When Olivia Newton-John made her final live performance, it should be no surprise to anyone that it was for a charitable benefit. The occasion took place on Feb. 16, 2020, when she took part in a benefit concert in Sydney, Australia, to raise money for relief of the Australian bushfires. Queen + Adam Lambert also joined a collection of music stars on stage. For the occasion, the classic rock legends replicated – for the first time – their original 1985 Live Aid set. Newton-John first appeared for a duet with singer John Farnham. They later joined the lineup, with Queen, to perform Farnham’s 1986 hit, “You’re the Voice,” with many of the heroic firefighters on stage. Watch many of the songs below.
Fire Fight Australia was announced four weeks earlier, on Jan. 12, and took place at ANZ Stadium in Sydney. Alice Cooper and k.d. lang were among the other stars to perform. The concert was an immediate sell-out.
All concert ticket profits and all contributions through Ticketek went towards key organizations providing vital “Rescue,” “Relief and Recovery” and “Rehabilitation.” The eclectic talent lineup was partly created out of serendipity. Queen + Adam Lambert were on their Australian edition of the “Rhapsody Tour.”
Watch them perform several favorites at the Feb. 16 benefit concert
(Following “Radio Ga Ga,” the big screen showed Freddie Mercury leading the Live Aid audience at Wembley Stadium with “Ay Yo.”)
Watch Queen’s 1985 performance of “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” with the great Freddie Mercury
Newton-John joined Australian singing star John Farnham to sing “Two Strong Hearts” during his set.
Watch her come on stage to a thunderous ovation, at the 10:50 mark
Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter k.d. lang performed her rendition of the Leonard Cohen classic, “Hallelujah.”
Cooper was in the midst of the Australian run of his “Ol’ Black Eyes is Back” tour.
Watch him perform “I’m Eighteen” at the benefit concert
Since the devastating fires, such stars as Metallica, Elton John, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, among others, made significant financial donations to the relief fund.
Watch the concert finale of Farnham’s “You’re the Voice”
Newton-John died Aug. 8, 2022, at age 73.
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