We Can Be Heroes
Just For One Day opens with David Bowie’s Heroes and that becomes the recurring theme throughout John O’Farrell’s musical about the magical miracle that was Live Aid, writes Michael Holland.
Not, of course, because that’s the song that opened the real show created to raise millions for Ethiopia’s starving in 1985 but because the chorus line is ‘We can be heroes just for one day’. The opening number was from Southwark’s own Francis Rossi (up for a Blue Plaque this year) and his band Status Quo – Rocking All Over The World, which would have been just as fitting.
Just For One Day does not just tell the tale of how Bob Geldof came to create such a miraculous feat in just a few weeks, it surrounds him with the ‘normal’ people who really made it happen – The Heroes: the sound man, the PA, Harvey Goldsmith(the man who has put on some of the world’s biggest shows), the musicians themselves and their adoring public who bought Do They Know It’s Christmas?, the record thrown together by Geldof and Midge Ure to initially raise money for the Ethiopian people affected by famine.
As Geldof went off on his F-Bombed mission we hear about those in boring jobs in boring towns who did their little fundraising bit for the cause, and, most importantly, the Ethiopian woman who was there at the front line of starvation watching babies die. She regularly reported back that because of the civil war, the despot running the country and the gangs running the docks, the food was not getting through to the hungry. Shock and horror as the pop-loving public hear this news. The press demand photo opps from Geldof who just wants to go back to making music.
But Saint Bob eventually visits the forgotten land and holds a dying baby. It is in that moment that he decided he needs to do more than a Christmas song and Live Aid is born, a concert of the best acts on the planet, broadcast to all five continents, to solve this disaster. Cue a slow song with soaring guitars.
As Geldof argues with Goldsmith and lies to all the bands to get them to agree to work for nothing, he is also doorstepping Thatcher to not put VAT on any money raised. When Paul McCartney says yes it is like all their prayers have been answered: ‘We’ve got a Beatle!’ they cheer in unison.
And all the while we get glimpses of reality as people are still dying, which spurs Geldof on until the big day eventually arrives and people get caught up in the magic of the show instead of sending their money in to help the millions in need. That is when we discover Bob Geldof did not actually say ‘Give us your f**king money!’ Although he did swear on the BBC while he ‘encouraging’ the viewers to part with their cash.
Along with the roster of the famous there is the tale of the young trombonist who played at the concert as a Coldstream Guardsman – who were actually the first band on – and there is a love story of a young pair who did not like each other at first but fall in love over a Live Aid ticket, which is a beautiful piece of romance, but none of this is true.
The book was written with a musical in mind, so yes, of course, there are the factual bits that those of an age will already know, but the rest is fiction, which somehow took away some of the shine to this show. I wanted it to be a documentary of those halcyon 80s’ days. But shine it did because it has great songs that we know and love. Plus, the true story can be found in the programme.
There were no attempts at impersonations of singers here just actors presenting great music backed by an amazing band seated behind them, who you could see really wanted to stand up and be rock Gods. Although, a couple of the guitarists were allowed to step down to show off some of the Queen solos.
To keep it contemporary the premise is that a young history student is studying the 80s (Yes, that made 95% of the audience feel ancient) and interviewed Geldof about how it all happened. Just For One Day is told in flashback and becomes a lesson for today’s young activists on how to go about changing the world.
A very noble premise, and one that goes a long way to give this jukebox musical some gravitas.
The Old Vic, The Cut, SE1 until 30th March. Mon – Sat 7.30pm; Wed & Sat matinees 2.30pm. Admission: £15 – £180.
Booking: www.oldvictheatre.com
