AAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYY-OH!

The organizers didn't know it, but they made the the right call.

It was a little after 2:00 p.m. and a video was shown to the assembled crowds and millions more at home. David Bowie and Mick Jagger did a somewhat painful and mostly forgettable version of the classic "Dancing in the Streets" that would be shoved down our throats on MTV for the rest of the summer.

Simple Minds followed from Philadelphia, performing a three-song set of "Ghost Dancing," "Don't You (Forget About Me)," and "Promised You a Miracle."

Finally, Bowie took the stage in the flesh in London. The time was approximately 2:20 p.m. in New York.

It was July 13, 1985 and the question was: who followed Queen at Live Aid.

I like Simple Minds and have a healthy regard for Bowie but, to be honest, their sets have been forgotten.

Freddie Mercury, Brian May, John Deacon and Roger Taylor weren't entirely on the same page at that time. Live Aid could have been their farewell after the success of their tour supporting their album The Works.

The band also found some controversy, having played South Africa during the era of apartheid. Honestly, it would have been easy to ignore them on that sticky Saturday with 72,000 in attendance at London's Wembley Stadium and 89,484 at John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia.

Oh yeah, and another billion people watching worldwide.

But Queen ruled the day to the point of legend, serving as the denouement in Bohemian Rhapsody.

I was at Yankee Stadium for Old Timer's Day*, invited the night before and I accepted, since Huey Lewis and the News had backed out of the event in Philly. My brother was the first to tell me what I had missed and would have to watch on tape. I did see the latter acts, including the disastrous Led Zeppelin set.

*Oh yeah, and Vin Scully was in the booth at the Stadium. So there was that.

Freddie was the star and there was literally nothing anyone could do. From the opening notes of "Bohemian Rhapsody" on the piano as it segued into "Radio Gaga," Freddie grabbed the audience and never let go.

The hand clapping that eventually led to that note.

Oh, you know it.


Then the power of "Hammer to Fall" followed by "Crazy Little Thing Called Love," a portion of "We Will Rock You" and finishing with "We Are The Champions."

Yes. Yes they are the champions.

There were many great performances and moments on that day. So many memories.

But there was only one Freddie.

Only one Queen.

Everyone has been playing catch-up since.

All right!