BBC NEWS | Entertainment | London Live 8 performances rated Printable version London Live 8 performances rated The BBC's Ian Youngs gives his verdicts on the numerous performances which graced the stage at the Live 8 concert in London's Hyde Park. Sir Paul McCartney and U2: One of the most super of supergroups of all time, and Sergeant Pepper was a suitable opening, even if the song has dated a bit. 9/10 for wow factor. U2: They still have so much passion that it was impossible not to get swept up in their blockbuster anthems. They had the park singing and clapping and set the tone for the day. 10/10 Ms Dynamite performed a version of Redemption Song Coldplay: Powerful and popular. The peak of their rousing set came when Richard Ashcroft came on for a rendition of Bittersweet Symphony. But they are not ready take over U2's mantle as biggest band in world quite yet. 8/10 Sir Elton John: Posing and pouting at every opportunity, he was another to prove that the veterans can still outperform younger rivals.

He wheeled out a couple of classics before being joined by Pete Doherty who, with his gothic get-up and dazed look, resembled Adam Ant at the first Live Aid. 10/10 for Elton, 5/10 for Pete. Dido/Youssou N'Dour: Youssou stole the show from Dido during their spot together. She may have the hits, but he has more charisma and a more haunting voice. Their duet of 7 Seconds was warmly received. 7/10 Stereophonics: : They may be too cool to show much emotion, but Stereophonics rock in a Rod Stewart kind of way. The crowd responded better to things with some oomph and they went down well. 7/10 Keane 'packed a punch' REM: It was arms in the air time as heart-wrenching song Everybody Hurts had the crowd spellbound. Michael Stipe's eerie blue face paint and freaky dancing sent a collective tingle through the whole crowd. 9/10 Ms Dynamite: She buried any suspicions of tokenism with an emotional rendition of Redemption Song.

6/10 Keane: They may be nice boys with nice songs, but Keane can sure belt 'em out. They are about as rock 'n' roll as you can be without a guitarist, and imposed themselves with a big presence. 8/10 Travis: Fran Healy's affable bonhomie and catchy hits caught the mood, and they did not even make it rain when they sang Why Does It Always Rain on Me? The brave version of Staying Alive must have been for a bet - but kind of worked. 8/10 Bob Geldof: Despite promising not to play, he could not resist. He suddenly reverted back to straggly, straining old rock star - but the crowd was generous. 5/10 Live 8 organiser Bob Geldof performed Annie Lennox: Despite having been out of the spotlight for a while, she was another veteran to show the young stars a thing or two. Starting with a poignant version of Why?, she ended with a storming performance of Eurythmics classic Sweet Dreams. 8/10 UB40: Their appearance seemed like an attempt to represent multi-cultural Britain, but was a good soundtrack for a trip to the toilet or burger stall.

6/10 Snoop Dogg: He raised the temperature with a racy rendition of his hip-hop hits and got one of the most energetic responses of the concert so far. Fans were waving their hands in the air like they just didn't care. 9/10 Razorlight: This band grabbed the chance to shine on a world stage with their upbeat rock tunes and singer Johnny Borrell's theatrical antics. He jumped off the stage and ripped his shirt off - he has learnt the lessons of 1985. 9/10 Madonna: She's not the queen of pop for nothing. During Music, she got everyone clapping in unison the way Freddie Mercury did in 1985. This will be remembered as one of the Live 8 moments, with the crowd desperate to worship her regal presence. 10/10 Snow Patrol: Another band with good songs - but little of the power or passion this crowd really needed. 7/10 Madonna's performance was given top marks The Killers: This white-suited band went to so much trouble for just one song. But the Vegas electro-pop kings made good use of their time.

7/10 Joss Stone: She took to the stage barefoot and sang with a confidence that belies her age. Her trademark vocals soared, and she lifted the crowd as it entered the seventh hour of the concert. 8/10 Scissor Sisters: They put on a fun spectacle and evoked the spirit of the '80s with their unashamedly spangly pop. They spoilt it a little by playing a new song at the end - it was good, but we just wanted the hits. 8/10 Velvet Revolver: They kept the metal fans happy, but let's face it, there weren't many of those. The rest of the crowd were rather bemused by the high-voltage heavy rock and amount of leather. 6/10 Sting: Another old pro proved to be a crowd-pleaser. He rallied fans with favourites like Every Breath You Take. 9/10 Mariah Carey: She may have thought she was bringing some glamour to the show with her micro-dress and personal water carrier, but it just came across as ego. As such, she got short shrift from the crowd.

5/10 Robbie Williams joined the crowd during his rendition of Angels Robbie Williams: He had the fans in the palm of his hand, making a triumphant return to the stage with a set that had everyone joining in. The crowd would not have minded if he had stayed on all night. 10/10 The Who: Classic bombastic brilliance from a band who refuse to slow down. With Roger Daltrey flinging his microphone around and Pete Townshend wrestling his guitar, they were on top form. 9/10 Pink Floyd: If there was one historic musical moment, this was it - the reconciliation of Dave Gilmour and Roger Waters. They looked like they had never been away and the sublime magnificence of their songs swept across the audience. 10/10 Sir Paul McCartney: He opened and closed the show, the biggest name on a day of legends. And he lived up to his billing, belting out a couple of rockier Beatles classics before settling down at the piano for The Long and Winding Road and the finale, Hey Jude. 10/10 ..:: U2 Discography - Across the Universe Digital Album / Various - U2 Wanderer.Org ::..

