How Paul McCartney and the Band Aid stars helped Lochee Live Aid feed the world
October 5, 2020
Bby Graeme Strachan
www.thecourier.co.uk
Live Aid changed the world with one of the largest concerts ever staged – one that even spanned the Atlantic Ocean.
A third of the human race tuned in to watch more than 50 artists taking part in two concerts which were held simultaneously at Wembley Stadium in London and John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia.
Queen, U2, The Who and Paul McCartney were among the Wembley acts with Madonna, Duran Duran and Bob Dylan appearing in America.
But how many people remember Lochee Live Aid?
Thomson Park
The event took place 35 years ago on October 7 1985 at Lochee United’s Thomson Park ground where the headline act mimed through a backing tape.
Dundee and Dundee United players signed autographs and kicked footballs into the crowd to get the event under way which featured 22 bands and 2,500 punters.
Strawberry Switchblade were the headline act which comprised of Rose McDowall on lead vocals and Jill Bryson on vocals and guitar.
The band’s music was very much a hybrid of synth-pop and dark wave goth and their second single Since Yesterday went to number 5 in the UK charts in 1984 and their appeal stretched further afield and they also met with success in Europe and Japan.
They mimed to a backing track in Lochee just a month after they released their fifth single which was an electro-pop cover of Dolly Parton’s Jolene.
The people of Lochee turned out in force on the same day Bob Geldof flew to Africa to see the effect of the Band Aid effort in the famine areas.
Noise complaints
Not everyone was in such a charitable mood however and police received a number of complaints about noise levels at Thomson Park from nearby residents.
Lochee United had provided their ground free of charge and local firms and tradesmen contributed materials and skills to build a stage which was decorated by local youngsters.
Adamson’s Limousines ferried the top stars to and from Thomson Park free of charge including Jam drummer Rick Buckler and Laurence Archer who was the guitarist from Huey Lewis and the News.
The event was organised by Bill Caswell from Lochee United Social Club, publican John Reilly and Lochee councillor Charles Farquhar.
Donations from big names in the pop world also flooded in with Paul McCartney, Cliff Richard, Duran Duran, the Thomson Twins, Elvis Costello and David Cassidy sending their good wishes, signed photographs and various prizes for the raffle.
McCartney personally donated a book of photographs taken by his wife Linda and British Airways gave away two return tickets to London for the appeal which included a guided tour of the Solid Bond recording studio by Paul Weller.
The community spirit of Lochee made the concert a success and £5,000 was raised for the global appeal.
The cheque from the money raised was presented to Live Aid presenter Billy Connolly when the comedian performed at the city’s Caird Hall.
Music writer Alan Wilson recalled: “I know a few people who played the gig, including fellow journalist Mike (Jock) Ferrie, whose band at the time, This Way Up, were one of Dundee’s brightest original bands at the time.
“Jock thought they were the bee’s knees and although they had Colin Davidson deputising for Paul Lothian on bass, who was on holiday in Greece, Paul organised a huge banner for their mates to hold so it looked like they had loads of fans out the front of the stage.
“There were only about six of them but they mingled with the moshers at the front to make it look good.
“Jock only accepted the gig because he fancied the girls from Strawberry Switchblade!
“But he went off them when they mimed to backing tapes!
“Rick Buckler from The Jam was there and Laurence Archer from Hughie Lewis was brought in by limousine by Chic Farquhar.
“Anybody who knew Chic Farquhar back then will probably agree he would have been better qualified as a boxing promoter!
“It was all a bit bizarre to be honest, it’s not often Thomson Park is mentioned in the same story as Wembley Stadium but fair play to him and the rest of the organisers.
“They did manage to pull a decent crowd and raised a good amount of money for Sir Bob.”
