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A REVIEW OF THE EVENT (From BBC Online)
Concerts are taking place around the world to put pressure on political leaders to tackle poverty in Africa.
The biggest, in Hyde Park in London, has seen Madonna, U2, Coldplay and Sir Elton John perform to 200,000 people.

Shows are being held in Philadelphia, Paris, Johannesburg, Rome, Berlin, Moscow and Barrie, in Canada.

An estimated TV audience of several hundred million are watching the events which come ahead of the G8 summit of world leaders in Scotland next week.

In London, Sting sang his classic Police hit Every Breath You Take, to a backdrop of images of the G8 leaders.

"We'll be watching you," sang Sting.

Earlier in the day Madonna asked the crowd; "Are you ready to start a revolution? Are you ready to change history? I said, are you ready?"

She was joined on stage by 24-year-old Birhan Woldu, one of the starving children featured in the original Live Aid concert who was helped thanks to money raised.

In Scotland, where the G8 leaders will meet, more than 200,000 protestors took place in a peaceful march urging the politicians to take action on poverty in Africa.

Former South African leader Nelson Mandela spoke on stage at the Live 8 concert in Johannesburg.

He told the crowd that the G8 leaders had a "historic opportunity to open the door to hope and the possibility of a better future for all".

The London concert started with former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney joined with U2 to sing Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Many performers took the chance to explain their participation in Live 8.

Singer Bono said: "This is our moment, this is our time, this is our chance to stand up for what is right.

"We are not looking for charity, we are looking for justice."

Other performers at the London gig have included Keane, REM, Dido, Annie Lennox, Snow Patrol, UB40 and Velvet Revolver.

Madonna played hits Like A Prayer, Ray of Light and Music, and Geldof took the chance to sing his Boomtown Rats' hit I Don't Like Mondays with Travis.

Coldplay entertained the crowd with their hit In My Place, Elton John belted out the T Rex anthem Children of the Revolution, while Dido and Senegalese star Youssou N'Dour performed a duet on Seven Seconds.

'Extreme poverty'
Actor Brad Pitt, who introduced Annie Lennox on stage, said: "By the time this concert ends this evening, 30,000 Africans will have died because of extreme poverty.

"By this time tomorrow evening, another 30,000. This does not make sense. This is why we are here tonight."

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, also in London, said: "This is really a United Nations. The whole world has come together in solidarity with the poor.

"On behalf of the poor, the voiceless and the weak I say thank you."

The UK's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, described Live 8 as "a beacon of hope for the world".

In Philadelphia where hundreds of thousands of people are watching a concert sat on a section of motorway, actor Will Smith linked up live to the other gigs around the world.

"We are all in this together. We are calling on the eight most powerful leaders in the world to end this tragedy of poverty," he said.

The concerts were organised by Geldof to promote the campaign to get the G8 nations to drop the debt burden of the poorest countries.

More than 100,000 people also took to the streets of Edinburgh to show their support for the Make Poverty History Campaign.

In an open letter published in UK newspapers, Geldof said the global audience for the events was "the largest mandate for action in history" to end the poverty "killing 50,000 each day".

However, critics have said the campaign is over-simplifying the issue of global poverty.

Some anti-poverty charities and African leaders believe the event is too focused on money, rather than the problems of unequal trade, and good governance in Africa itself.

But Geldof told BBC News: "There's one plan. It's debt; trade and aid and governance. Prime, pump an economy, create good government and we'll get people out of poverty. That's what this is about. We'll jump if you jump and we're all jumping on behalf of those who can't even crawl."

The main events taking place as the Live 8 concerts take place around the world:
- Japanese act Rise kicked off the first show in Tokyo, which also included Icelandic singer Bjork, UK boy band McFly and US rockers Good Charlotte. Some 10,000 fans attended, although the arena was only half full.

- Thousands gathered in Johannesburg's Mary Fitzgerald Square for artists including 4Peace Ensemble and Jabu Khanyile.

- In the UK, a concert featuring African artists is taking place at the Eden Project, an ecological centre in Cornwall. Senegalese performer Youssou N'Dour will perform here, as well as at Live 8 in London and Paris. Hollywood star Angelina Jolie has appeared on stage, but attendances so far appear low, with up to 5,000 people there.

- James Brown, Dido, The Cure and Craig David are on the bill at the Palais De Versailles, Paris. Green Day, Brian Wilson, Chris De Burgh and Roxy Music are playing at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate.

- Faith Hill, Duran Duran and a host of Italian stars took to the stage Saturday in one of Rome's most spectacular sites - the Circus Maximus.

- Will Smith hosts the Philadelphia show, which features Stevie Wonder, Kanye West, Destiny's Child and Jay-Z.

