Allegations that millions of pounds raised for famine relief through the Live Aid concert of 1985, ended up in the hands of rebels who then purchased arms in their attempts to overthrow the Ethiopian Government, threatens to cast a dark cloud over the event as the 25th anniversary approaches.
The allegations have been reported by the BBC following an investigation, are also backed up by CIA claims. It’ll be interesting to see how this story develops.
Of course, the biggest scandal of the Live Aid and Live 8 concerts lays more in the actions of the artists who took part in the events. It would have been a nice gesture for at least one artist to donate their entire royalties in the week following the events to the cause, knowing full well the obvious boost playing to a worldwide television audience would have had on them. Saint Bono? More Fagin.