Bob Geldof & Paul Vallely: The Real Live Aid Story
This event has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.
It was music that changed the world. Now its creator takes us behind the scenes of one of the most powerful movements in music and humanitarian history.
Drawing on 40 exclusive interviews with rock stars, politicians and insiders, a new book – Live Aid – The Definitive Story – follows Geldof from the £100+ million raised by Live Aid in 1985 to his travels across Africa deciding how to spend it.
Along the way, we see pop, politics and philanthropy collide as Geldof drinks whisky with Margaret Thatcher, writes an apology to Bill Clinton, meets Vladimir Putin and sweet-talks Pink Floyd – all while inspiring a generation to believe change is possible.
Paul Vallely is an award-winning journalist and author who first met Bob Geldof covering the 1984 – 1985 Ethiopian famine. He advised Geldof on Live Aid, Live 8 and the Commission for Africa, and has written pioneering works on development, ethics and global justice.
Bob Geldof is a musician, activist and humanitarian whose career spans decades as the frontman of The Boomtown Rats and as the driving force behind Band Aid, Live Aid and Live 8. His campaigning on poverty and global justice has earned him international recognition, including an honorary knighthood and multiple humanitarian awards.
Need to know
The top two ticket prices include a copy of Live Aid – The Definitive Story. The book must be collected on the night of the event, as we’re unable to distribute copies afterwards.
An exclusive box package is available, which includes:
- Hire of a private box (seats up to eight people).
- Use of the Royal Retiring Room, a private lounge with its own toilet facilities, for the duration of the event.
- One free drink per guest on arrival (prosecco, wine, beer or soft drink).
- Dedicated host to take drinks orders throughout the event.
Access
To book tickets for BSL interpretation, email [email protected] or call us on 020 3879 9555.
You can join our free Access Scheme through your online Southbank Centre account or via email.
Find out more about our Access Scheme
For your visit
This event is held at the Royal Festival Hall Southbank Centre
The Royal Festival Hall is open six days a week.
Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 11pm
Monday, closed.
Plan your visit
The Royal Festival Hall is home to our largest auditorium as well as The Clore Ballroom, National Poetry Library, Members’ Lounge, Festival Bar & Kitchen, Ballroom Cafe and Skylon restaurant.
Getting here
Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
The nearest tube stations to us are Waterloo and Embankment; Waterloo is also the nearest train station. And more than 20 different London bus routes pass within 500 metres of our venues. More information on getting here by rail, road or river is available on our Getting here page.
We’re cash-free
Please note that we’re unable to accept cash payments across our venues.
Access
We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.
All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.
All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.
Food & drink
On Level 2 of our Royal Festival Hall you can grab a slice of life by the Thames with drinks and freshly made pizza at our Festival Bar & Kitchen which opens out onto our Riverside Terrace. You can grab a coffee and a slice of freshly made cake from our Ballroom Cafe. Or alternatively enjoy destination dining in the restaurant at Skylon.
From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.