On July 2, 2005, some of the biggest bands in the world will gather in (among other places) Hyde Park, London to play a free concert to a crowd of 150 000. The purpose: to give a voice to the tens of thousands who die of poverty in Africa every day.
"Live 8" is schedlued for both the 20th anniversery of the famous "Live Aid" concert of 1985, which raised millions of dollars for the Etheopian famine, and in preperation for the G8 summit to be held days later in Scotland.
Bob Geldof, the the mastermind of the original "Live Aid" concert and leader singer for the Boomtown Rats, has changed his mind (previously saying another Live Aid would happen over his dead body) because it is [size=2]it "morally repulsive and intellectually absurd that people die of want in a world of surplus".
The line-up is set to include U2, the Rolling Stones, Sir Elton John, Sir Paul McCartney, Coldplay, Madonna, Muse, Keane, Sting, Velvet Revolver, REM, the Killers, the Cure, Snow Patrol, and more... and that's just the London Show.
There's talk of a Pink Floyd reunion, and even some chatter about Queen performing (sans Freddie Mercury, of course).
[/size][url="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4596885.stm"][size=2](Full List)[/size][/url]
The other shows don't have nearly as impressive (imo) line-ups, but the number of artists who have agreed to play - for free - is staggering. The US show even features 50 Cent. Yes, 50 Cent. Don't ask why.
The British government has agreed to waive Value Added Tax for the event, which would ammount to about 500 000 pounds (roughly USD $1 million).
For anyone old enough to remember Live Aid, or be fortunate enough to have seen the DVDs released last year (which I highly recomend), this should be an absolutely amazing show.
July 2, 2005. Be there.
For more info, just Google "Live 8".
[size=1]"So the woman asked me what I wanted on the sandwich and I said I do not care it is for a duck, and she was like oh then it's free. I was not aware that ducks eat for free at Subway. It's like give me a chicken fajita sub, but don't worry about ringing it up, it is for a duck.”
-Mitch Hedberg
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