PROMOTIONAL RELEASES None LINER NOTES No traditional liner notes included in with this set released through the iTunes store. OTHER NOTES Many Concert goers during the Elevation tour came to associate Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band with U2 - it's pretty cool to see them open up an event like Live 8 with a former Beatle. This was the first time Paul McCartney played the song live, and it was a definate first for U2 to perform with a former member of the Beatles. The full band (augmented by a brass section) backed Paul McCartney as he sang most of the lead vocals in the song. The Long and Winding Road was performed by Paul McCartney (without any members of U2) and closed the performance. Released the day these songs were performed at Live 8, all benefits of the songs purchased on iTunes will go to support Live 8, the successor to Live Aid. "It was 20 years ago today..." CATALOG INFORMATION DIGITAL RELEASE: Service: About live 8, live 8 concert, live 8 aid 2. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King 2003 3.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest 2006 4. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone 2001 5. Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace 1999 $922,379,000 Live 8 Concert They rocked the world in the largest live concert ever held. Now the stars of the Live 8 extravaganza are looking to leaders to respond by doing more to help the poor when they meet later in the week. The ability of people power to make a difference will become clearer on July 8 when leaders of the Group of Eight (G8) wealthy industrialized nations end a summit in Scotland where Africa will be high on the agenda. "Mahatma Gandhi freed a continent, Martin Luther King freed a people, Nelson Mandela freed a country. It does work. They will listen," Live 8 organizer Bob Geldof said. But initial reaction to the star-studded poverty awareness gigs was mixed. While in Britain Sunday newspapers plastered Live 8 images and stories across front pages, editions in Africa, the continent Live 8 wants to benefit most, paid little heed.

In the United States, with the world's largest economy, performers acknowledged the difficulty Live 8 had in getting through to the American public. The New York Times had a front page photograph of the Live 8 concert in Philadelphia, where hundreds of thousands crammed the streets, although its first story appeared on page 6. There was barely a mention of Live 8 on early Sunday talk shows. British finance minister Gordon Brown, an advocate of debt relief, said public opinion had already helped to shape recent agreements on debt relief and aid. But adding a note of caution, he said empowering African people was a "lifetime's work." "I think you've seen that ministers around the world have been affected by the strength of public opinion, churches, faith groups, and it does have an impact," Brown told BBC Television. Pope Benedict, addressing crowds in St Peter's Square a day after Rome staged one of the Live 8 concerts, said he hoped the G8 summit would bring genuine and lasting relief to Africa. Some commentators were unsure, however. "Rock has carried Africa on to the world's front pages and television screens. Long live rock!" Italy's Corriere della Sera wrote. "But to imagine that rock and aid ...

are enough to make Africa progress by as much as one step forward is a dream." Over a million people listened to rock and pop musicians at venues across four continents on Saturday. More than 26 million people worldwide sent text messages on Saturday to support Live 8, setting a world record for a single event, organizers said. They also expected 2 billion people to tune in worldwide, using the Internet, television and radio, although no estimate has been provided. In Edinburgh, near where the G8 meets, 200,000 people marched peacefully to back the Make Poverty History campaign. "For God's sake, take this seriously. Don't behave normally. Don't look for compromises. Be great," a Live 8 statement said, addressing leaders. In Britain, newspapers were unanimous in their praise for Live 8 and Geldof, who also pulled off the Live Aid sensation 20 years ago that raised more than $100 million for famine relief. "A beautiful day," said the Independent on Sunday. "Is that loud enough for you?" asked the Sunday Times.

German publications also dedicated considerable space to the gig in Berlin that attracted 200,000 fans, and Italy's four main dailies highlighted the event on their front pages. But in Johannesburg, only one newspaper carried Live 8 on its front page. The concerts brought an unprecedented lineup of talent to 10 stages from Tokyo in the east to near Toronto in the west. London's Hyde Park had the strongest cast, with Paul McCartney, Bono, Madonna, Elton John, Pink Floyd, The Who and George Michael entertaining 200,000 people. The raucous crowd fell silent when Live 8 organizer Bob Geldof replayed Live Aid footage of dying Ethiopians. After freezing on the image of a girl on the verge of death, the same person, a now healthy Birhan Woldu, was introduced on stage. (Reporting by Reuters bureaux) If you want to end wars and stuff, Arlo Guthrie always said, you've gotta sing loud; and several of the finest and best-loved performers around sang loud, and well, at London's Live 8 concert Saturday trying to bring an end to poverty.

The free 10-hour show before 200,000 fans in Hyde Park may not succeed in putting a stop to early death in Africa, but at least the world leaders meeting at the G8 conference in Edinburgh, Scotland, this week, who could do something about it, cannot say they weren't told. The marathon concert was billed as the greatest rock show ever, and it came close, with an emotional richness infused with the incomprehensible but correctable tragedy that is today's Africa. Politicians and economists would have to be completely tone-deaf to miss the point. The event was a masterful display of technical organization as 26 acts performed mostly 15-minute sets, and it appeared to be largely the demands of international television feeds that caused the show to run over by more than two hours. Memorable moments came thick and fast, featuring a splendidly reunited Pink Floyd, the fighting-fit remains of the Who, a top-notch R.E.M., a surprisingly moving Dido with Youssou N'Dour, a knock-'em-dead number by the Killers and Paul McCartney in world class form.

Playing together for the first time since 1981, Pink Floyd bassist Roger Waters, lead David Gilmour, drummer Nick Mason and keyboardist Rick Wright looked right at home. They made shimmering deliveries of "Breathe," "Money," "Wish You Were Here" and "Comfortably Numb," even if Gilmour had said earlier that performing with Waters after their long falling out was "like sleeping with the ex-wife." Pete Townshend and Roger Daltry powered out "Who Are You?" -- now more famous as the theme from TV's "CSI" -- and an extended and quite glorious "Won't Get Fooled Again." Young American band the Killers, dressed in white suits, did just one number, "All These Things That I've Done," but it was a dazzling success, and they may be the breakout stars of the show. McCartney began and ended the day, closing with smashing versions of "Get Back," "Drive My Car" (with surprise guest George Michael) and "Helter Skelter." Then at the piano he sang "The Long and Winding Road," leading into the chant from "Hey Jude," joined by most of the day's performers and the vast crowd.

McCartney and U2 had started things off with a rousing version of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" largely because the opening line "It was 20 years ago today . . ." evoked memories of the 1985 Live Aid charity show. Ex-Boomtown Rat Bob Geldof, who was the key organizer of that fundraiser and of Live 8, presided over the Hyde Park concert and even sneaked in a crisp rendition of his hit "I Don't Like Mondays." U2 and Elton John, each in good form, played early sets so they could rush off to concerts elsewhere. In the first of several examples of amending lyrics to fit the occasion, Bono featured in the song "Beautiful Day" all the cities where concerts were being held, and the crowd immediately joined in.

