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Sir Bob Geldof, Midge Ure and Harvey Goldsmith Announce the Live Aid Musical Cast Album at Wembley Stadium
On the 11th July, music and theatre lovers can relive the spirit of one of history’s most iconic gigs, with the release of Just For One Day – The Live Aid Musical (Original Cast Recording). Arriving in the West End on 15th May following a record-breaking, sold-out run at The Old Vic theatre, Just for One Day – The Live Aid Musical is now also a fully realised rock album, capturing the passion, power, and urgency that made the 1985 response to the famine in Ethiopia a turning point in music history.
The album was announced yesterday (1st May) at Wembley Stadium, marking a major milestone ahead of the musical’s West End opening this month at the Shaftesbury Theatre, London. The event was hosted by radio DJ Jo Whiley, who was joined by the founders of Live Aid and Trustees of the Band Aid Charitable Trust, Sir Bob Geldof, Midge Ure, Harvey Goldsmith and John Kennedy. The crowd was treated to performances from the powerhouse cast, and heard discussion of the Live Aid legacy ahead of the 40th anniversary.
As with the musical itself, Just For One Day – The Live Aid Musical (Original Cast Recording) was created with the backing of Sir Bob Geldof and the Band Aid Charitable Trust. More than just a collection of songs, this album is a love letter to the ‘80s – a time of bold anthems, raw emotion, and an unshakable belief in music’s power to change the world. This is not only a reworking of these legendary tracks, it’s a celebration of their lasting impact, recorded in the same spaces as many of the original iconic songs.
The album, produced by Olivier nominated arranger Matthew Brind and Jon Bath, and engineered by Grammy-nominated Jeremy Murphy, boasts a modern, expansive sound while staying true to the energy and emotion of the originals, even featuring new lyrics penned by Sir Bob Geldof himself.
The album features anthems from the artists who made history at Live Aid, including Queen, David Bowie, Ultravox, Boomtown Rats, U2, Elton John, The Police, The Who, Madonna, Phil Collins, Bob Dylan and more.
To mark the announcement, fans who pre-order the album will have access to an exclusive track:
Often ranked as one of the greatest songs of all time, The Police’s ‘Message in a Bottle’ is taken to new heights as a showcase of the cast’s astonishing vocal talent, delivering a rendition that embodies the spirit of the era. With the ever poignant lyric of “I’ll send an SOS to the world”, this electrifying first glimpse at the album encapsulates Live Aid’s message of hope and global aid, while also displaying the incredible wall of sound this cast and band have created.
The crowd was privy to a further exciting announcement in the stands of Wembley: on 13 July 2025, Just for One Day will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of Live Aid with a very special performance at the Shaftesbury Theatre followed by an exclusive after party with surprise special guest performances at Koko, Camden. There are a limited number of tickets available to purchase with a generous additional contribution to the Band Aid Charitable Trust.
Sir Bob Geldof said: “We couldn’t possibly have known that 40 years down the track, the issue would be as vital or the interest as great. Millions of children today are being forced to starve as an instrument of war, and millions of lives are in peril due to AIDS and because of cuts to international aid.
“This musical is extraordinary, and it brings Live Aid to a new generation – the possibility of what individuals can do together. It refutes Thatcher’s dictum that there’s no such thing as society. There is and it roared its existence on that day 40 years ago in Wembley Stadium. Human beings do care about each other – they rise above contemporary politics.
“Just For One Day puts Live Aid into perspective. It’s a phenomenal piece of work. I read somewhere that it’s a ‘jukebox musical’ – dude, it’s the original musical jukebox! That’s what we called it back then – ‘Live Aid – the Global Jukebox’! That’s what Live Aid was, arguably the greatest collection of songs of the rock era, and so this musical is hit after hit after hit, stunningly arranged for this generation! Its achievement is to conjure that vivid sense of 40 years ago, and to make it relevant to now.”
Arranger and Producer Matt Brind added: “Being given the keys to some of the greatest songs of our amazing rock and pop music culture has been a massive gift. Then, to blend those songs in a new, exciting theatrical setting with an incredible and vibrant company of amazing singers and a powerful band has been incredibly thrilling. A huge shout out to our brilliant mix engineer, Jeremy Murphy and to all the amazing vocalists and musicians who brought this fantastic music to life. Creating the exciting new arrangements of these songs with our brilliant director, Luke Sheppard, was a huge pleasure and blending that with the inspirational collaboration with Bob Geldof has created something I’m hugely proud of. And, most importantly, what a humbling experience to continue to raise awareness about world poverty, to continue to use art and music in doing what it does best… inspiring change.”
Producer Jon Bath said: “As a bonafide kid of the ‘80s the chance to make an album that celebrates that extraordinary era of popular music, defined by one Saturday in July 1985 has been a ‘kid in a candy shop’ moment as a producer. I hope we’ve done justice to every one of these iconic songs and can’t wait for listeners to have the chance to enjoy extraordinary performances by the cast and band of Just For One Day. In Bob’s emphatic words: ‘It better not be s**t.’ I firmly believe we’ve lived up to the challenge!”
Jamie Wilson said: ““From the outset, our aim with Just For One Day was to capture the spirit of unity and the transformative power of music that defined Live Aid. The cast album is a testament to that vision, bringing together timeless songs and heartfelt performances that resonate across generations. It’s more than just a recording; it’s a celebration of a moment when the world came together through music.”
While the album will undoubtedly transport listeners back to the golden age of rock, it also offers a moment to reflect on our world today. What has changed? What hasn’t? The songs that once called for action and unity in 1985 remain just as powerful and relevant in 2025.
10% of all ticket sales for Just For One Day – The Live Aid Musical will go directly to the Band Aid Charitable Trust to continue their vital work, to date the musical has raised over £600,000.
Tracklisting:
1. Overture
2. Heroes
3. Rat Trap (featuring Craige Els)
4. Drive (featuring Abiona Omonua)
5. Dancing With Tears In My Eyes (featuring Jack Shalloo)
6. Do They Know It’s Christmas? (Feed The World)
7. Radio Ga Ga
8. Stop Your Sobbing (featuring Julie Atherton)
9. We Are The Champions (featuring Collette Guitart & Jo Foster)
10. We Are The World
11. You’re The Best Thing (featuring Emily Ooi)
12. I’m Still Standing (featuring Craige Els & Julie Atherton)
13. Bad
14. Message In A Bottle
15. Pinball Wizard (featuring Joel Montague)
16. Dancing In The Streets (featuring Danielle Steers & Ashley Campbell)
17. Summer of ’69 (featuring Collette Guitart)
18. Blowing In The Wind
19. Reach Out And Touch (Somebody’s Hand) (featuring Julie Atherton)
20. In The Air Tonight / We Can’t We Live Together (featuring James Hameed, Danielle Steers & Ashley Campbell)
21. We Will Rock You / King Of Rock (featuring Olly Dobson & Tamara Taye)
22. Rockin’ All Over The World (featuring Olly Dobson)
23. Vienna (featuring Jack Shalloo)
24. I Don’t Like Mondays (featuring Craige Els)
25. All You Need Is Love (featuring Jason Battersby)
26. Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now) (featuring Joel Montague)
27. Rebel Rebel / Don’t You (Forget About Me) / Into The Grove (featuring Jo Foster, Rhys Wilkinson and Tamara Taye)
28. Bohemian Rhapsody (featuring Freddie Love)
29. My Generation (featuring Naomi Katiyo)
30. Let It Be