‘My Wednesbury father was an unsung hero of the concert’ | UK News

Forty years ago, the biggest names in music came together to perform what many consider to be the greatest concert of all time.

About two billion people tuned in alongside those in the audience as acts such as Queen, Madonna, Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Tina Turner and U2 performed at Live Aid on 13 July 1985, to raise funds for Ethiopian famine relief.

Bob Geldof, Midge Ure and Harvey Goldsmith have since won plaudits for putting the star-studded show together.

But one person not often mentioned is West Midlands-based rock promoter Maurice Jones, whose name even appeared at the top of the event’s ticket.

Mr Jones, who was born in Wednesbury and lived in Walsall, was approached to help with the event because of his connections in the industry, according to his daughter Nicola.

She said her father, who died in 2009, was involved with aspects of Live Aid including organising the venue, backstage catering and booking the bands.

“He was very modest. His take on it was that he was there to do a job, he wasn’t there to be in the limelight. He did play an important part,” she told WM.

“I think, because of my dad’s nature, he didn’t want to promote himself even though he was very good at promoting bands and acts.”

Ms Jones went to the Wembley concert with her dad when she was 15.

She said she was sitting in the royal box – a row behind David Bowie and two rows behind Princess Diana and Prince Charles – adding: “I was very lucky.”

She also spoke about seeing stars including Paul McCartney, Elton John and Adam Ant backstage, as well as the crowd’s reaction to Freddie Mercury’s legendary performance.

“Watching the reaction of the audience was really spectacular,” she added.

“I sort of knew who Queen were but I wasn’t that familiar with them – it was then I realised what a huge band they were.”

She said the atmosphere both in the audience and backstage, throughout the event, was “wonderful”, adding that her jaw “must have dropped to the floor”.

As well as organising Live Aid, Mr Jones was also involved in setting up the Monsters of Rock festival, which has since become Download Festival.

Ms Jones said she was “very proud” of her dad and now wanted him to be remembered for his contribution.

“It will be nice if he is remembered in a small way,” she said.