Coldplay came on with their slow dirges, and Richard Ashcroft joined them for more self-pity in his song "Bittersweet Symphony." Current English pop bad-boy Pete Doherty joined Elton John for a middling treatment of Marc Bolan's "Children of the Revolution." Somewhat surprisingly, it took the mellow-voiced Dido to fully engage the crowd as her "White Flag" revealed some steely strength in the lyric -- "I will go down with this ship" -- that the vast numbers in the park took up in great volume. They got louder still as Senegalese artist N'Dour joined Dido on her "Thank You" and his "Seven Seconds." Welsh band the Stereophonics cranked up the volume with some impressively raucous rock, and R.E.M. took the proceedings to another level with their expert mix of precision and showmanship. Michael Stipe, wearing blue makeup around his eyes that resembled a mask, bathed in the audience's rapturous and noisy response to "Everybody Hurts" and "Man on the Moon." Later, Annie Lennox included a vivid "Sweet Dreams" in her set, and Snoop Dog increased the profanity quotient with his rap performance.

Joss Stone and the Scissor Sisters made crowd-pleasing appearances, as did Sting and Velvet Revolver. Keane, Ms. Dynamite, Travis, UB40, Razorlight and Snow Patrol waved the British flag along with Robbie Williams, who once again demonstrated his mysterious grip on British fans with a self-indulgent set of monotonous songs that had the crowd howling for more. Madonna and Mariah Carey were each over the top, as you might expect, with mechanical movements and syrupy gushing over the Africans who joined them onstage. It's churlish to complain, however, on a day that may not have changed the world but certainly will be remembered by all who were there. Clouds had threatened rain all afternoon, but they cleared to allow a beautiful sunset over the mass of humanity in Hyde Park, and it remained dry until after midnight as, with public transport closed, the 200,000 made their way home along the surprisingly harmonious streets of London. Robbie Williams proved the biggest draw for television viewers during the Live 8 extravaganza on Saturday, his audience peaking at 9.6 million.

Eight hours of coverage on BBC1, hosted by Jonathan Ross from a glass pod beside the stage, recorded an average of 7.8 million viewers from 6.10pm until the grand finale at midnight, according to unofficial audience figures released yesterday. Twenty-nine million people tuned in at some point during the day, and ITV's share of viewing slumped to 12.2%, its lowest ever. While impressive for a typical Saturday night, the average audience was less than the number who normally watch popular soaps and a long way short of the 20 million-plus watching England's defeat by Portugal in the Euro 2004 football championships. Ratings peaked at 9.6 million at 10.15pm, when almost half of all of those watching television at the time were watching BBC1 as Williams delivered his performance. For more than an hour-and-a-half during the afternoon, more people watched the women's final at Wimbedon. The corporation received about 350 complaints from viewers after artists including Madonna, Razorlight's Johnny Borrell and rap star Snoop Dogg peppered their sets with four-letter words.

The number who attended all 10 concerts around the world was put at over 1 million. Internet auction site eBay (Nasdaq:EBAY - news) said on Tuesday it had begun removing illegal DVD copies of the Live 8 poverty awareness pop concerts from its Web site, after the record industry complained. Some of the pirate recordings on the site early on Tuesday were on sale within 24 hours of Saturday's concerts ending, and have been attracting bids of up to 16.99 pounds ($31) each. One of them boasts footage from huge concerts in London's Hyde Park and Philadelphia. Ten concerts took place in all, from Tokyo in the east to near Toronto in the west, and more than a million people turned up to see the greatest line-up of rock stars ever assembled. While the concerts were free, British media said record company EMI (EMI.L) paid millions of pounds for the rights to release the official DVD of the event, which Bob Geldof organized to put pressure on world leaders to do more to beat poverty.

"There are too many people out there who believe music is for stealing, regardless of the wishes of artists and the people who invest in them," said David Martin, director of anti-piracy at the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). "Sadly we are not at all surprised by this incident." EBay said it had begun removing the listings. "The unauthorized copies of Live 8 DVDs we have been told about have been taken down, because the sale of fake items is not permitted on eBay.co.uk," the site said in a statement. EBay has already been labeled an "electronic pimp" by Geldof after free Live 8 tickets appeared on the site ahead of Saturday's concerts. It suspended some of the accounts of users who placed hoax bids for the tickets of up to 10 million pounds in order to sabotage the sales. Geldof also organized the Live Aid charity gigs 20 years ago to raise money for Ethiopian famine victims, and brought out a re-recording of the 1984 "Do They Know It's Christmas?" track to try to prevent bootleggers profiting from the original. The BPI urged eBay to toughen its safeguards against piracy, noting a dramatic rise in illegal sales.

In 2001, the BPI arranged for the removal of 2,315 illegal online auctions, but in the first six months of this year that number had risen to 13,280. Live 8, by the numbers: 1: Mile that the Live 8 crowd stretched along Philadelphia's Benjamin Franklin Parkway. 5: Minutes the Johannesburg crowd stood and applauded Nelson Mandela. 50: Percent of the 20,000-person capacity filled by fans at the Japanese venue. 60th: Birthday celebrated onstage Saturday by Zimbabwe singer Thomas Mapfumo at the all-African show in Cornwall, England. 1981: The last year Pink Floyd — guitarist David Gilmour, drummer Nick Mason, keyboard player Richard Wright and bassist Roger Waters — had appeared onstage together before Saturday. 160,000: People simultaneously viewing America Online's live video feeds of the shows — an Internet record, according to AOL. 200,000: Spectators crammed into Hyde Park for the London concert. 1 million: Spectators that Philly organizers claimed were at their show. It was probably closer to a few hundred thousand.

26.4 million: Number of text messages sent to "UNITE" in support of the Live 8 cause. $25 billion: The amount of aid Live 8 impresario Bob Geldof is demanding from the nations participating in next week's Group of Eight summit meeting. Saturday's Live 8 extravaganza was billed as the biggest rock event ever. USA TODAY was there in five locations, sizing up the mood and music. Survivor's moment: Birhan Woldu, a young African who was helped by the original Live Aid concert, joins Madonna. By Jo Hale, Getty Images London Venue: Circus Maximus Attendance: About 200,000 The setup: On the site of a 2,200-year-old Roman stadium. Volunteers handed out more than 100,000 half-liter bottles of water. A handful of food cart operators sold soft drinks for 7 euros (about $8) and sandwiches for 10. The crowd: Mostly under 30. Attire of choice in the oppressive heat was shorts and no shirt for men, bikini tops for women. Hottest act: Fiery red-haired Roman Fiorella Mannoia.

