Live 8 Concert Spreads Message, Makes History

By Ian Rice
Arts and Lifestyle Editor


Twenty years after the original Live Aid concert, the world's top musical artists gathered in London's Hyde Park to again spread the message in the fight against African poverty. The event, spearheaded by renown humanitarian Bob Geldof, was billed as "the greatest concert ever" and was aimed at gaining the attention of the world's most powerful leaders, whom are gathering next week for the Group of Eight (G8) summit meeting at Gleneagles in Scotland. Geldof's intention with the monumental concert event, which spanned 10 countries worldwide and featured hundreds of music's top performers, was to make the demand for debt forgiveness, trade concessions and $25 billion in aid for Africa abundantly apparent to the G8 participants.


Although the event was centered in London's Hyde Park, the first concert of the global event kicked off in Japan, where Bjork and Good Charlotte headlined. The Japanese segment of Live 8 failed to generate much interest in Asia's only G-8 nation, despite it being Bjork's first live performance in two years. The singer was not daunted in her enthusiasm for the day and its message, however. "We believe passionately in what this is about," Bjork said. "Just the acknowledgment of the problem is an important step."


Despite all the festivities being simultaneously held throughout the planet, it was in London that the event had its most shining moments. A rousing collaboration between Sir Paul McCartney and U2 gave way to a passionate performance from the latter, whose frontman Bono had some very poignant words to impart upon the crowd of 200,000. "This is our moment. This is our time. This is our chance to stand up for what's right," Bono noted during his band's performance of their classic hit, "One." "We're not looking for charity, we're looking for justice. We cannot fix every problem, but the ones we can, we must."


Although understated somewhat in the press, the highlight of the multitude of performances was the reunion of the original Pink Floyd, including long-departed bassist/songwriter Roger Waters. Live 8 marked the first time the "classic" Pink Floyd appeared together since 1981, when a rift between Waters and guitarist/vocalist David Gilmour broke the band up. Time had not weathered the group, who seemed in great spirits as the worked through four of their biggests tracks, including "Wish You Were Here." Rumors of a full-scale tour unsurprisingly followed.


Despite all the talent involved with Live 8, there was one true star of the whole event: the message. No matter which act attendees were there to see, they all were united under an extreme motivation to make the issue of African poverty heard, both globally and at the G8 Summit. And African leader Nelson Mandella, who the stage in South Africa, where the crowd of more than 8,000 people gave him a rousing ovation, perhaps summed that message up best: "History and the generations to come will judge our leaders by the decisions they make in the coming weeks. I say to all those leaders: Do not look the other way, do not hesitate ... It is within your power to prevent a genocide."


To find out more about Live 8 and to sign the ever-growing list, visit www.live8live.com.




Artist Highlights:


Annie Lennox London

Bob Geldof London

Coldplay London

Elton John London

Joss Stone London

Keane London

Madonna London

Sir Paul McCartney London

Pink Floyd London

REM London

Snoop Dogg London

Snow Patrol London

Stereophonics London

Sting London

Travis London

U2 London

Velvet Revolver London



The Cure Paris

Sheryl Crow Paris



Audioslave Berlin

Brian Wilson Berlin

Crosby, Stills and Nash Berlin

Green Day Berlin



Duran Duran Rome



Dave Matthews Band Philadelphia

Bon Jovi Philadelphia

Def Leppard Philadelphia

Sarah McLachlan Philadelphia

Stevie Wonder Philadelphia



Neil Young Barrie

Barenaked Ladies Barrie

Bryan Adams Barrie

Deep Purple Barrie

Jet Barrie



Bjork Tokyo