20 years ago, Barrie hosted "Live 8" music Festival at Molson Park

Were you there?

Twenty years ago today, Barrie hosted the "Live 8"music festival at Molson Park.

On July 2, 2005, over 20 bands, including Deep Purple and Motley Crue, performed at Molson Park, in what is now known as Park Place Barrie.

"Live 8" came 20 years after the original "Live Aid," a benefit concert for famine in Ethiopia.

Originally, Toronto and Ottawa were considered to host the monumental affair, but when those plans fell through, Barrie stepped up to the occasion.

The fans who attended were part of a special group, as tickets were free but had to be won through a lottery system.

Canadian actors Dan Aykroyd and Tom Green hosted a day-long musical event, serving as comic relief between bands.

Great Big Sea, had a rough start to the day as they lost all their instruments in transit. The group had to borrow instruments from other acts and did an acoustic set instead.

Jason, a Barrie resident who attended the show 20 years ago, says the day was so swelteringly hot that people started selling water bottles for insane prices.

" One guy offered to sell me a bottle of water for $50, I told him to keep it and I'll take an ambulance for $45."

He jokes that there is a YouTube Video of him at the show playing air guitar to "Smoke on the Water," while wearing a Pepsi hat.

In honour of the anniversary, YouTube will release a two-part special, expected to be posted at 4:45 p.m. on July 2.

The day's lineup included these main acts.

   African Guitar Summit

   The Bachman Cummings Band

   Bad Company

   Barenaked Ladies

   Blue Rodeo

   Bruce Cockburn

   Bryan Adams

   Deep Purple

   Dobacaracol

   Gordon Lightfoot

   Great Big Sea

   Jann Arden

   Jet

   K'naan

   Les Trois Accords

   Mötley Crüe

   Neil Young

   Our Lady Peace

   Run-D.M.C.

   Sam Roberts

   Simple Plan

   The Tragically Hip

   Tom Cochrane

Feature image from Youtube