Faith Hill sparked the spectacle of several shirtless Romans trying to do the Texas two-step. Out of place: Duran Duran was among the first to play, and the band didn't hide its disappointment at the sparse crowd at that point. Memorable moment: Italian rapper Lorenzo Jovanotti electrified the crowd by jumping off the stage. He was trailed by a pair of security guards who failed to keep pace as the crowd closed in. Audience on the issues: Giulio Scarpatti, 22: "This is supposed to help Africa? Great! They need it. Hey, is Madonna going to play soon?" Sarah Werner, 33, of Louisville: "It's not often that you can do something so worthwhile and enjoy yourself so much at the same time." — Eric Lyman Ontario, Moscow also rock •In Barrie, Ontario, near Toronto, native son Neil Young performed a rousing Rockin' in the Free World before 35,000 fans. •In Tokyo, Bjork and Good Charlotte played before 10,000 in support of Asia's sole G8 nation.

•In Johannesburg, former South African president Nelson Mandela told a crowd of more than 8,000: "I say to all the (G8) leaders: Do not look the other way, do not hesitate. ... It is within your power to prevent a genocide." •In Moscow, 15,000-20,000 jammed into a square near the Kremlin to hear a mostly home-grown lineup of musical acts. •A 10th concert in southwestern England showcased African artists. It was generally a well recieved night for the Emmy Awards, read up on who won and what happened.. click here The MTV Movie Awards were as hotter then even. Check out who took home a Moon man.. click here McCartney, U2 Rock Live 8 - Rolling Stone McCartney, U2 Rock Live 8 Paul McCartney Sues Sony Over Beatles Music McCartney, U2 Rock Live 8 Artists from Green Day to a reunited Pink Floyd perform in ten cities for African aid and debt relief If you're Bob Geldof, how do you kick off the flagship show of what you've proclaimed to be "the greatest concert ever"? Well, by pairing two of the greatest rock artists on one of pop music's most iconic songs.

More News All Stories The Live 8 concert in London's Hyde Park opened with Paul McCartney and U2 performing "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band," igniting the crowd with the opening line "It was twenty years ago today" -- a celebratory reference to the original Live Aid, which raised more than $40 million for African famine victims in 1985. But Geldof's grand sequel, broadcast on MTV and VH1 and Webcast on AOLMusic.com, was designed to raise awareness, not money. Live 8 brought together contemporary stars such as Coldplay, Linkin Park and Green Day with Live Aid alums such as Madonna, Sting and U2 for concerts in ten international cities -- Philadelphia, London, Paris, Rome, Berlin, Tokyo, Moscow, Cornwall, Johannesburg and Barrie, Canada. The goal: pressuring world leaders meeting at the G8 economic summit on July 6th, in Gleneagles, Scotland, to approve billions of dollars in aid and debt relief for poverty-ravaged Africa. Even more than Live Aid, Live 8 capitalized on its assemblage of talent with several collaborations.

Early in the Hyde Park show, Coldplay was joined by ex-Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft for a version of "Bittersweet Symphony." In Philadelphia, Black Eyed Peas teamed with Rita, Ziggy and Stephen Marley on Bob Marley's "Get Up, Stand Up." Rob Thomas performed an impressive duet with Stevie Wonder on the latter's classic "Higher Ground," while Maroon 5's Adam Levine joined Wonder on "Signed, Sealed, Delivered." Later, during McCartney's performance in London, George Michael surprised the crowd when he showed up to lend his harmonies to the Beatles hit, "Drive My Car." Geldof himself played with Travis on a cover of the Boomtown Rats' "I Don't Like Mondays." But the show-stopping crossover performance came when Jay-Z, sporting a Nelson Mandela t-shirt, tore it up with Linkin Park on "Numb/Encore" and two other "mash-ups" from their album Collision Course. Many artists, while not explicitly political, chose songs that fit the tenor of the event.

Green Day, performing in Berlin, roused their audience with the title track from their Grammy-winning album American Idiot, as well as a cover of Queen's "We Are the Champions." Maroon 5 ripped through a cover of Neil Young's "Rockin' in the Free World," and the surviving members of the Who kicked out their anthem for all seasons, "Won't Get Fooled Again." Sting revisited his Police days with pointed versions of "Driven to Tears" and "Every Breath You Take." As he sang the line "We'll be watching you" on the latter song, images of the G8 leaders flashed on a screen behind him. Even Good Charlotte's tongue-in-cheek "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" seemed to carry extra weight in the context of the event. Most artists -- and a few other public figures -- took advantage of their few moments onstage to acknowledge the cause they were supporting.

Will Smith, opening the show in his hometown of Philadelphia, stood in front of a copy of the Declaration of Independence and anointed Live 8 a "declaration of interdependence." "Today we hold this truth to be self-evident: We are all in this together," he said, before leading the audience to snap its fingers every three seconds to illustrate the death rate of children in Africa.

During a searing set that rivalled their legendary performance in 1985, U2's Bono told a Hyde Park audience of 200,000, "This is your moment to make history by making poverty history." Alicia Keys told the Philadelphia audience, "I'm very, very, very proud to say I'm part of a generation that stands up, that doesn't just sit down, while the world is being ravaged by hunger and AIDS and the demolition of the human spirit," before performing the jazz standard "For All We Know." "People today are coming together as a family because our brothers and sisters in Africa need our help, so let's change their worlds," Killers frontman Brandon Flowers announced before leading the crowd through a rousing performance of "All These Things That I've Done." Before introducing Annie Lennox in London, a bleached-blonde Brad Pitt informed the audience that, "By the time this concert ends this evening, 30,000 Africans will have died because of extreme poverty . . . This doesn't make sense.

