Cochrane Kicks Off Canada's Live 8 Concert

07/02/2005 5:02 PM, AP


Canadian favorite Tom Cochrane kicked off Canada's Live 8 concert with "Life is a Highway" before 35,000 roaring fans, moving the global event into North America.

Concertgoers also sang along with Bryan Adams, jumped and bodysurfed to A Simple Plan and heard local favorite Bruce Cockburn pull out his catalogue of hits.

Live 8, which is intended to encourage increased aid for Africa, started off Saturday in Japan, then worked its way across Africa and Europe. The other North American venue, Philadelphia, started an hour later than the concert in Barrie, about 50 miles north of Toronto.

Thousands of pairs of arms went up at noon as concertgoers in Canada joined others around the world and followed actor and musician Will Smith's lead from a satellite feed from Philadelphia, snapping their fingers their fingers every three seconds to mark a death in Africa.

But the taped performance of Quebec diva Celine Dion had some detractors.

"She could have afforded to fly," remarked a disappointed Liz Tomassetti, who otherwise rated the show as "excellent".

Before starting the concert, Cochrane called on Canadians to make a donation and called on Prime Minister Paul Martin to increase aid for poverty stricken Africa.

"I think that he has to realize that there are a lot of Canadians that really want something done," he said.

Just after Cochrane spoke the gates opened and hundreds of fans, some who slept out over night, ran onto the grounds of Park Place to get the choice spots.

"Canadians care! Canadians care!" Host Dan Aykroyd cried to the fans before Cochrane took to the stage.

Located away from large urban centers and drawing a limited crowd, Canada's Live 8 concert offered music fans a more intimate experience and the return of native son Neil Young.

Toronto-born Young, 59, a late addition to the event, was marking his return on stage three months after being treated for a brain aneurysm.

Some 35,000 fans heard a collection of mainly Canadian artists such as the Barenaked Ladies and The Tragically Hip, joined by guests DMC and Motley Crue in the small town of Barrie.

The Canadian concert, hosted by Aykroyd and Tom Green, was a late addition to the world-wide event to raise awareness for poverty in Africa after organizers were pleased by the response from European countries and the United States.

Organizer Bob Geldof said Canada is in better position to increase aid to Africa because it has enjoyed years of budget surpluses.

"Today we are part of the biggest rock concert in history," Adams told the crowd. "We're seeing people power. I believe in that."

Concertgoers lined up two hours before the 11 a.m. start.

"I do not know if it is going to bring anything, but now everybody talks about it, so it is good," said Brent Johnson, 30, who lives west of Toronto.

The giant stage was flanked with two Live 8 banners featuring the golden guitar logo over a Canadian flag. They read: "We don't want your money. We want your voice."