Live 8, The greatest gig of all time!

The world comes together for music's greatest day ever, as Live 8 aims to Make Poverty History.

As clichés go, declaring that a moment 'defines a generation' is probably among the worst and most overused. However, there's no other way to describe the events of Saturday, July 2 as Live8 made that clichés came true.
Across the world, rockers, rappers, pop superstars, fans and charity activists joined to Make Poverty History. Led by U2 and Paul McCartney collaborating in front of 205,000 fans in Hyde Park, London, the message that poverty in Africa will no longer be tolerated began broadcasting across the globe.

Philadelphia, Paris, Rome, Berlin, Johannesburg, Barrie, Moscow and Tokyo lent their voices and songs to the cause, while billions more tuned in at home. Whether all these voices will be heard by the G8 world leaders who meet in Edinburgh on July 6 remains to be seen. However, last weekend millions stood up to be counted. That's not the stuff of clichés, that's history in the making.

The world watched as London's Live8 concert demand change.

A global audience estimated at three billion have witnessed Live 8, with London's Hyde Park the focus of the entire event.
The marathon ten-hour Live 8 show featured performances from artists Including Coldplay, U2, Scissor Sisters, Razorlight, The Killers, Madonna, The Who and Pink Floyd - the latter reunited with their classic line-up for the first time in over two decades.

Starting at 2pm, organiser Sir Bob Geldof watched as superstars joined together for what was billed as the 'greatest rock show in the world'. Opened by Paul McCartney with U2, the rock giants teamed up for The Beatles' classic 'Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'. With McCartney leaving the stage, U2 began their own set with Bono asking the crowd: "Paul McCartney, what a trip." The band then played their own set, consisting of 'Beautiful Day', 'Vertigo' and 'One'. They released doves into the audience, and also found time to give The Beatles another nod, covering McCartney's 'Blackbird' from the 'White Album'. Speaking from the stage, Bono referred to Live 8, which also saw simultaneous gigs in other cities across the world, as "our chance to stand up for what's right".
Coldplay followed, playing Live8 before jetting off to their own headline gig at Glasgow Bellahouston Park. A collaboration with Richard Ashcroft on The Verve's 'Bitter Sweet Symphony' was the highlight, while during 'In My Place' Chris Martin sung Status Quo's 'Rockin' All Over The World' in reference to the band who opened the original Live Aid in 1985. They ended with 'Fix You' with Martin telling the crowd Bob Geldof is a "hero of our time". He added: "This is the greatest thing that's ever been organised probably in the history of the world."

205,000 people watched as bands played short sets featuring their biggest hits and surprise guests. Perhaps the most bizarre collaboration was Elton John performing a cover of T-Rex's 'Children Of The Revolution' with Pete Doherty. John told the crowd: "We're going to play a song by a friend of mine who was one of the greatest British rock stars of all time, Marc Bolan," then adding, as Pete emerged onstage, "to do that, I'm going to bring out one of the best new talents of the moment, Pete Doherty." John played piano as the Babyshambles man, clutching the Union lack, wearing heavy eye make-up and cropped military jacket-took on most of the vocals.

Following several sets, United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan addressed the crowd to thank them "on behalf of the poor and voiceless" before Geldof came onstage to give an impromptu performance of 'I Don't Like Mondays' and to introduce Madonna, who, backed by the London Community Choir and dancers, performed 'Like A Prayer', 'Ray Of Light' and 'Music'.
Madonna's performance was sandwiched between Razorlight and Snow Patrol. Gary Lightbody looked overcome with emotion during 'Run', while Razorlight staked an early claim for best performance of the day.
Dressed all in white, singer Johnny Borrell threw himself around the stage and half stripped, playing recent single 'Somewhere Else', 'Golden Touch' and 'In The City' along with a brief verse from Woody Guthrie's '1913 Massacre'. "All you need is love, John Lennon said that. Music can change the world, Bono said that," Borrell told the crowd before referring to the Make Poverty History campaign adding, "Sign the fucking petition, I said that!"

Elsewhere, the Scissor Sisters' set saw them debut new song 'Everybody Wants To Save Me' along with 'Take Your Mama' and 'Laura', while Snoop Dogg's appearance proved a big hit. The Killers only performed one song, 'All These Things That I've Done', but the track was heard again later in the evening via the most unlikely of sources-covered by Robbie WilIiams. Robbie, introduced by David Beckham, covered Queen's 'We Will Rock You' before playing 'Let Me Entertain You'. During the song, he mixed it with the familiar "I've got soul but I'm not o soldier" Killers chorus. As the evening drew to a close, Pink Floyd performed with their classic line-up featuring Roger Waters. Their set, which included 'Comfortably Numb', a song brought back into the charts recently by Scissor Sisters, then made way for the inevitable all-star finale.

Having opened the show, Paul McCartney also closed the Live8 event, playing 'Get Back', 'Drive My Car' (with guest George Michaal), 'Helter Skelter' and 'The Long And Winding Road'. It ended with 'Hey Jude' which became a mass singalong featuring most of the artists who had played earlier.

Speaking at the finale with the concert running two and half hours late, a clearly emotional Bob Geldof said: "It has been a day full of hope, possibility and life for those who have none."


Source: NME Live 8 Souvenir Issue, 9 July 2005