Revisit: Paul McCartney’s Show-Stopping Performance of “Let It Be” at Live Aid

Live Aid had plenty of memorable moments. The charity event brought together the best of the best in music of the ’80s. Naturally, the setlist was stacked with timeless hits that wowed the massive crowd. Though we find it hard to pick one moment to top them all, Live Aid organizer Bob Geldof knows exactly which moment he’d choose: Paul McCartney’s performance of “Let It Be.” Though he suffered technical difficulties, the crowd participation was a powerful moment, according to Geldof. Find out why he loved McCartney’s performance in particular, below.

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Revisit: Paul McCartney’s Show-Stopping Performance of “Let It Be” at Live Aid

hen I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

McCartney’s performance at Live Aid was made all the more special given that he hadn’t played live since John Lennon was murdered five years prior. According to Geldof, McCartney was “scared stiff” to get back on the stage.

Halfway through the performance of “Let It Be,” Geldof, David Bowie, Pete Townshend and Alison Moyet joined McCartney on stage. Between their vocals and the crowds’ enthusiastic participation, “Let It Be” became as robust as the recorded version.

“Paul hadn’t played since John died, he was scared stiff,” Geldof once said. “[When his microphone breaks] he doesn’t quite realize it at first, and then I’m at the side of the stage with Bowie and Pete Townshend and Alison Moyet, and suddenly the crowd starts singing.”

“The crowd sang it for Paul,” he continued. “Pete says, ‘We’ve got to go out and help him.’ So, we go out on stage and we just start singing it, and then the mics come back on. When it happens at the end of the show, everyone just goes nuts.”

Revisit the moment from Live Aid, below.

And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree
There will be an answer, let it be
For though they may be parted, there is still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer, let it be

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
There will be an answer, let it be

(Photo by Jerry Wacher/Images/Getty Images)