Live Aid Musical Stuns Pete Townshend, Inspires Rethink of Classic Who Anthem

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This month, the Live Aid musical will be performed on the West End stage, celebrating 40 years since the historic 1985 concerts in London and Philadelphia. During this time, music legends such as Queen, David Bowie, Elton John, Wham!, and Diana Ross joined forces for a unique event.

For a single day, this narrative delves into both the concert itself and the intricate political and organizational aspects surrounding it. Given the impressive roster of performers, it’s no shock that Just for One Day is classified as a musical featuring popular songs, or a “jukebox musical.

The soundtrack features only popular tunes from back then, but director Luke Sheppard emphasized it’s not just a “sing-along” rendition of the performance.

He mentioned that while they drew inspiration from the artists they admired, their primary goal was not to mimic or imitate them. Essentially, what they aimed to achieve was creating a platform for fresh talent and presenting their unique interpretation of an event similar to Live Aid.

He emphasized the reinterpretation of “My Generation” from the musical, originally by The Who, that’s been dramatically changed to a more soulful, slower tempo compared to the lively rock version we’re familiar with.

He reminisced about bringing Pete Townshend to the performance, and it seemed as though he couldn’t fathom his powerful song – a cornerstone in rock and roll history – playing live. The look on his face suggested he was contemplating whether to re-record the track in a similar style.

It’s quite astonishing, from a musician’s perspective, how Matthew Brind (musical supervisor) rearranges these classic pieces in a way that sounds fresh and modern for today’s listeners.

“But we knew that was what was necessary for a hit West End show.”

Midge Ure, one of the founders of Band Aid, shared that he didn’t have high hopes for the performance beforehand, but admitted that there were instances during the show that even a weary pop veteran like him felt a catch in his throat.

A specific tune caught my attention: I wasn’t a fan of Bob Dylan, but the rendition of his 1962 song ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’, with its exceptional vocals, lighting, and arrangement, left me utterly impressed. It has made me reconsider my previous opinion entirely.

Beginning on May 15th at the Shaftesbury Theatre, “Just for One Day” kicks off, and even for those who remain doubtful, Geldof made a pointed statement: “I came across something that said it’s just ‘another jukebox musical’. Mate, it’s the worldwide jukebox; there’s nothing else it can be. That concert was exactly what we called the global jukebox – one hit after another after another.

“It’s a phenomenal piece of work.”

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2025-05-03 12:36