Phil Collins Says He Feared Appearing Overly Self-Promotional by Playing Both Live Aid Concerts
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The Genesis frontman was not initially expected to be the sole artist performing at both events.
Phil Collins still vividly remembers the extraordinary experience of performing at both the U.K. and U.S. editions of Live Aid on the same day in 1985.
In a recent interview with the BBC, the 75-year-old artist reflected on the historic charity event, saying the memories remain remarkably clear decades later.
Collins explained that the idea originated when someone suggested he appear at both concerts by traveling aboard the Concorde, the groundbreaking aircraft capable of crossing the Atlantic from London to New York in approximately three hours.
Initially, he agreed to the proposal but had concerns about how it might be perceived. Collins recalled asking organizers whether other performers would also be making the journey, as he worried being the sole musician at both events could appear self-promotional.
According to Collins, he was assured that members of The Power Station and Duran Duran would also be splitting their appearances between the two concerts. Based on that understanding, he agreed to participate.
However, circumstances changed before the event took place. Collins said The Power Station disbanded, while Duran Duran ultimately remained in the United States, leaving him as the only artist to perform at both Live Aid venues.
His journey on the day was ambitious. After appearing at London’s Wembley Stadium, he traveled by helicopter to Heathrow Airport, boarded Concorde for New York, then transferred to another helicopter that carried him to Philadelphia for the American concert.
Looking back, Collins believes his dual appearance helped create a symbolic connection between the two massive fundraising events. He performed the same songs—Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now) and In the Air Tonight—at both locations. During the London show, he also shared the stage with Sting for a duet.
Despite the historical significance of the feat, Collins emphasized that there was never a grand plan to make history. Instead, he described the experience as a series of opportunities and decisions that naturally unfolded one after another.
Beyond his solo performance in Philadelphia, Collins also took on drumming duties for Eric Clapton and joined surviving members of Led Zeppelin—Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones—during their highly anticipated reunion set.
Although Collins prepared by listening to “Stairway to Heaven” during his flight, he later admitted that the Led Zeppelin performance was less than ideal. In previous comments, he explained that the musicians had not rehearsed together properly and that tensions behind the scenes contributed to a disjointed show. As a result, he felt somewhat out of place during the performance.
Today, however, Collins looks back on the experience with humor, joking that he has long since moved on from any frustrations surrounding that memorable day in music history.