- In Moscow, the Pet Shop Boys have performed on stage in Red Square.
POSTED: 02/07/05 (Source- BBC News Online)

Madonna wants organisers to keep Mariah Carey as far away from her as possible back stage at the Live 8 gig in Hyde Park. A source has said that there is no love lost between them.
POSTED: 01/07/05

Book makers 'William Hill' are refusing bets on Bob Geldolf not swearing on stage because it's so likely he will.
POSTED: 29/06/05

Coldplay are secretly planning to duet with ex-Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft. They are rumoured to perform the Verve's massice hit. Bitter Sweet Symphony.
POSTED: 29/06/05

Madonna has revealed she will sing 'Like A Prayer' at Live 8 with a gospel choir of African children. The star will also perform 'Ray Of Light' and 'Don't Tell Me'.
POSTED: 26/06/05

Gweneth Paltrow will serve up tea and biscuits backstage at Live 8. She called organisers and asked to be a tea girl when she heard that her husband Chris Martin will be headlining with Coldplay.
POSTED: 26/06/05

Bob Geldolf has urged Princes William and Harry to follow in their mother's footsteps and go to the historic Live 8 gig. There Mum, Princess Diana was present at the 1985 gig.
POSTED: 22/06/05

Bob Geldolf tried to talk Mel B into performing with the Spice Girls at Live 8. Mel is the only former bandmate that says she won't do it. Bob has said that the Spice Girls will not perform without her. It's all or nothing.
POSTED: 21/06/05

Eminem and 50 Cent will not be taking part in Live 8. Eminem has refused Bob Geldof's offer for him to perform because he wants to spend time with his daughter Hailie. Meanwhile 50 Cent has pulled out of America's Live 8 show because the singer says he is too busy to perform.
POSTED: 18/06/05

Bob Geldolf has confirmed an extra three Live 8 gigs that will also take place on 2nd July in Japan, Canada and South Africa. It means there are now 8 concerts for Live 8.
POSTED: 17/06/05

David Beckham has been confirmed as a celebrity guest who will introduce a live act. It is said that he will be introducing Robbie Williams on to the stage.
POSTED: 17/06/05

Ms Dynamite has been added to London's Live 8 gig, meanwhile it has been reported that Bob Geldolf has confirmed that the Spice Girls will NOT be appearing.
POSTED: 11/06/05

Radiohead have turned down the chance to play at Live 8. A spokesman said they can't do it because the guitarist, Jonny, is out of action as his wife has just had a baby. The Backstreet Boys have been confirmed to play at the gig in Philadelphia on July 2nd.
POSTED: 11/06/05

Former Blur frontman and voice of the Gorillaz, Damon Albarn, has branded the event too "Anglo Saxon". He also suggested that many of the acts appearing are doing it for publicity only.
POSTED: 10/06/05

Texts have been pouring in for the text ticket lottery. 1.5 Million texts have been received already. Texts came pouring in at 8am on Monday and at it's peak 611 texts were received every SECOND. Text lines close at midnight on Sunday 12th June.
POSTED: 07/06/05

Today the text question was revealed and to be in with a chance of winning tickets for the Live 8 gig you are required to text the correct answer to this question- What city is the forthcoming G8 summit being held near this July?

A) Berlin B) Moscow C) Edinburgh. Text A, B or C to 84599.
POSTED: 06/06/05

Madonna will duet with Sting at Live 8. The collaboration will go down in history and is perfect for the biggest gig of the decade.
POSTED: 04/06/05

Coldplay frontman, Chris Martin, says The Spice Girls MUST sing at the Live 8 gig. Chris is lobbying for the fab five to reform for the biggest gig of the decade.
POSTED: 04/06/05

Bob Geldof will donate £1.6 million from Live 8's ticket lottery to the Prince's Trust after they had to cancel this year's annual Party In The Park so that Hyde park will be free for the Live 8 concert.
POSTED: 04/06/05

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, has given the Live 8 concert a £500,000 boost by picking up the bill for staging the event in Hyde Park.
POSTED: 04/06/05

A Message From Bob Geldof
Let me start by saying, this is not Live Aid 2 - this time its not people's money we need, it's themselves. The five concerts taking place around the world are the starting point for The Long Walk To Justice, an event that will see hundreds of thousands of people heading to Edinburgh to tell the G8 leaders that the whole world is expecting them to deliver.

By doubling aid, fully cancelling debt, and delivering trade justice for Africa, the G8 have it within their power to change the future for millions of men, women and children. What we need to do is show them in our millions that we care and that we're watching.

Whether you're starting things off in Edinburgh on the Saturday at the vitally important Make Poverty History rally, or planning to head to the Scottish capital later in the week, the really vital thing is that you see your good work through and send a message loud and clear to those 8 men - now is the time, this is the year, you can make poverty history.

Thanks and good luck,

Bob
POSTED: 02/06/05

Performers
London - Hyde Park
Mariah Carey
ColdPlay
Dido
Keane
Elton John
Annie Lennox
Paul McCartney
Muse
Razorlight
REM
Scissor Sisters
Snow Patrol
Stereophonics
Sting
Joss Stone
Robbie Williams
U2
Velvet Revolver
Bob Geldof
Killers
The Cure

Philadelphia - Museum of Art
Will Smith (Hosting)
Bon Jovi
Maroon 5
Dave Matthews Band
Sarah McLachan
Rob Thomas
Keith Urban
Jay Z
Stevie Wonder
50 Cent
Kaisers Chiefs
P Diddy

Berlin
A-HA
Bap
Crosby Stills & Nash
Lauryn Hill
Die Toten Hosen
Peter Maffay
Brian Wilson

Paris
Andrea Bocelli
Craig David
Calo Gero
Jamiroquai
Kyo
Yannick Noah
Yousou N'Dour
Plac
ebo
Axelle Red
Johnny Halliday
Manu Chao
Renaud

Rome - Circus Maximus
Irene Grandi
Faith Hill
Jovanotti
Tim McGraw
Nek
Laura Pausini
Duran Duran
Vasco Rossi
Zucchero