This is why we're here tonight." Even Microsoft mogul Bill Gates got a rock star's reception when he was introduced by Geldof and told the London throngs, "We can do this, and when we do it will be the best thing that humanity has ever done." Perhaps the most impassioned entreaty came from anti-Apartheid hero Nelson Mandela, who received a five-minute standing ovation in Johannesburg. "History and the generations to come will judge our leaders by the decisions they make in the coming weeks," he told a crowd of more than 8,000 people. "I say to all those leaders: Do not look the other way." But no moment hit a more resonant emotional chord than when Geldof introduced Birham Woldu, a woman who appeared as a malnourished child in the documentary on African famine that aired during Live Aid twenty years ago, and who, Geldof claimed, was saved in part because of that event's proceeds. "Don't let them tell you this stuff doesn't work," he said. "You work. You work very well indeed." Geldof then introduced Madonna who performed "Like a Prayer" hand-in-hand with Woldu and backed by a gospel choir.

The most anticipated performance of the day had nothing to do with political posturing or crossover collaborations: the classic lineup of Pink Floyd, reunited for the first time since bassist Roger Waters parted company with the band in 1983. After transfixing the audience with Dark Side of the Moon classics "Breathe" and "Money," Waters, obviously touched by the moment, acknowledged how moving it was to be onstage with his three former bandmates. "We're doing this for everyone who's not here," said Waters, "but particularly, of course, for Syd." The band then segued into "Wish You Were Here," the song Pink Floyd recorded thirty years ago for reclusive founding member Syd Barrett. As the night fell around the globe, the concerts closed with the requisite all-star finales. In Barrie, Neil Young, in his first live performance since suffering a brain aneurysm in April, was joined on his hit "Keep On Rockin' in the Free World" by several of Canada's homegrown artists, including the Barenaked Ladies, Bruce Cockburn and Gordon Downie of the Tragically Hip.

In Hyde Park, virtually all the London performers crowded the stage with McCartney for a show-closing singalong of "Hey Jude." Whether or not the G8 leaders take heed of Live 8's plea and follow through on recent pledges to cancel debt and increase aid remains to be seen, but the event itself served as a powerful example of the unity it preached. That may be its most lasting message. BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Live 8: Then and now Printable version Live 8: Then and now Some of the performers who will be playing the Live 8 concerts made a contribution to Live Aid in 1985. Just how much has their musical style, looks and fashion sense evolved over the last 20 years - and how have their careers fared? MADONNA Click here to compare Madonna then and now When Madonna performed at the Philadelphia Live Aid concert in 1985, her musical career was beginning to take off on both sides of the Atlantic. In the UK, the singer was about to enjoy her first chart topper with Into The Groove, which would be the first of many.

In the 20 years which has elapsed since Live Aid, Madonna has remained a musical force to be reckoned with, reinventing herself on numerous occasions and remaining in the headlines. After taking to the stage in London's Live 8 concert in Hyde Park, the musician will have a new album and another world tour to contemplate. SIR PAUL McCARTNEY Click here to hear Paul McCartney in 1985 and now Sir Paul McCartney's contribution to Live Aid at Wembley Arena was a rendition of Beatles classic Let It Be ahead of the London finale and chorus of Do They Know It's Christmas? McCartney sang with the likes of Wham, Bono and Freddie Mercury on the rousing end to the 1985 concert. Just months earlier, the singer-songwriter had an unlikely hit with We All Stand Together performed with The Frog Chorus. This musical recipe was revisited on the 63-year-old's most recent chart hit, Tropic Island Hum. But appearances in the UK Top 40 have become less frequent in recent years.

U2 Click to hear how U2 have changed in 20 years Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen and Adam Clayton had notched up five chart hits when they performed the anthemic Sunday Bloody Sunday at Live Aid. Irish quartet U2 also performed a lengthy medley of Lou Reed and Rolling Stones on 13 July 1985. In the 20 years since the landmark event, U2 have become a chart powerhouse, claiming six chart-toppers, including two of their three most recent hit singles. Frontman Bono has become a frontline campaigner against African debt and poverty in his own right, famously addressing the Labour Party conference last autumn. STING Click to hear how the years have treated Sting Sting - real name Gordon Sumner - had barely started on his solo chart career by June 1985, scoring just two hits, Spread A Little Happiness and If You Love Somebody Set Them Free. In 1985 he was best known as frontman of defunct trio The Police, with whom he captured five chart-toppers in the late 70s and early 80s.

The 53-year-old will take his place on the Live 8 stage as a musician who has often used his art to promote various causes. As well as African issues, Sting has made a stand for the Amazonian rainforest and Amnesty International. DURAN DURAN Click to hear the changes to Duran Duran's sound New Romantic combo Duran Duran were one of the British acts to perform Live Aid across the Atlantic at Philadelphia's JFK Stadium. Simon Le Bon, John Taylor, Roger Taylor, Nick Rhodes and Andy Taylor were already at the peak of their powers with hits like Planet Earth and Save A Prayer, winning them a fanbase on both sides of the Atlantic. The band's fortunes dwindled until 1993, when the hit Ordinary World brought a significant chart comeback. They played a string of arena dates across the UK in late 2003, playing to more people than in their 80s heyday. Winning the Brit Award for outstanding contribution to music in 2004 brought a new album and another pair of hit singles. SIR ELTON JOHN How has Elton weathered 20 years?

Click here to hear Sir Elton John was already a very well-established figure when he performed a lengthy set on stage at Wembley's Live Aid in 1985. As well as singing well-known solo hits such as I'm Still Standing and Rocket Man, Sir Elton duetted with Wham! and Kiki Dee. The singer-songwriter has rarely been out of the headlines since. His music for Disney's The Lion King has proved durable and popular while in 1997 his reversioned Candle In The Wind in the wake of Diana, Princess of Wales' death became the best-selling single of all time. The singer recently topped the charts again with Are You Ready For Love, while a sample of his music on late rapper Tupac Shakur's song knocked Crazy Frog from his number one pedestal. An exhibition of photographs from Live Aid in 1985 is being shown at the Getty Images Gallery in London until 16 July.

