Red Hot at 30: how compilations used big music stars to combat Aids

Over three decades, artists like David Bowie, Madonna and George Michael all gave their names, and music, to a project that aimed to shine a light for those who needed it most

For millions of people, the current situation feels entirely new. For John Carlin, it feels eerily familiar. Three decades ago, when the Aids pandemic was at its deadly peak in the west, he created the Red Hot Organization, the first, and only ongoing, major album series to benefit the fight against the disease. “Back then, it was a lot like it is now,” he said. “Suddenly, the world changed.”

There’s an equally strong echo in the urgency to encourage people to use certain forms of protection. “In the 80s and 90s, we tried to change people’s behavior around condoms,” said Carlin. “The same thing needs to be done with masks today.”