It’s hard to explain just how huge heavy metal was in the 1980s to someone who wasn’t there. The constant push and pull of musical trends and experimentation, combined with the rise of MTV, created a truly strange and glorious moment in pop culture. Men in absurdly tight, harlequin-like outfits delivered jaw-dropping displays of musical virtuosity: soaring high notes, blazing-fast fingerwork, and sheer speed. Metal had it all.

So why was the entire genre practically ignored in the biggest live televised concert the world had ever seen? Well, let’s not forget — Judas Priest were there.

Live Aid was huge

From the start, the Live Aid concert on July 13th, 1985, was an ambitious undertaking. Musicians Bob Geldof and Midge Ure were inspired to take action after a 1984 BBC news report brought attention to the famine taking place in Ethiopia. They organized “Band Aid,” a supergroup of popular (mostly English) musicians, and produced the single “Do They Know It’s Christmas,” which raised $24 million for the relief effort. Geldof and Ure parlayed this success into Live Aid, an all-day televised broadcast of performances from the biggest musicians in the world.

An estimated one billion viewers in over 100 countries tuned in to the concert that simulcast live performances alternating from London’s Wembley Stadium and Philadelphia’s John F. Kennedy Stadium. Throughout the broadcast, viewers were encouraged to call in and pledge money. The event raised an estimated $127 million and brought more awareness to the crisis in Africa.

Queen are remembered best from the day for Freddie Mercury’s inspired performance and “aaay-o” call-and-response interaction with the crowd at Wembley. The long-sustained “aaay-o” during this a cappella segment has come to be known as “The Note Heard Round the World,” based on its sheer emotional power. 

Led Zeppelin “reunited” but many were not happy with their performance (including the band themselves). 

Black Sabbath also reunited for this show, where they performed an amazing set while completely hungover. According to Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi: 

“We got to the rehearsal space and were supposed to rehearse three songs. Instead of doing that we ended up talking about old times … We went back to the bar afterwards, had a great time together and got solidly sloshed.”

Whatever issues may have been experienced on and off stage, it was simply a beautiful moment in time. It felt like the world was coming together for the common good. But there were many musicians who were overlooked in the line-up for the shows. Maybe there was just too much good music in the mid ’80s to condense into one day?

Where was all the Spandex?

Heavy metal was huge at the time, so why was it so under-represented? Where were the flag-bearers? No one thought that Ratt might want to help out? Mötley Crüe  were just beginning to show their sensitive side with “Home Sweet Home.” Scorpions were certainly a proven winner with large crowds.

Alas, some of the most obvious choices just weren’t meant to be. Van Halen were in a transitional period and generally unable to function, and Kiss were still insisting that they didn’t need make-up.

Judas Priest and Black Sabbath were practically the only representatives from the heavy metal genre at Live Aid.

It’s not hard to understand why the concert organizers may not have wanted to cozy up to music known for generally celebrating the worst aspects of rock-stardom in the most cartoonish ways (if not straight-up cheering on the devil). Regardless of the sincerity or meaning behind much of the heavy metal aesthetic, it didn’t really jibe with Live Aid’s “we care a lot” message. The last thing you’d want at a “feed the children” charity event is Tommy Lee in a thong, mooning the audience. Plus, metal in general was a scapegoat for any number of ills in the world due to the “Satanic Panic” that reached its peak in the ’80s.

Nevertheless, when The Who’s manager (Bill Curbishley) was asked if they would perform, the answer was “yes,” but with one caveat: Curbishley’s other band would get a slot as well. And so Judas Priest was set to perform at the largest televised concert the world had ever seen.

“It was boiling hot that day, and we were in leather”

Judas Priest were asked to play in the Philadelphia portion of the concert with only a few days’ notice. According to lead singer Rob Halford, “We knew the concert was happening — it was all over the news, 24/7. But we really didn’t know until a few days before that there was an opening for us.”

Halford spoke with MTV’s Martha Quinn at the concert and expressed his enthusiasm for being one of only two bands representing the metal underworld:

“You know metal bands as much as everyone else are concerned about the situation in Africa and we want to help, so you know, and it’s going to be a great party.”

Looking back on the day

Through the years, some artists have expressed mixed feelings about their participation. Jimmy Page has vented about Phil Collins (sitting in on drums) ruining their set while Adam Ant maintains that the concert marked “the end of rock ‘n’ roll.” 

But Halford is happy with Judas Priest’s contribution:

“I’ve seen the YouTube, and I’m proud of it,” he told Philly Mag. “You barely had 15 minutes, and every band was pushing the pedal to the metal. It was boiling hot that day, and we were in leather.”

The band played a three-song set that included “Living After Midnight,” “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’,” and “The Green Manalishi (With the Two-Pronged Crown).” Despite some feedback issues at the beginning of the set, the band performed phenomenally.

Jack Nicholson is a Metalhead

According to Halford, his greatest memories were getting to meet some of his idols, including Joan Baez and Jack Nicholson:

“My big moment was meeting up with Jack Nicholson, who is a metalhead. We talked backstage. And I also met Joan Baez. We had done a cover of her song ‘Diamonds and Rust,’ and she walks up to me and says, ‘I just want to give you a message.’ And I think, Oh, Lord. But then she says, ‘My son has told me to tell you that he prefers your version to his mum’s.’ How self-effacing? An incredible, iconic, legendary woman. There was my Joan Baez moment.”

Halford went on to describe hanging out in a private penthouse after-party with Nicholson that was “a bit of Caligula:”

“I was standing with Jack, and people were going on about The Shining. And I said, ‘You get that all the time, Jack?’ And he said, ‘Yeah,’ and then starts singing ‘Breaking the Law.’ That party was pretty wild. There was a sauna in the penthouse that was being very well used. I wandered in, and there was a bit of Caligula going on. But I can’t tell you quite who was involved. It was too dark and steamy.”

Hear ‘n Aid: The giving continues

As we lament the lack of heavy metal acts at Live Aid, let’s not forget about Hear ‘n Aid, the metal scene’s contribution to the growing relief effort soundtrack. The lead track from the album was “Stars,” a “We Are The World” style single that showcased the talents of many prominent rockers such as Ronnie James Dio (Dio), Geoff Tate (Queensrÿche), Don Dokken (Dokken), Spinal Tap, and many others.

In fact, Judas Priest’s own Rob Halford was one of the few artists who participated in both Live Aid and Hear ‘N Aid. Jimmy Page was scheduled to appear on the single as well, but his session was scheduled for the day after Live Aid, so one can only imagine why that might have been a bad idea.

In the end, the album raised over $3 million dollars for famine relief.