Live 8: Eight and Counting

06/16/2005 1:54 PM, E! Online
Josh Grossberg

Eight isn't nearly enough for Bob Geldof.

The charity rocker behind the massive Live 8 shows aimed at raising awareness in industrial countries of the problems in the Third World revealed on Thursday plans to stage three more mega-concerts in Tokyo, Toronto and Johannesburg on July 2.

The late additions bring the total number of Live 8 shows on that date to eight (the new cities join London, Philadelphia, Rome, Paris and Berlin). There's also a ninth concert July 6 in Edinburgh.

No word yet on the bill for the Tokyo, Toronto and Johannesburg gigs. The acts are expected to be announced Friday, with the free tickets being distributed via the same text-messaging lottery system as used for the other cities.

Geldof, who has been taking some heat for the dearth of African musicians initially participating in the concerts--especially since the shows are geared to aiding African nations, told British media Thursday that the South African event had been in the works for some time and will include an appearance by the country's iconic former president, Nelson Mandela. As for the Japan and Canada concerts, Geldof says they came about more recently.

"Three weeks ago Europe agreed, unbelievably, to double aid, throwing the ball back to the Yanks [Americans], the Japanese and the Canadians," the former Boomtown Rat said Thursday after receiving an honorary degree in his hometown of Dublin. "So that forced me now to do, which I didn't want to do, a concert in Tokyo [and Toronto] which we are announcing tomorrow."

The additions of Japan and Canada nearly fulfill Geldof's original vision of staging shows in each of the G8 countries, which represent the world's wealthiest nations. The G8 is made up of the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada and Russia, and also includes the European Union. Russia is the only member nation that doesn't yet have a Live 8 concert planned.

Topping the list of big-name performers scheduled to play the July 2 concerts are Paul McCartney, U2, Coldplay, Madonna and a reunited Pink Floyd in London; Dave Matthews Band, Bon Jovi, Stevie Wonder, Will Smith, Sarah McLachlan, Jay-Z and P. Diddy in Philadelphia; Jamiroquai, Placebo and Andrea Bocelli in Paris; Lauryn Hill, Brian Wilson and Crosby, Stills and Nash in Berlin; and Duran Duran, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw in Rome. The Edinburgh show will include sets from Annie Lennox, Dido and Travis.

Rap star 50 Cent, who was slated for the Philadelphia show, was forced to pull out yesterday after a conflict arose with the filming of his new movie, Get Rich or Die Tryin', which is shooting in Canada. No word if he plans to try to make the Toronto show.

Meanwhile, Peter Gabriel is staging a Live 8 offshoot in England featuring mostly African artists. The move comes in response to criticism, most notably from Blur and Gorillaz singer Damon Albarn, that Geldof's shows were not all-inclusive.

"If you're holding a party on behalf of people you don't shut the door on them--it perpetuates this idea that Africa is separate," Albarn was quoted as saying last week.

Gabriel's effort, titled Africa Calling, will coincide with the Live 8 shows on July 2 and take place in southwest England. The roster includes such artists as Senagalese star Youssou N'Dour.

"Bob's sole criteria is that he has to keep millions of eyes around the world glued to the television and he felt if it was some remote part of China or Latin America, if it was an unknown artist...people might switch off," Gabriel told Britain's Sky TV Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Geldof reiterated that the recently acquitted Michael Jackson will not be invited to any of the Live 8 shows.

Geldof told Reuters that even if Jackson approached him, "I'd say 'Dude, there's plenty of time. I don't think you should really put yourself through something as strenuous as Live 8 at such a fragile state in your life.' "