Sir Bob Geldof revealed that he was dazzled after receiving a surprise phone call from Michael Jackson and Harry Belefonte, inviting him to record a charity single with big stars including Diana Ross and Stevie Wonder.

Boomtown Rats singer Bob shared the story of Band Aid at an In Conversation event, celebrating Live Aid and 100 years of the BBC, as part of the BFI and Radio Times TV Festival on May 20, 2022.

Speaking at the event, Bob revealed he didn’t believe it when he received a call from some of the biggest stars of the decade inviting him to record the single We Are The World of USA for Africa Charity in 1985, following the success of Do They Know. It’s Christmas by Band Aid a few months earlier.



Sir Bob Geldof shared the stories behind Band Aid and Live Aid at the BFI and the Radio Times TV Festival

Bob called TV host Harry Belefonte a “great hero” and couldn’t believe it when he heard his voice say on the phone, “Are you Bob Geldof?” and I’m like, ‘yes I am, hi Harry’. “

“He says, ‘I have Michael here'” and Bob explains that after Michael Jackson picked up the phone to talk to him, he surprised his partner Paula Yates with, “It’s Michael Jackson.”

Bob added: “Him [Michael Jackson] he said, ‘yes, Lionel and me [Richie] We wrote this song and we would like you to come and do it with us. So it was America for Africa. “



Michael Jackson invited Bob Geldof to record We Are The World with USA for Africa

USA For Africa is one of the best-selling singles in the world of all time and has featured some of the biggest stars in the world including Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Steve Perry and Daryl Hall and John Oates .

The single was also produced by award-winning Quincy Jones, with Bob saying on the recording of the song: “I walk into this room and it’s Quincy.

“There is no musician who, if Quincy calls, is not there right away. One of the greatest musicians and producers of all time.

“Quincy is chatting and enter Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Bruce Springsteen, Diana Ross, Tina Turner.

“It goes on forever, and I’m a guy from Dunleogrie, County Dublin, listening to this feverishly. Ray Charles, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan and they come and say ‘hi Bob’.



Bob Geldof and Midge Ure wrote Do They Know It's Christmas in 1984?

Bob added that he couldn’t believe it when asked to tell everyone why they were there to record the single, saying “it wasn’t worth it”, adding, “Quincy has his passion for the director in there and he says. [taps on the table]’everyone please be careful’.

“I look at our culture. They are the people who made the culture.

“He said ‘ok, you’ve got the music, come on now, but before we start, everyone knows Bob,’ to which Bob jokingly said, ‘No! Nobody !’

“I’m not literally worthy. Oh. Every song you can think of is in this room. “



USA for Africa featured big stars like Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder and Bruce Springsteen

After recording the song, Bob explained that USA for Africa was the beginning of the inspiration for the Live Aid concerts, which took place in London and Philadelphia on July 13, 1985, after Bob realized he could bring together the stars from both countries for the concert. events.

Yet despite being the person who started the movement behind two of the biggest charity singles in the world, he was still impressed to be involved in such a project and couldn’t resist asking the stars for autographs that day, and others. stars in the room started doing the same.

He said, “I do one thing and we do the song. I take the music and go around asking everyone for their autographs.”

“Painful, but I have everyone’s autographs!”

“Then I went to Springsteen and he said, ‘Come on, Bob’ and I told him not to sign it.

“Then I see Bruce Springsteen asking everyone for autographs!”

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