<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nFollowing grueling tours in Australia and Japan, Queen was physically and mentally exhausted. Promoter Harvey Goldsmith recalled that the band seemed \u201ca bit reluctant\u201d to join Live Aid, considering a break after such an intense schedule. Speaking to Mojo<\/em> magazine, Goldsmith said the band felt \u201ca bit wrecked\u201d and hesitant about committing to the historic charity concert.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFreddie Mercury himself was cautious about the political nature of the event. According to guitarist Brian May, Mercury initially feared the concert might be perceived as \u201ctoo political\u201d and wanted to gauge public reaction before fully committing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>The Turning Point<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nIn an interview with Radio Times<\/em>, Brian May recounted the moment that changed everything. \u201cWe weren\u2019t touring or playing, and it seemed like a crazy idea, this talk of having 50 bands on the same bill\u2026 I said to Freddie, \u2018If we wake up on the day after this Live Aid show and we haven\u2019t been there, we\u2019re going to be pretty sad.\u2019 He said, \u2018Oh, f*** it, we\u2019ll do it.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nMay called it \u201cone of the few moments in anyone\u2019s life that you know you\u2019re doing something for all the right reasons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Booking Queen: Doubts and Decisions<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nDespite Goldsmith\u2019s confidence that Queen would be the perfect act for the late afternoon slot, Bob Geldof was skeptical. \u201cNo, they\u2019ve peaked. I don\u2019t think they should play,\u201d Geldof reportedly said. However, after some \u201cback and forth,\u201d Geldof relented\u2014on one condition: Queen should \u201cdon\u2019t get clever\u201d and \u201cjust play the hits.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n