On this occasion, the legendary Bob Geldof, the driving force behind this global movement and frontman of The Boomtown Rats, will step onto the stage at the Petrovaradin Fortress to deliver messages about the power of music to inspire, unite, and transform the world for the better.
The first Live Aid concert was held on July 13, 1985, making history as an event that redefined music’s potential to bring the world together for a common cause — in this case, fighting famine in Ethiopia. Through simultaneous concerts at Wembley Stadium in London and JFK Stadium in Philadelphia, featuring performances by the biggest music stars of the time, such as Queen, U2, David Bowie, The Who, Elton John, Paul McCartney, and many others, Live Aid reached over 1.5 billion people worldwide. The $127 million raised not only provided direct relief but also demonstrated that unity and music could address global challenges, making it a relevant example even today. Forty years later, on the same date, Bob Geldof — Irish musician, activist, and leader of The Boomtown Rats — will commemorate this significant milestone at the EXIT Festival.
To kick off the Live Aid 40th-anniversary celebration, a new version of the song “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” was recently released with the title “Band Aid Forty.” The original song became the anthem of the global humanitarian movement in 1984, while the new one brings together artists such as George Michael, Robbie Williams, Chris Martin, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, Dido, One Direction, Sinéad O’Connor, and Bono. This super-mix, as many experts call it, is already competing for the top spot on the prestigious UK Official Singles Chart.
Besides the UK and the US, Live Aid was also celebrated in Yugoslavia a month before the global event. On June 15, 1985, a concert titled “YU Rock Mission – Concert for Africa” was held at Belgrade’s Marakana Stadium as part of the Yugoslav humanitarian response to Live Aid’s call. The concert featured some of the biggest stars of the Yugoslav rock scene, including Zdravko Čolić, Momčilo Bajagić Bajaga, Slađana Milošević, Marina Perazić, Idoli, Dado Topić, Vlatko Stefanovski, Oliver Mandić, Massimo Savić, Dejan Cukić, and many other renowned musicians. Together, they brought attention to Africa’s famine crisis and collected significant relief funds. This event was part of a broader initiative, “YU Rock Mission,” which also produced the song “Za milion godina,” Yugoslavia’s counterpart to “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” and “We Are The World.” This campaign was a key moment of solidarity, highlighting the profound impact the idea of Live Aid had on the region.
Ticket sales will begin on Thursday, December 12, at noon, with the first lineup announcement for the festival’s 25th anniversary expected on the same day.
