40 Years Ago Today: Led Zeppelin Reunites for Historic Live Aid Performance
July 13, 2025 — Today marks the 40th anniversary of one of the most legendary moments in rock history. On July 13, 1985, the iconic British rock band Led Zeppelin reunited to perform at the Live Aid concert, a global event organized to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia. It was the first time the band had performed together since the tragic death of their drummer John Bonham in 1980, which led to the group’s breakup.
Live Aid, the brainchild of musician Bob Geldof, was held simultaneously at Wembley Stadium in London and JFK Stadium in Philadelphia. It brought together the biggest names in music for what would become one of the most monumental concerts ever staged. Led Zeppelin’s reunion took place at JFK Stadium, in front of a crowd of nearly 100,000 and a global television audience of over 1.5 billion viewers.
For the performance, Phil Collins of Genesis and Tony Thompson of Chic stepped in on drums, sharing the immense responsibility of filling Bonham’s shoes. The band performed a short set that included classics like “Rock and Roll,” “Whole Lotta Love,” and “Stairway to Heaven.” While the performance was met with mixed reviews—largely due to limited rehearsal time and technical issues—it remains a defining moment in the band’s history.
Despite the band members’ later criticism of the performance, the significance of the occasion cannot be understated. The sight of Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones sharing the stage again stirred strong emotions among fans and marked a poignant chapter in the band’s legacy.
Today, four decades later, that performance still resonates. It was not just a reunion of Led Zeppelin—it was a moment of unity and hope, showing how music could rally the world toward a common cause. In the annals of rock history, Led Zeppelin at Live Aid 1985 remains an unforgettable milestone.
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