelin.

Conclusion

Led Zeppelin’s performance at the 1985 Live Aid concert remains one of the most discussed and debated moments in the band’s history. Technically and musically, it was far from their best. Yet emotionally and historically, it was a significant chapter that added to the mystique of a band that had once ruled the rock world. While the band themselves have tried to distance themselves from it, fans continue to view it as an important, albeit imperfect, reunion that reflected the band’s lasting impact on music, culture, and the global consciousness.

Live Aid wasn’t their finest hour—but it was a moment that reinforced Led Zeppelin’s enduring relevance and the deep yearning the world had to see them, even for just a fleeting set on a hot July afternoon in Philadelphia.