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FACTBOX-The world's biggest global pop concerts

04 Jul 2007 12:01:32 GMT
Source: Reuters

July 4 (Reuters) - Live Earth's 24-hour pop concerts will see over 100 acts playing in eight cities around the world on July 7 to help raise awareness of climate change. Up to two billion people are expected to watch in person and via internet, TV and radio broadcasts.

Here are some facts on the world's biggest global benefits to date -- Live Aid and Live 8:

* LIVE AID, 1985:

-- AIM: Live Aid's 16-hour transatlantic "global jukebox" was organised by Irish rock star Bob Geldof (dubbed "Saint Bob" for his role) and Ultravox rocker Midge Ure. Aimed at raising funds to fight famine in Ethiopia; the idea grew after the duo recorded the Band Aid single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" in Dec. 1984, which raised 8 million pounds ($16 million) for famine victims.

-- HEADLINERS: David Bowie, Status Quo, Queen, U2, The Who, Paul McCartney in London. Joan Baez, Madonna, Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, Tina Turner, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Duran Duran in Philadelphia.

-- VENUES AND TURNOUT: Some 72,000 at Wembley Stadium in London and 90,000 at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia.

-- VIRTUAL VIEWERS: An estimated 1.5 billion across 100 countries watched via live satellite broadcasts.

-- FUNDS RAISED: About $100 million.

-- GOLDEN QUOTE: "People are dying NOW. Give us the money NOW. Give me the money now." Bob Geldof, during Live Aid.

-- CRITICS: The concerts were called naive by critics who said Ethiopia's famine was largely brought about by the development policies of the country's military regime. Some added that the international community should not work with Ethiopia's government.

* LIVE 8, 2005:

-- AIM: Twenty years after Live Aid, Geldof and Ure organised 10 simultaneous free concerts in 10 countries on July 2, and a final concert in Edinburgh on July 6, to put pressure on world leaders to "Make Poverty History" at the July 6-8 Group of 8 (G8) Summit meeting at Gleneagles, Scotland.

-- HEADLINERS: Pink Floyd, Paul McCartney and U2 in London, Dido and The Cure in Paris, Faithless and A-ha in Berlin, Black Eyed Peas and Kaiser Chiefs in Philadelphia, Bjork in Tokyo, Pet Shop Boys in Moscow, and Youssou N'Dour in Paris, London and lastly Cornwall.

-- VENUES AND TURNOUT: Over a million people worldwide saw 150 bands and 1,250 musicians on four continents in London, (200,000), Cornwall, Paris, Berlin (200,000), Rome, Philadelphia, Barrie, Tokyo, Johannesburg, Moscow. About 50,000 crammed into Murrayfield sports stadium in Edinburgh for the final event.

-- VIRTUAL VIEWERS: Up to three billion, via the Internet, television and radio. More than 26 million people worldwide sent text messages to support Live 8, setting a world record for a single event, organisers said.

-- FUNDS RAISED: About 79 million pounds was donated. Thirty million people signed a petition that was presented to Tony Blair, then chair of the G8.

-- GOLDEN QUOTE: "We don't want your money, we want your voice." Bono, U2 frontman.

-- CRITICS: Objections that Live 8 lacked African artists were partly allayed when a Johannesberg concert was added and Peter Gabriel organised "Africa Calling," a gig featuring only African artists, in Cornwall.

Sources: Reuters Live8 (www.live8live.com)

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Last updated:Wed Jul 4 12:02:37 2007