The man behind an iconic Live Aid image

Acclaimed celebrity photographer Brian Aris is the man behind one of the most abiding images of Live Aid, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this weekend.

The group shot of music stars was taken during the concert, which was watched by approximately two billion people worldwide.

Brian, from Folkestone, had been entrusted by Bob Geldof to capture the action backstage.

He photographed acts before and after their performances but said he really wanted a shot that represented the extraordinary day that saw the stellar cast of musicians come together.

But the photographer admits that capturing the iconic image still brings him out in a cold sweat.

After rigging up lights in the backstage bar, Brian waited for the moment when the stars would literally align.

He climbed up on the table and asked his assistant to turn the lights on.

What happened after that made him believe, momentarily, that he had pulled the plug on the so-called Global Jukebox.

Brian said: "He [my assistant] threw the switch. The lights came on and immediately went bang. Complete and utter darkness.

"There was complete silence. But then people started laughing. I was mortified. I was standing on this table in complete and utter darkness and all I could think was: is this circuit connected to the stage?"

Describing an "awful moment in time", he said: "I thought I would be infamous and I probably wouldn't be shooting any more pop stars!"

He said it felt like an age before an electrician arrived - to restore power and to assure him that the show still went on.

This gave him just enough time to fire off a few quick frames, and to capture the image that he was after.

Brian said: "It's not exactly the group shot I would like to have put together but it's something – and it's part of history now."

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