'Welcome to the greatest rock concert in the world' | Music | The Guardian Live 8 'Welcome to the greatest rock concert in the world' Bob Geldof and Annie Lennox wave to the crowd at the finale of Live 8 in Hyde Park Photograph: MJ Kim/Getty Friday 1 July 2005 20.13 EDT First published on Friday 1 July 2005 20.13 EDT Close This article is 11 years old "Ladies and gentlemen, it's two o'clock. Welcome to the greatest rock concert in the world." Thus began simultaneous Live 8 shows in London, Paris, Rome and Berlin. Other concerts worldwide made this the biggest ever music event, with millions attending and billions more watching on television. Backstage, Bob Geldof said: "Everything that's rock 'n' roll is ever meant to be is happening now." The man who organised the whole spectacle admitted that he only finally relaxed once the concert got under way. "There's nothing more to do now - it's either crap or it's great and so far it's great," he told reporters a couple of hours into the blockbusting event.

First off was Paul McCartney who opened proceedings in Hyde Park with a rendition of Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (opening line, "It was 20 years ago today"), backed by musicians dressed in the iconic Sgt Pepper brightly coloured uniforms. Bono and U2 then took over, performing It's a Beautiful Day with lyrics especially customised for the event. Overhead, grey clouds gathered, but the crowd greeted the performers enthusiastically. Following U2 were Coldplay, who opened with In My Place. Among the spectators were Chris Martin's wife, Gwyneth Paltrow and their daughter Apple. Richard Ashcroft sang his best known song, Bitter Sweet Symphony, backed by Coldplay. Martin sneaked in a small tribute to Status Quo - who opened Live Aid 20 years previously, singing a few words from their song Rocking All Over The World. The singer called Bob Geldof "a hero" and thanked the organiser, referring to those who were cynical as "stupid". Their brief set ended with Fix You. Elton John performed next, closing with a duet with Pete Doherty. The two sang Children of the Revolution.

Geldof then made a brief appearance, to introduce Bill Gates as "the greatest philanthropist of our age." Gates - the richest man in the world - and his wife Melinda have given $5bn (£2.82bn) towards relieving poverty. Gates paid tribute to Geldof and the event's other organisers. "I believe that if you show people the problems and you show them the solutions they will be moved to act," he said. "I have learned that success depends on knowing what works and bringing resources to the problem. We know what to do. The generosity we are asking for can save millions of lives. Some day in the future all people no matter where they are born will be able to lead a healthy life." Dido was up next. The North Londoner sang White Flag, and then was joined on stage by Sengalese singer Youssou N'Dour to sing her breakthrough hit, Thank You. The two also performed N'Dour's 1994 smash hit Seven Seconds. Both singers played later at the Eden Project in Cornwall, where over 4,000 people were watching some of Africa's best musicians.

Acts on the bill there included Thomas Mapfumo from Zimbabwe and his group the Blacks Unlimited, dynamic female vocalist Maryam Mursal from Somalia, and Senegalese hip hop group Daara J. Eden's organiser Peter Gabriel spoke earlier of his "disappointment" that Geldof could not have made more space for black artists on the bill at Hyde Park. "I am very happy that we are here today," he said. "It was important that there was the opportunity for African voices to be heard." Guest presenters at the Cornwall event included Angelina Jolie. Eden's chief executive Tim Smit said: "What is so exciting about hosting this is that what has been created is a cultural palette and people can get a chance to hear a wide range of sounds of Africa. It is very moving and emotional and I hope it catches the mood of the time." At Hyde Park, Stereophonics followed Dido, and then Ricky Gervais introduced REM. Gervais reprised his famous dance routine from BBC TV series The Office, for "the first and last time only" to the delight of the crowd.

Thousands of people gathered in city centres in Manchester, Wrexham, Cardiff, Birmingham, Liverpool, Hull, Leeds, Gateshead, Bournemouth, Plymouth, Belfast, Inverness and the Channel Islands where screens had been erected to allow people to watch the event free of charge. Ms Dynamite was followed by Keane, who played Everybody's Changing and Somewhere Only We Know, to roars of approval. Razorlight frontman Johnny Borrell chatted backstage before his band's set. "I'm not nervous," he told reporters. "I can't wait to get out there. It's great to be here, taking part in something that needs to be done," he said. Borrell is too young to remember the original Live Aid concert of 1985. "This is not about what happened 20 years ago," he said, "This is about today. My message to the G8 leaders is that this is their chance to make a lot of difference in the world and to come back fulfilling their promises rather than coming back with empty promises.

This is their chance to show the world politics is not just showbusiness for ugly people." At 5pm Geldof came on stage to announce that more than three billion people were watching the event. Over in Philadelphia, events were just beginning, with Will Smith on stage to open the US's Live 8 concert. The actor and singer introduced live link-ups with the crowds in Berlin, Paris and Canada. He spoke of a Declaration of "Interdependence," and urged the crowds to help end world poverty. "Every three seconds, somebody's son, somebodys' daughter, somebody's future is gone. Dead" he said. "With a stroke of a pen eight men can make a difference and end the misery of millions of people." Geldof returned to the stage in London, this time as a performer. "I know it's cheeky, but I couldn't resist playing on this stage," he told the crowd. He sang a powerful version of the Boomtown Rats' hit single, I Don't Like Mondays. "Thanks for letting me do that," he said, leaving the stage to huge cheers. Annie Lennox was introduced by Brad Pitt.

The Hollywood star talked about the first trip he made to Africa: "I was startled by a young woman with Aids, who grabbed my arm and said 'Please bring us the drugs, please help'. "By this time tomorrow evening, another 30,000 Africans will have died because of extreme poverty. This does not make sense. This is why we are here tonight." Former Eurythmics singer Lennox picked up where Pitt had left off. "We are here today to urge the leaders of the G8 summit to take action for the people of Africa and all the nations where poverty and despair are a way of life," she said. Her set included Why, Little Bird, followed by the Eurythmics' classic single Sweet Dreams. UB40 were next on stage. They performed a crowd-pleasing set consisting of a medley of Food for Thought, Who you Fighting For, Reasons, Red Red Wine and Can't Help Falling in Love with You. As evening drew on, US rapper Snoop Dogg upped the ante with Ups and Downs, What's My Name, Drop It, and Nuthin But AG Thang.

