Morning:
8°c
Madonna stars in global eco extravaganza
11 Apr 2007Madonna, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Razorlight are among the acts who will take to the stage for a star-studded concert at the new Wembley Stadium to highlight the threat of climate change, it has been announced.
They will be joined by Keane, Snow Patrol, Duran Duran, the Black Eyed Peas and Genesis for the London leg of the global series of Live Earth concerts on July 7.
Gallery: See the London line-up here
The other performers announced for the Wembley event were the Beastie Boys, Bloc Party, Corinne Bailey Rae, Damien Rice, David Gray, the Foo Fighters, James Blunt, John Legend and Paolo Nutini.
London is just one of the cities taking part in the event across the globe, along with Shanghai, Johannesburg and Sydney, while there will also be concerts in Japan, Brazil and the US.
The full line-up globally will feature more than 100 acts.
Announcing the details of the concert, Live Earth founder Kevin Wall said: "This monster line-up will ensure Live Earth meets our goal of bringing together people from around the world to combat the climate crisis. Live Earth will not only span all seven continents, but the musicians who have answered our call span multiple genres and generations."
The concerts are forming part of a global publicity drive on climate change, tagged SOS (Save Our Selves), headed by former US vice president Al Gore.
Organisers hope that more than two billion people will be able to tune in to coverage of the 24-hour event on television, radio and online. Registration for tickets to Live Earth London - which will all be priced at £55 - will open at midday on Friday, April 13 and close at midday on Monday, April 16.
Mr Gore said: "By attracting an audience of billions we hope Live Earth will launch a global campaign giving a critical mass of people around the world the tools they need to help solve the climate crisis. But ultimately, corporations and governments must become global leaders taking decisive action to stop global warming."
Proceeds from the concerts will create a foundation to combat climate change led by The Alliance for Climate Protection, currently chaired by Mr Gore.
Reader views (5)
Define irony!
And how exactly are these events going to be carbon neutral!
Well I guess we should be grateful to these celebrity demigods that they have deigned to take part. One is assuming that none of them will have riders that aggravate whack up the carbon footprint even more. I will be waiting at Wembley Tube to see who arrives by public transport.
I've got a new "campaign" NATIONAL NO EGO DAY!
- Jc, London, 12/04/2007 14:00
Report abuse
What a laugh. Madonna with homes scattered all over the planet and dragging a truckload of new toilet seats wherever she performs. She could stock a landfull single-handedly.
- Janine, USA, 11/04/2007 00:50
Report abuse
I take it everyone will playing acoustic and lighting will be provided by candles? I mean surely they can't be using electricity would they? And this is nothing to do with self promotion and jumping a flavour of the month band wagon would it? Live8 Mk2 anyone?
- Carlton, Tolworth, 10/04/2007 20:50
Report abuse
Wow! Madonna to join another plane-load of precious, narcissistic celebs flying-in for a mutual love-in. Save the planet, don't make me laugh. Do these airheads really think that Joe Public is deceived by their apparent concern for climate change - something, by the way, that has taken place since Planet Earth was formed. No, I suspect that another bandwagon is rolling - with the opportunity to make a few dollars as well.
- Captain Pugwash, Carlisle, England, 10/04/2007 16:29
Report abuse
What a great idea - fly a load of pampered rock stars (who live in mansions and have several cars) to Wembley Stadium so they can preach to us about how we should conserve energy, whilst using up enough electricity to power a small town. Hilarious, you couldn't make it up.
- Squidboy, UK, 10/04/2007 13:13
Report abuse
