Posted: 03 July 2005 at 9:17pm | IP Logged

Most of the old school did a sterling job, true, but then some of them were a bit creaky: Macca & U2 at the beginning were less energetic than I'd have expected, Elton was a bag of pants, frankly, and UB40 were, well, UB40.  REM were okay, but aside from the make-up, I'd have expected more from them.  Considering how nervous 'young pretenders' Keane were beforehand, they took the bull by the horns, Scissor Sisters won me over and Razorlight were blinding.  Even Travis managed to sound exciting!

I was actually very disappointed with the BBC, whose coverage was pretty shoddy.  Apart from not playing those videos, which was unforgivable, they could have shown us any number of bands who were playing elsewhere in the world between the Hyde Park acts.  But what did they do instead?  They wasted the links for the first three hours by asking every man and his dog "describe the atmosphere for the folks at home" (cue dumb looks and predictable responses) and "what has been your highlight so far?". (Highlight?  HIGHLIGHT?  The daft cow was asking that question after just two acts had been on!)  Even when, mid evening, they did realise that there is life outside the UK, we'd usually only get half a song.

Tonight on BBC Three there is coverage of the Philadelphia gig.  Er...and what about the rest of the world?!

Posted: 03 July 2005 at 9:51pm | IP Logged

Am hoping the video came out alright (although I gather that in their infinite wisdom the Beeb showed Wimbledon overrun on channel supposed to be showing live Live8 - great! Well done the Beeb!!!!!! It's all part of the plot to make punters by very expensive DVDs. And judging by the price of official Live8 merchandise, it will be really expensive!!!)

So why video? 'Cos I was in Edinburgh on the Make Poverty History rally. What a feeling, being part of 225,000 making a real statement! Sorry guys if you were at Live8, but although that bagged most of the media coverage I suspect the most significant event of the day was the Edinburgh march with far more people turning up than expected and the march around the city going on continuously from 12 noon until 5 or 6pm forming a giant live white band!

Let's hope and pray that the world leaders take notice!!!

Posted: 03 July 2005 at 9:56pm | IP Logged

Hey...you need a freewview box mate....the interactive coverage let you flick between 4 options, one being previous highlights...we caught a bit of of The Eden gig and a bit of Brian Ferry...yeah...it was cool.

Posted: 03 July 2005 at 10:35pm | IP Logged

Well I wouldn't have minded having a shuftie of Neil Young in Barrie, The Cure in Paris, Pet Shop Boys in Moscow, Ennio Morricone and, er, Duran Duran in Rome, and, yes, most of the Berlin gig. 

Did I mention that a-ha were on in Berlin?!? 

(Apparently Morten's earpiece was goosed which detracted rather from their performance, so I don't think I missed much - cue abuse...now!)

Posted: 04 July 2005 at 8:39am | IP Logged

I have to say chaps that apart from one or two cameos the music side of the event was a total let down.

To much use of the F word, Prima Donna's & me me me...!

Typical rock n roll hype - what a shame.