Hampshire photographer publishes book of unseen Live Aid photos

A photographer has published a book of unseen photos 40 years on from the Live Aid concert.

The benefit gig ran simultaneously at Wembley Stadium in London and John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia and raised funds for relief of the 1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia.

As a “slightly impulsive” 24-year-old local newspaper photographer, Murray Sanders from Waterlooville, Hampshire, bought a ticket and took photographs of the acts, which included Queen, Madonna and David Bowie.

He has now released a book of all his 230 photos – many of which have never been published before.

“I really shot as much as I could within the field of view that I had, which was right back in the crowd,” he said.

“I shot everything on film as did everybody then.”

He said he got “a plethora of brilliant pictures”, including Freddie Mercury posing at the end of Radio Gaga.

He said every band that performed “seriously embraced the day”.

“Very, very good memories,” he said.

“And in January, I decided that a book might be a thing that I’d like to do.”