Celebrities including Sir Paul McCartney and Victoria and David Beckham were spotted nodding in time to the music in the crowd. "It's the biggest event that ever happened in my career, in my life," said the rapper after his performance. "There are so many people watching around the world and it's for a great cause." Snoop, sporting a white jacket with a large gold medallion in the shape of a pistol underneath, was also the first act to swear live on stage. He certainly wasn't the last. Young guns Razorlight strutted on stage, determined to make an impact. Frontman Johnny Borrell got the crowd going with chart hits Somewhere Else, Golden Touch and Vice. "We are here to make poverty history and we have a chance," said the singer. "If we can make enough noise then we can make them listen so have a good time and whatever you do, make sure you make a lot of fucking noise." Geldof reappeared to introduce 24-year-old Birhan Woldu, one of the starving children featured in footage broadcast during the original Live Aid concert.

Geldof explained that through Live Aid money, Ms Woldu's life was saved, and now, 20 years later, she has just passed her agricultural exams at home in Ethiopia. Madonna clasped the young woman's hand, keeping tight hold while performing set opener Like a Prayer. The queen of pop and her band were dressed all in white, like many of tonight's performers. The famously foul-mouthed singer asked London if it was "fucking ready? Ready to start a revolution? Ready to change history?" She also sang Ray of Light and Music. "I was so hyped up with adrenaline I don't remember it actually happened," Madonna said afterwards. "It's surreal to see so many people in front of you. It's the biggest audience I've ever played to and the closest to home I've ever played. I'm pretty sure my kids could hear me singing, they live just down the street from the park." Next on were Snow Patrol who played Chocolate, followed by the anthemic Run. A barefoot Joss Stone - at 19 the youngest performer on the London lineup, performed Super Duper Love and I had a Dream. Shortly after 8pm The Scissor Sisters bounced onto stage.

Singer Ana Matronic told the crowd to "put on your dancing shoes", and the New York group sang Laura, Take Your Mama, and a new song - the first act to do so - called Everybody Wants the Same Thing. Matronic told the crowd they were going to "rewrite history." A definite change of pace and style came with Velvet Revolver, just before 9pm. The American quintet, an offshoot of Guns 'n Roses, sang Do It for the Kids, Fall to Pieces, and Slither. Among those in the audience at Hyde Park apparently enjoying the generic heavy metal set was Paris Hilton. Jonathan Ross, having a Spinal Tap moment, was less enthusiastic. "You can come out now," he told TV viewers. Sting followed, performing hits including Message in a Bottle and Every Breath You Take. Mariah Carey, backed by the African Children's Choir, and, true to form, wearing a dress at least two sizes too small, sang Make It Happen, Hero and We Belong Together. As night fell, David Beckham came on stage to introduce "his good friend" Robbie Williams. Williams is one of the day's most eagerly anticipated performers.

His arrival brought a much needed shot of adrenalin; he opened with Queen's We Will Rock You, segueing into Let Me Entertain You, mixed with the Killers' "I've got soul but I'm not a soldier" riff. A rendition of his classic track Angels finished the brief set. Peter Kay apologised for not being Robbie, and led the crowd in a mass karaoke version of Do You Know the Way to Amarillo? The comedian introduced "the Spice Girls! No. The Who ? The Who!" Appropriately enough, the classic band performed Who Are You and Won't Get Fooled Again. Half an hour later, huge applause greeted Pink Floyd's arrival on stage at 11pm. Today's concert marks the first time the legendary band have played together in over 20 years. Speaking earlier to reporters, they were reluctant to suggest this could be the start of a reunion tour. Under the slogan NO MORE EXCUSES the band played Breathe, Money, Wish You Were Here and then finished with Comfortably Numb. And finally, nine and a half hours since he opened the extraordinary day, Paul McCartney returned to the stage, wearing jeans and a white shirt, carrying his guitar.

Macca, looking tired, opened with Get Back. "I remember you lot from this morning," he quipped. George Michael joined McCartney for Baby You Can Drive My Car. The concert closed at midnight, three hours late, with a mass rendition of Hey Jude. Most of the day's performers - including Geldof - joined the former Beatle on stage to sing the much-loved tune. The TV coverage continued with The Kaiser Chiefs in Philadelphia, but Jonathan Ross, joined briefly by Michael Buerk, whose TV reports on the Ethopian famine kickstarted the whole Live Aid movement over 20 years ago, and the team at Hyde Park signed off for the night. The first of the world's concerts kicked off this morning in Tokyo at 6am, and the final notes of music will come from Molson Park in Barrie, Canada, 19 hours later, with today's other concerts in Philadelphia, Moscow, Johannesburg, Paris, Rome, Berlin, Cornwall and London. The Hyde Park concert was broadcast to 85% of the world's population. Special guest presenters included Brad Pitt introducing Annie Lennox, David Beckham doing the honours for Robbie Williams, Ricky Gervais, and Little Britain stars Matt Lucas and David Walliams.

Kofi Annan, Cat Deeley, Davina McCall, Michael Portillo, Chris Evans, Harvey Weinstein and the BBC's political editor Andrew Marr were among the onlookers, with Jonathan Ross introducing the live television coverage. Earlier in the day, Nelson Mandela appeared on stage in Johannesburg. "Sometimes it falls upon on a generation to be great. You be that great generation. Let your greatness blossom," said the former president of South Africa. "Of course the task will not be easy. But not to do this would be a crime against humanity, against which I ask all humanity now to rise up." The aim of the concerts is to raise awareness of poverty in developing nations in the run-up to the G8 summit, which takes place in Gleneagles on July 6. "This is without doubt a moment in history where ordinary people can grasp the chance to achieve something truly monumental and demand from the eight world leaders at G8 an end to poverty," Geldof said.

Hyde Park centre stage of greatest show on earth | UK news | The Guardian Hyde Park centre stage of greatest show on earth This is our moment, this is our time, says Bono Share on Messenger Close 'It was 20 years ago today', so the song goes. And in the intervening years, Africa has suffered while the developed world has wrung its hands. But at 2pm British Summer Time, and from the farthest flung corners of the world, the spirit of Live Aid that swept the globe two decades ago was revitalised and repackaged to return bigger and more powerful than anything that has gone before. From Tokyo to Toronto the biggest, slickest political protest in history was under way. More than a million people jammed Live8 venues around the world as two billion watched the events of an extraordinary global show unfold on their television screens. And as one amazing day came to a close, all thoughts turned forward. In three days' time, the eight most powerful men in the world will meet and, perhaps, come to a deal on Africa, poverty and climate change, which was why we were all here yesterday.

