NEWS
Pete Townshend praises Live Aid Musical: I loved "the show more than I did the gig"
21 June 2025
The Who's legendary guitarist Pete Townshend has offered a ringing endorsement of 'Just For One Day - The Live Aid Musical,' currently electrifying audiences at the Shaftesbury Theatre. Townshend even admitted he loves "the show more than I did the gig," a high compliment indeed for the theatrical retelling of the iconic 1985 concert.
Adding to the buzz, the musical's original cast recording has just released its latest single, a surprising rendition of The Who's classic 'Pinball Wizard.' What makes it particularly noteworthy? It's sung by an actor portraying none other than renowned promoter Harvey Goldsmith, one of the key figures behind Live Aid.
Townshend shared his amusing reaction: "I went to the opening and was surprised by the version of ‘My Generation.’ But not as big as the surprise that I got when ‘Pinball Wizard’ was the song that they attributed to Harvey Goldsmith!"
Goldsmith himself embraced the playful tribute, stating, "It’s an honour to see my character sing a classic track by Pete Townshend, one of rock’s great songwriters - and there’s no harm in musical geniuses getting a shock every once in a while!" Joel Montague, who originated the role of Harvey and sings 'Pinball Wizard' on the album, described his involvement as a "dream."
The 'Just For One Day - The Live Aid Musical (Original Cast Recording)' is set to drop on July 11th and is available for pre-order now. The album promises to be a "fully realised rock record," featuring songs from a star-studded list of artists including Queen, David Bowie, U2, Elton John, and many more. Produced by Olivier-nominated Matthew Brind and Jon Bath, and engineered by Grammy-nominated Jeremy Murphy, the album aims for a modern sound while honoring the originals.
Beyond the music, the production has already made a significant impact, raising over £850,000 for the Band Aid Charitable Trust through a 10% contribution from all ticket sales. As Live Aid supremo Bob Geldof stated at the show's opening, "The power of it comes from the actors and it comes from the insane noise that this band makes."
Fans can catch 'Just For One Day' at the Shaftesbury Theatre, with a special gala performance on July 13th, 2025, marking the 40th anniversary of Live Aid.
Adding to the buzz, the musical's original cast recording has just released its latest single, a surprising rendition of The Who's classic 'Pinball Wizard.' What makes it particularly noteworthy? It's sung by an actor portraying none other than renowned promoter Harvey Goldsmith, one of the key figures behind Live Aid.
Townshend shared his amusing reaction: "I went to the opening and was surprised by the version of ‘My Generation.’ But not as big as the surprise that I got when ‘Pinball Wizard’ was the song that they attributed to Harvey Goldsmith!"
Goldsmith himself embraced the playful tribute, stating, "It’s an honour to see my character sing a classic track by Pete Townshend, one of rock’s great songwriters - and there’s no harm in musical geniuses getting a shock every once in a while!" Joel Montague, who originated the role of Harvey and sings 'Pinball Wizard' on the album, described his involvement as a "dream."
The 'Just For One Day - The Live Aid Musical (Original Cast Recording)' is set to drop on July 11th and is available for pre-order now. The album promises to be a "fully realised rock record," featuring songs from a star-studded list of artists including Queen, David Bowie, U2, Elton John, and many more. Produced by Olivier-nominated Matthew Brind and Jon Bath, and engineered by Grammy-nominated Jeremy Murphy, the album aims for a modern sound while honoring the originals.
Beyond the music, the production has already made a significant impact, raising over £850,000 for the Band Aid Charitable Trust through a 10% contribution from all ticket sales. As Live Aid supremo Bob Geldof stated at the show's opening, "The power of it comes from the actors and it comes from the insane noise that this band makes."
Fans can catch 'Just For One Day' at the Shaftesbury Theatre, with a special gala performance on July 13th, 2025, marking the 40th anniversary of Live Aid.
