On this day in 1985: At 12:01, Status Quo started the Live Aid extravaganza, held between Wembley Stadium, London and JFK Stadium, Philadelphia. The cream of the world’s biggest rock stars crop took part in the worldwide event, The TV broadcast was transmitted to 1.5 billion people in 160 countries which made it the biggest live broadcast ever known. Artists who appeared included Paul McCartney, Phil Collins, The Who, U2, David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Queen, Tina Turner, The Cars, Neil Young, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Bryan Adams, Hall & Oates, Lionel Richie and Led Zeppelin.
Also on this day in 1985: Duran Duran became the first artists to have a #1 on the U.S. singles chart with a James Bond theme when ‘A View To A Kill’, went to the top of the charts. It would spend two weeks at #1 on the U.S. singles chart.
“A View to a Kill” was the thirteenth single by the English new wave band Duran Duran, released on May 6, 1985. Written and recorded as the theme for the 1985 James Bond movie of the same name, it became one of the band’s biggest hits. It remains the only James Bond theme song to have reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100; it also made it to #2 for three weeks on the UK Singles Chart, stuck behind Paul Hardcastle’s “19.”
In 1986, composer John Barry and Duran Duran were nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best original Song for “A View to a Kill”. The song was the last track recorded by the most famous five-member lineup of Duran Duran until their reunion in 2001. It was performed by the band at Live Aid in Philadelphia, their final performance together before their first split.
Here’s a look at the Top 20 on the U.S. singles chart from this day back in 1985:
1 2 A VIEW TO A KILL –•– Duran Duran (Capitol)-9 (1 Week at #1) (1)
2 1 SUSSUDIO –•– Phil Collins (Atlantic)-10 (1)
3 3 RASPBERRY BERET –•– Prince & The Revolution (Paisley Park)-9 (3)
4 5 THE SEARCH IS OVER –•– Survivor (Scotti Brothers)-13 (4)
5 6 WOULD I LIE TO YOU? –•– Eurythmics (RCA)-12 (5)
6 8 EVERYTIME YOU GO AWAY –•– Paul Young (Columbia)-10 (6)
7 7 YOU GIVE GOOD LOVE –•– Whitney Houston (Arista)-10 (7)
8 9 VOICES CARRY –•– ‘Til Tuesday (Epic)-14 (8)
9 11 GLORY DAYS –•– Bruce Springsteen (Columbia)-7 (9)
10 12 THE GOONIES ‘R’ GOOD ENOUGH –•– Cyndi Lauper (Portrait)-9 (10)
11 13 IF YOU LOVE SOMEBODY SET THEM FREE –•– Sting (A&M)-6 (11)
12 4 HEAVEN –•– Bryan Adams (A&M)-13 (1)
13 15 SENTIMENTAL STREET –•– Night Ranger (MCA / Camel)-8 (13)
14 23 SHOUT –•– Tears For Fears (Mercury)-5 (14)
15 17 CRAZY IN THE NIGHT (Barking At Airplanes) –•– Kim Carnes (EMI-America)-10 (15)
16 21 19 –•– Paul Hardcastle (Chrysalis)-7 (16)
17 10 ANGEL –•– Madonna (Sire)-12 (5)
18 25 GET IT ON (Bang A Gong) –•– The Power Station (Capitol)-6 (18)
19 24 JUST AS I AM –•– Air Supply (Arista)-8 (19)
20 29 NEVER SURRENDER –•– Corey Hart (EMI-America)-6 (20)
