How 'Live Aid II' was deleted in three weeks

Getty Images Eric Clapton and Jools Holland at tsunami relief in Cardiff in 2005 — Eric Clapton (right) agreed to headline Tsunami Relief Cardiff, just minutes before the whole thing was about to be called off

It was one of the largest charity events ever held in the UK. live support – But it almost didn’t happen.

Inspired by the horror of 2004 Indian Ocean TsunamiThree friends came up with the idea of organizing a fundraising concert at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.

Dubbed “Live Aid II” by newspapers, the tsunami relief concert quickly gained momentum.

But it required an A-list headline act and no one was prepared for it, until just when they were about to give up, one of the world’s most famous guitarists saved the day.

Stadium boss Paul Sargent said, “We got a call from Eric Clapton’s manager.”

“And he said, ‘Eric will do it’.”

With Clapton’s confirmation, everything else followed.

Craig David, Snow Patrol, Lulu and Manic Street Preachers were among the 18 performances that played for seven hours in front of approximately 70,000 music fans on January 22, 2005.

‘Crazy’ plan

Four weeks earlier, Paul was having a glass of wine on his sofa when he saw the news of a tsunami hitting several countries in South and Southeast Asia on Boxing Day 2004.

“I think it had an impact on everyone,” he said in a new BBC documentary.

The tsunami was one of the worst natural disasters in history, killing 225,000 people in 14 countries and displacing nearly two million people.

Leupung, Indonesia after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami

Getty Images Three people make their way through debris and fallen trees in the hot sun in Lupung, Indonesia, January 2005 — Leupung, Indonesia after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami

Those who survived the flood struggled to survive in its aftermath and were in desperate need of assistance.

was the story of A two-year-old boy who survived the wave and was reunited with his father in a Thai hospital This really stirred something in Paul.

“He was very similar to my own son,” Paul said.

“It was constantly in the news and newspapers. The public wanted something done.”

The following day, Paul met with two friends – promoter Pablo Janzur and ex-Wales international Rupert Moon – and they hatched a “crazy” plan on the back of a napkin.

In 2005, Paul Sargent was chief executive of the Millennium Stadium, now known as the Principality Stadium

Getty Images Paul Sargent, with brown hair, black beard and colorful jumper, smiles for the camera at a 2005 concert — In 2005, Paul Sargent was chief executive of the Millennium Stadium, now known as the Principality Stadium

“I knew (Paul) was involved with Live Aid before because he’d worked at Wembley. And so he said, ‘How about a concert’?” Rupert said.

They owned the Millennium Stadium, which is today known as the Principality Stadium.

But the program needed to be completed rapidly, while public sentiment was still running high and even before rugby’s Six Nations tournament had started.

They set a date – just over three weeks away – and set about trying desperately to make things happen.

Many Welsh bands and artists immediately signed up, including Katherine Jenkins, Feeder and the Goldie Lookin’ Chain (GLC).

Welsh classical singer Katherine Jenkins, pictured in concert in 2005, was the first artist to be confirmed for the relief concert

Getty Images Katherine Jenkins photographed wearing a blue dress with curly blonde hair before a tsunami relief concert in 2005 — Welsh classical singer Katherine Jenkins, pictured in concert in 2005, was the first artist to be confirmed for the relief concert

But to raise enough money for the disaster relief fund and secure prime-time BBC coverage, the concert needed an A-list headline act.

That was proving too difficult.

“It was like, ‘Look what we’re trying to do, it’s going to be amazing, you can be a part of it, why don’t you put your name in?'” said John Rostron, a promoter who volunteered to help. Gave his time for.

Goldie Lookin’ Chain (GLC) was one of the first acts to sign up for tsunami relief Cardiff

Getty Images Goldie is seen in chains during the tsunami relief concert at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff — Goldie Lookin’ Chain (GLC) was one of the first acts to sign up for tsunami relief Cardiff

With only 14 days left, it became a make or break case.

Paul said, “There was a statutory requirement to give notice to police officers two weeks before the show. And we were rapidly approaching that.”

The team began calling again about all the potential A-list acts, but to no avail.

They were minutes away from giving up forever when the phone rang.

The team behind Tsunami Relief Cardiff say they will “never forget” the moment Eric Clapton’s agent called to confirm he would be headlining the show.

Getty Images Eric Clapton, wearing a suit and with his eyes closed, plays his electric guitar at Tsunami Relief Cardiff — The team behind Tsunami Relief Cardiff say they will “never forget” the moment Eric Clapton’s agent called to confirm he would be headlining the show.

“I’ll never forget, it was seven minutes to three,” Paul said.

“We got a call from Eric Clapton’s manager. And he said, ‘Eric will do it.’

‘We are ahead’

“It was a moment of absolutely yes – we are moving forward,” John said.

But this joy was soon replaced by the realization that they now needed to accomplish all this in just two weeks.

“It usually takes months and months of work, sometimes even a few years of work,” Paul said.

However, with Clapton’s confirmation, things began to go according to plan.

Around 70,000 people bought tickets to see the fundraising event in the Welsh capital, and many made donations from home

Getty Images Crowd inside the Millennium Stadium on 22 January 2005 — Around 70,000 people bought tickets to see the fundraising event in the Welsh capital, and many made donations from home

“We started getting calls from artists who wanted to help,” Paul said.

Then within a few days all 66,000 tickets were sold.

Rupert said, “I’ll never forget walking with Paul to (the ticket office) on a Saturday morning – and there was a queue of people down the street.”

Who was on the line-up?

badly drawn boy
charlotte church
craig david
embrace
Eric Clapton
feeder
jools holland
katherine jenkins
keen
Kelly Jones of Stereophonics
Lulu
liberty x
Manic Street Preacher
snow Patrol

With one week remaining, 18 artists were signed up.

On the day of the concert, on a bitterly cold Saturday, thousands of people packed the stadium, while hundreds of thousands watched live on the Welsh language channel S4C and millions watched a highlights show on BBC Two.

Kelly Jones, lead singer of Stereophonics, was among the lineup at the tsunami relief Cardiff

PA Media Kelly Jones wearing a brown leather jacket performs during the Tsunami Relief Concert in Cardiff at the Millennium Stadium in Wales on Saturday 22 January 2005. — Kelly Jones, lead singer of Stereophonics, was among the lineup at the tsunami relief Cardiff

Charlotte Church was also one of the artists performing at the seven-hour event

Getty Images Charlotte Church performs for the tsunami relief crowd in Cardiff with her hair curly and wearing a brown leather jacket and blue jeans — Charlotte Church was also one of the artists performing at the seven-hour event

At the end of the night, Lulu told the stadium crowd that the event had raised over £1 million.

“It was one of those moments when you think, ‘Wow,'” Paul said.

The night concluded with a performance of Shake, Rattle and Roll by Jools Holland and Eric Clapton, joined by other artists on stage.

Holland said, “The atmosphere was great because it was a Cardiff crowd, who are special and very warm-hearted, and because they cared about why we were all there.”