Personally, I think that Geldof loves the publicity and is giving in to Bono, who I think is an ass, getting involved in and trying to influence the politics of countries that he has nothing to do with. Stick to the music boys and leave the politics to the crooks and criminals.

Although...the London line-up does look pretty fantastic (with the exception of Mariah Carey).

Organizers of Live Aid announce five new concerts with major stars
Tue May 31, 3:46 PM ET

LONDON (AP) - Twenty years after the Live Aid concerts to raise money for African relief, musical superstars are joining in a five-city spectacular to raise pressure for a political solution for African poverty.

"We don't want people's money. We want them," Bob Geldof, the driving force behind the Band Aid and Live Aid campaigns, said Tuesday as he announced plans for Live 8 concerts on July 2, just days before leaders of the world's richest countries, the G8, meet in Britain.

Musicians including Madonna, Paul McCartney, U2, Bon Jovi, Brian Wilson, Crosby Stills & Nash, Coldplay, Sarah McLachlan, Sting and Joss Stone will grace stages in London, Rome, Philadelphia, Berlin, Paris and Rome.

The 1985 Live Aid concerts, held in London and Philadelphia on the same day, sold out both venues, drew a television audience of millions around the globe and raised $40 million US for poverty relief in Africa.

Since then, Geldof said, Africa had only become poorer.

"Twenty years on it strikes me as being morally repulsive and intellectually absurd that people die of want in a world of surplus," Geldof said.

"This is to finally, as much as we can, put a stop to that."

Geldof said he had resisted any recreation of Live Aid, but relented to pressure from U2's Bono and others.

"It seemed to me that we could gather again, but this time not for charity but for political justice."

The aim of the concerts was to create attention and "political heat" ahead of the G8 meeting in an effort to persuade the leaders to agree to cancel Africa's unpayable debts, double aid for the continent and make trade fair, Geldof said.

Africa is expected to be high on the agenda of the meeting of the group of eight wealthy nations - which includes Britain, the United States, France, Germany, Russia, Canada, Italy and Japan - under the presidency of British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Blair has said he wants rich nations to write off the debts owed by the world's poorest countries and to double international aid, initiatives the White House has ruled out.

"We obviously welcome any campaign which raises awareness of the need for action in Africa," a spokesman at Blair's office said Tuesday. "The prime minister is obviously working very hard to secure a comprehensive outcome for Africa at the G8 summit."

The concerts will be free of charge with musicians donating their services. Other costs will be met by corporate sponsors.

Venues for the July 2 events include London's Hyde Park, a location near the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, the Circus Maximus in Rome and Benjamin Franklin Parkway at the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of in Philadelphia. Geldof said negotiations for the Paris venue continued.

Geldof enjoyed modest success fronting the Irish punk band the Boomtown Rats, who had a British No. 1 hit in 1979 with I Don't Like Mondays, but found fame through the Live Aid appeal.

He said organizers had "scrambled like crazy to put this together."

Elton John, who will perform at the London concert, sat alongside Geldof at the news conference and said he was happy to be part of an event that was drawing the "creme de la creme."

"When the Live Aid concert happened 20 years ago I was pretty much a self-obsessed drug addict and, although I was really pleased to be part of a great day, I really wasn't adult enough or mature enough to realize the full consequences of what we were doing.

"Now I'm fully aware of what's going on and seeing the injustices going on," John said.

Geldof said after the concerts, people would be encouraged to get to Edinburgh, Scotland where he expects a million people to gather for a mass protest as the leaders meet in nearby Gleneagles.

He encouraged school students to skip school and workers to take time off to be a part of the mass gathering in Edinburgh.

"What's better, two days of work? Two days of geometry? Or participating in something you will remember all your life."

Geldof said he had invited Pope Benedict XVI to join the Edinburgh gathering.

"I think he should show up. I think it should be his first gig," Geldof said.

Those performing in London for Live 8 include Mariah Carey, Coldplay, Dido, Keane, Elton John, Annie Lennox, Madonna, Muse, the Scissor Sisters, Paul McCartney, Joss Stone, Stereophonics, Sting, Snoop, Robbie Williams, U2 and REM. Fans will enter a lottery by cell phone text message to obtain a ticket.

Organizers have said more acts will be added, possibly including the British all girl group the Spice Girls, who would need to reform for a performance.

"I spoke to them this morning, it looks very good, that's all we can say," Geldof said.

In Philadelphia, acts performing will include McLachlan, Will Smith, the Dave Matthews Band, Bon Jovi, Stevie Wonder, Puff Daddy and Jay-Z.

Among artists scheduled for Berlin are A-Ha, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Lauryn Hill and Brian Wilson.

The concert in Rome will feature musicians including Faith Hill and Duran Duran. In Paris, Jamiroquai, Craig David, Youssou N'Dour and Yannick Noah will be among those taking part.

A look at the Live 8 concert lineups announced Tuesday by organizers:

LONDON:

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

The Killers

Madonna

The Cure

BERLIN:

a-ha

Bap

Crosby, Stills & Nash

Lauryn Hill

Die Toten Hosen

Peter Maffay

Brian Wilson

PHILADELPHIA:

Will Smith (host)

Bon Jovi

Maroon 5

Dave Matthews Band

Sarah McLachlan

Rob Thomas

Keith Urban

Jay Z

Stevie Wonder

50 Cent

Kaiser Chiefs

P. Diddy

PARIS:

Andrea Bocelli

Craig David

Calo Gero

Jamiroquai

Kyo

Yannick Noah

Youssou N'Dour

Placebo

Axelle Red

Johnny Halliday

Manu Chao

Renaud

ROME:

Irene Grandi

Faith Hill

Jovanotti

Tim McGraw

Nek

Laura Pausini

Duran Duran

Vasco Rossi

Zucchero