ACTIVISM

The Concert for Bangladesh

Organized by George Harrison and Ravi Shankar

August 1, 197140,000 people at Madison Square Garden in New York City

Why?

Raise international awareness and fund relief efforts for refugees from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) after the 1970 Bhola cyclone and civil war related problems

Had a best selling album from the concert

This was the first time a benefit concert was held of this size

“Supergroup”George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, Leon Russell, band Badfinger

“In one day, the whole world knew the name of Bangladesh. It was a fantastic occasion…” Ravi Shankar

Raised close to $250,000 for relief

Became an inspiration for other benefit concerts

Concert live album and film raised an estimated $12 million

Band Aid

Charity SupergroupFounded in 1984 by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise money for anti-poverty efforts in Ethiopia by releasing the song “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”

Bob Geldof- The Boomtown Rats

Irish bandhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yteMugRAc0 (I Don’t Like Mondays video)

Bob Geldof was moved by the plight of starving children that he decided to try to raise money using his contacts in pop music

Called musicians and convinced them to give their time free

His criterion for selection was how famous they were

Why? To maximize the sales of the record

Recording studio came Band Aid no more than 24 hours to record and mix the record

November 25, 1984

Record released on November 29, 1984

Straight to Number 1 on UK singles chart

Became the fastest selling single of all time in the UK, selling a million copies in the first week

Band Aid ensemble

U2, The Who, Phil Collins, Bob Geldof, Spandau Ballet, Ultravox, Duran Duran, Kiss, Bananrama, Shalamar, Kool & the Gang, Culture Club (Boy George), David Bowie (contributed a recording that was dubbed), Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Sting, Paul McCartney, Big Country, George Michael

Musicians

John Taylor (Duran Duran)- bassPhil Collins (Genesis)- drumsMidge Ure (Ultravox)- keyboardsGary Kemp (Spandau Ballet)- guitar

Jon Moss (Culture Club)- Percussion/bells

Tears for Fears- Drum samples

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITOuT5gMP-w

(Part I documentary) http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=a9JzNjIgFfQ (Part II documentary) http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=7ZRylAAn8GU (Part III documentary)