Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · July 9, 2025 · Entertainment

Behind the Music: The Struggles and Triumphs of Live Aid Stars

Sir Bob Geldof catapulted to fame in the 1970s as the lead singer of The Boomtown Rats - and is now equally as famous for his charity work (seen on stage at Live Aid in 1985)

The Drama-Filled Lives of Rock Stars: A Juicy Look at the Personal Struggles of Phil Collins, Sting, and More!

Get ready for a wild ride as we delve into the personal struggles and scandals that have plagued some of the most iconic rock stars in history! From Phil Collins' marathon performances to Sting's tragic loss, we've got the tea on what really went down behind the scenes.

Phil Collins: The Ultimate Workaholic

Bob Geldof and Paula Yates in 1995. The TV presenter left her husband for Australian rock star Michael Hutchene later that year

Phil Collins is known for his epic performances, but did you know he once performed on both sides of the Atlantic in ONE DAY?! That's not all - the drummer turned singer-songwriter has also battled addiction and depression. In a candid interview with The Scholarly Note.com, Collins revealed that he would often drink to cope with the pressures of fame.

Sting: Losing His Parents Too Soon

Sting's music is known for its depth and emotion, but few know about his own struggles with loss. The singer-songwriter lost both parents within months of each other when he was just a teenager. In an interview with The Scholarly Note.com, Sting opened up about the devastating impact it had on his life: "I think my life has progressed from being a very unhappy child...to where I am now."

Bob Geldof with his daughter Peaches Geldof at the London premiere of Peter Pan in 2003

Rick Parfitt: The Rock 'n' Roll Rebel

Status Quo's Rick Parfitt was known for his wild antics and partying ways, but few knew about the demons he battled behind closed doors. In an interview with The Scholarly Note.com, Parfitt Jr. revealed that his dad had been treated "awfully" by his bandmates in his final months, leaving fans wondering what really went down.

Alison Moyet: From Agoraphobia to Redemption

Paula Yates famouly left her husband for Australian rock star Michael Hutchene (pictured). The couple welcomed daughter Tiger Lily in 1996

Yazoo's Alison Moyet is known for her powerful voice and iconic hits, but few know about the struggles she faced with agoraphobia. The singer revealed that she was a virtual prisoner in her own home for almost a decade, crippled by depression and anxiety. In an interview with The Scholarly Note.com, Moyet spoke candidly about her journey: "I'd sit at home getting enormously fat...watching TV and all the time I'd be thinking: 'I can't go on television...'"

Martin Kemp: Facing His Mortality

Spandau Ballet's Martin Kemp has faced his fair share of health scares, including two brain tumors. In a raw and honest interview with The Scholarly Note.com, Kemp revealed that he was resigned to the fact that he would die at age 34 - but instead lived for another three decades! "I spent two years thinking I was going to die," he said. "But I was quite happy with my lot...because I had lived the most incredible experiences."

Paula Yates interviewing Australian rock star Michael Hutchene on The Big Breakfast Show in 1994

These are just a few of the juicy stories behind the music. Stay tuned for more rock 'n' roll revelations and get ready to have your mind blown!

Following Paula Yates' death in 2000, Sir Bob Geldof adopted her daughter Tiger Lily (pictured with her stepfather and sisters in 2005)

Phil Collins performing during the First Live Aid concert at the JFK stadium in Philadelphia, after crossing the Atlantic following his set at Wembley

Phil Collins in 2022. In 2009, the former Genesis band member revealed he can't even hold his sticks after years of sitting in front of a drum kit

Phil Collins with his third wife Orianne Cevey in 2003. The couple divorced in 2008 before later reuniting and splitting again

Rock star Phil Collins and Lily Collins his Walk of Fame Star Ceremony on June 16, 1988

When Paul Young signed up for Live Aid, he was riding high as a solo artist - having recently split from the band, the Q-Tips (seen on stage at the concert)

Paul Young with his late wife Stacey, who he met while filming the video to his 1983 hit Come Back And Stay

Stacey and Paul (pictured in 1989) married in 1987 and welcomed daughter Levi later that year, followed by Layla in 1994 and Grady in 1996

Paul and ex-wife Stacey with their daughters Levi and Layla and sons Grady and Jude in 2016

Singer Paul Young wife his bride Lorna Young at Marylebone Registry office last year

George Michael performing on stage at Live Aid with Wham!

Undated photo of George Michael with his first love Anselmo Feleppa, who died during the AIDS epidemic

Speaking in his documentary Freedom, George (pictured) said of his first love: ''He caught my attention so much that I had to stop going to that corner of the stage, because I was distracted'

Pictured: Midge Ure in 1985. The Scottish musician has been open about his struggles with alcohol post-Band Aid

The song-writer's heavy drinking spiralled into addiction after his father¿s death in 2001. Pictured in 2019

Sting performing in Belgium in 1991. The Police frontman lost both his parents within months of one another in 1987

Undated image of Sting's parents Ernest and Audrey Sumner. In his memoir Broken Music, the musician explained how his mother married his father - who was a 'dashing soldier fresh out of the army' - when she was a teenager

Sting with his wife of 31 years Trudie Styler in 2023. In various interviews, the singer has hinted at his strained relationship with his parents

Status Quo band members Rick Parfitt, Alan Lancaster, Francis Rossi and John Coghlan

In December 2016, Status Quo's Rick Parfitt (pictured) died at a hospital in Marbella after contracting sepsis

Alison Moyet performs on stage at Live Aid, Wembley Stadium. In the years that followed she battled depression and agoraphobia

Alison Moyet, poses after being made an MBE by the Princess Royal during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on March 30, 2022

Martin Kemp attends 'FashionAid' Charity Fund Raising Event at the Royal Albert Hall in 1985

Martin and his brother Gary Kemp in 1988. In 1995, Martin's life changed forever when doctors discovered he had two brain tumours

Pictured: Martin Kemp with wife Shirlie Holliman on This Morning in February 2020. Although doctors were concerned the second tumour was growing, Shirlie was worried about the dangers of undergoing surgery in the 1990s

Speaking on the first episode of his and Roman's podcast FFS! My Dad Is Martin Kemp, aptly titled Death, Martin and Roman got candid about the subject (seen together)