Slightly related to my upcoming concert post below, I notice there hasn't been anything here about Live 8, the series of concerts designed to convince the G-8 countries to increase aid to Africa.
Then again, if there was anything here about it, it'd be kind of creepy, because I didn't write it[1].
Like I said, tenshows. The only U.S. one is in Philadelphia, just like last time, although I understand MTV and VH1 will be providing coverage tomorrow afternoon. It's just as well I'm nowhere near Pennsylvania, as the lineup isn't exactly something I can see myself sitting through:
* Alicia Keys
* Black Eyed Peas
* Bon Jovi
* Dave Matthews Band
* Def Leppard
* Destiny's Child
* Jay-Z
* Josh Groban
* Kaiser Chiefs
* Keith Urban
* Linkin Park
* Maroon 5
* P Diddy
* Rob Thomas
* Sarah McLachlan
* Stevie Wonder
* Toby Keith
Toby Keith? Keith Urban? Freaking P Diddy? Only the Johannesburg show sounds less appealing, and that because I haven't heard of any of the acts. The UK gig looks to be the winner, with the likes of U2, Paul McCartney, a reformed Pink Floyd, and R.E.M.
The 1985 Live Aid concert had a little more equilibrium. Sure, U.S. audiences had to suffer through Rick Springfield, Bryan Adams, Simple Minds, and the Power Station, but we also got Judas Priest, Neil Young, Run-DMC, and Black Sabbath. The Brits got Elvis Costello, U2 and McCartney (again), the Who, and Queen - still tops on my list of bands for which I wish I had a working Wayback Machine .
In a great example of suckage detente, both crowds had to endure Phil Collins.
The Live Aid DVD was released recently, and I have yet to check it out. I still have my homemade six-hour VHS copy, you see. Some friends came over to my place that fine summer's day 20 years ago, as ours was one of the few households with cable at the time, and vegged out while taping the show. I busted the tape out recently and was staggered by its worthlessness. Oh, the quality is fine, but for every three songs you'd get five minutes of VJ banter and 15 minutes of commercials.
We're going to TiVo the proceedings this afternoon, and while I don't have high hopes about the quality of MTV's hosts (not that I know who any of them are these days) or the network's restraint in re: advertising, at least the fast forward button has greater speed.
[1] The blog is coming from inside the house! Get out of the house!
I know you will be devastated to know you've wiped Duran Duran's performance (they weren't just Power Station) from your memory...and now they're playing at the Circus Maximus in Rome as part of Live 8. Wonder if it's occurred to anyone to sell lions?
Where are Flogging Molly, Nofx, Bad Religion, Antiflag and Strung Out? These are the underground bands that have given a new voice to the impoverished and exploited. Live 8, to me, is more a venue for music industry marketing and product placement rather than a rallying cry for the Third World.
How and why they think that getting a bunch of fiftysomethings and sexegenarians to haul their tired asses out on a stage will draw in young people... well I have no idea. The London concert sounds like Bingo Night at the Wembley Retirement Home, if you ask me (which I realize you did not).