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Live Aid benefit concert, John F. Kennedy Stadium, Philadelphia, USA, July 13 1985

Jagger Opens Live Aid with a Bang

At Live Aid 1985, Mick Jagger stepped into the spotlight without the rest of the Rolling Stones. While Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood accompanied Bob Dylan in a loose and famously mumbled acoustic set to close the day, Jagger electrified the Philadelphia crowd with a solo performance full of swagger and surprises.

He kicked things off with Lonely at the Top and Just Another Night, both from his solo debut She’s the Boss, and then ramped up the energy with the Stones’ classic Miss You. But the real show-stopper came when he called Tina Turner to the stage. Together, they launched into a fiery duet of State of Shock, then tore into It’s Only Rock ’n Roll (But I Like It).

Amid the musical fireworks, Jagger managed a quick costume change—and in a moment of chaotic stage drama, he even ripped off Tina’s skirt, sealing the set as one of Live Aid’s most unforgettable performances.

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Jagger and Bowie’s Big Plan That Never Happened—Almost

Mick Jagger and David Bowie had envisioned an epic transatlantic duet for Live Aid: Bowie at Wembley Stadium in London, miming to pre-recorded vocals, while Jagger performed live in Philadelphia. The idea was bold, but the logistics were brutal. The BBC would have needed to flawlessly sync the sound and footage between two continents—live.

But both Bowie and Jagger weren’t fans of faking it, especially not during such a historic event. Mimicking emotion and energy just didn’t fit the moment. So, they scrapped the plan.

Not wanting to abandon the collaboration entirely, they pivoted. With help from Keith Richards, they filmed a high-energy video of their duet, Dancing in the Street. The finished product was broadcast to both Live Aid audiences—and millions more watching around the globe. It wasn’t the original vision, but it captured the same spirit: two legends, united by music, moving the world without crossing oceans.

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