From the moment Sir Paul McCartney and U2 screamed out a reworked cover of 'Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band', Live8 wore its heart on its sleeve, cleverly tugging the heartstrings of the billions watching around the world, mixing pathos and bathos, statistics and screams, celebrity and celebrations. A recording of the McCartney-Bono duet was released immediately as a download on more than 200 websites. The high-octane start was softened immediately as U2 launched into 'One', the sombre lyrics producing tears and a mood of quiet defiance. 'We've got to carry each other,' Bono exhorted as the crowd gently took up the anthem. Above the stage flashed a sign: 'G8: The world is watching.' '8 men in one room can change the world,' it read at other times. Bono played the schoolmaster. '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,' he told the 200,000-strong crowd in Hyde Park, who hung on to his every word. 'We cannot fix everything but the ones we can we must.

Three thousand Africans, mostly children, die every day of a mosquito bite. We can fix that. 'Eight of the most powerful men on earth are meeting in Gleneagles in Scotland. We have a message for them. This is your moment too. Make history by making poverty history.' At one point, Coldplay's Chris Martin managed to segue into a chorus of Status Quo's 'Rockin' All Over the World', a feat that provoked an ironic cheer from the crowd, who remembered it as the opener to the original Live Aid. 'Thanks for coming to support the greatest thing in the history of the world. People who are cynical are stupid,' Martin told the crowd, before saluting Geldof as a 'hero'. As the day progressed thousands, then millions, used their mouses to click their support for the Make Poverty History campaign. The momentum was building. And as the skies turned ever more grey, the neon light show behind the rather conservatively attired Sir Elton John glowed ever brighter.

As he launched into 'Saturday Night's All Right For Fighting', the younger members of the audience looked on bemused - until former Libertines frontman Pete Doherty, even more wide-eyed than usual, joined John on stage for an incongruous duet on T-Rex's 'Children of the Revolution'. It's unlikely to be remembered as Doherty's finest hour, with John having to carry the elfin rock star for much of the song. It didn't matter. The audience loved it. Doherty and John embraced. Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates was pushed on to deliver a pep talk. Although he sounded like Kermit the Frog, he was well received, the crowd listening respectfully, as if he was telling them about the launch of a new version of Windows. But then, when you are the world's biggest philanthropist, people will listen. 'I believe that if you show people the problems and you show them the solutions, they will be moved to act,' Gates said. Dido followed with a rendition of 'White Flag' and then brought on African singer Youssou N'Dour to help her with 'Thank You'. Dour yelped. Dido purred.

Behind them, on the giant video screen, pictures of African children stared out at the crowd. Technically, things went off smoothly. Bands didn't overrun. Sound systems didn't fail, even though the Stereophonics did their best to blow the speakers when they opened with 'The Bartender and the Thief'. REM frontman Michael Stipe, suited and with a painted blue mask on his face, was clearly at home in front of the crowd. Hyde Park screamed its approval. Inevitably he and his band performed the haunting 'Everybody Hurts'. People in the crowd hugged. Arms waved. The mood was broken when Stipe, gyrating like a superhero, launched into 'Man On The Moon'. The crowd sang. The video screens carried electronic messages of goodwill. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan thanked the crowd. 'This is the United Nations,' he said. Ms Dynamite bounced through a souled-up version of 'Dy-na-mi-tee'. Keane sang like angels. Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt came on stage to introduce Annie Lennox, but made one of the most moving rallying cries of the day.

'By the time this concert ends this evening, 30,000 Africans will have died because of extreme poverty,' he said. 'This time tomorrow evening, another 30,000. This does not make sense. This is why we are here tonight. 'Let us be the ones who say we do not accept that a child dies every three seconds simply because he does not have the drugs you and I have. 'Let us be the ones to say we are not satisfied that your place of birth determines your right to life. Let us be outraged; let us be loud; let us be bold.' One of the day's most powerful emotional moments came through the stylish use of technology, when the filmstar and rapper Will Smith co-ordinated a series of finger clicks across the globe while cameras switched from one Live8 concert to another. But even this record-breaking broadcasting feat was topped later in the afternoon, when Geldof ambushed his Hyde Park audience with what will surely go down as one of the most memorable theatrical coups of the Make Poverty History campaign.

Sir Bob, standing in front of a screen showing the famous film of African children in desperate need made for the first Live Aid concert, was suddenly joined on stage by a girl who had once featured in that footage - now a young woman. Geldof said of 24-year-old Birhan Woldu: 'She had 10 minutes to live 20 years ago, this beautiful woman.' His point was made eloquently without any trademark shouting or swearing. Even the hardened technical crew working on the show found it difficult to hide their tears. Artistically, though, it was the set performed by Madonna that took the audience to new heights in the early evening sun. Covering the breadth of the stage alongside her dancers and in front of a London-based gospel choir, the star had all 200,000 people in the park in the palm of her hand by the time she returned to the wings, having sung a handful of hits including 'Like a Prayer' and 'Music'. She also, no doubt, contributed to the number of complaints about bad language that lit up BBC switchboards through the evening asking London if it was 'fucking ready'.

By the time David Beckham introduced a pumped-up Robbie Williams for a high-octane performance, the show was running a full hour late - even before the historic reunion of Pink Floyd and the emotional coming-together of the stars for the grand finale. Nonetheless, Kevin Cahill, the chief executive of Comic Relief and one of the organisers of Live8, was staying cool. 'You can't put on something this big without it being a bit behind,' he said. 'There are so many things technologically that can go wrong, and we are very happy that so far it's going OK.' Cahill, who joined Richard Curtis at Comic Relief in 1990, was particularly pleased with Will Smith's international finger-clicks. 'It worked well and it has become an emblem of the campaign. It is a bit like a different kind of minute's silence,' he said. On Wednesday, Curtis hopes, the echoes will be heard loudly at Gleneagles.

Question: Who sang, backed by U2, as the first song in the Live 8 concert in Hyde Park, London, in 2005?
Answer: Paul McCartney