The Sound of the Crowd

Even I think this is too PC

Bob Geldof revealed last night that he has enlisted fellow musician Peter Gabriel to find African acts for Live8, defusing a damaging row about the continent’s acts being excluded from the main show.

Blur frontman Damon Albarn and broadcaster Andy Kershaw are among those who have denounced the global 2 July concerts for snubbing African performers</b>.

Live-Aid was critisized for the same thing, and it was just as misguided then. It wasn’t about a self-esteem clinic for African musicians, it was about raising money.

More popular bands raise the most money, and (sorry) the most poular bands tend to be Americans and Europeans. How many million-selling African artists are there?

As Geldof said at the time, if Bob Marley were alive he’d be on his knees begging him to play, but…


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