"We're all fockin' conscious of global warming": Bob Geldof points the finger. Photograph: Graham Turner
The arguments against charity concerts have been going on since Live Aid - now Sir Bob Geldof himself has weighed in. Live Earth, the Al Gore-fronted event designed to raise awareness about climate change is, Sir Bob says, a waste of time: "Everybody's known about [the greenhouse problem] for years. We're all fucking conscious of global warming.
"Live Earth doesn't have a final goal", he continued. "I would only organise [a gig like this] if I could go on stage and announce concrete environmental measures from the American presidential candidates, Congress or major corporations. They haven't got those guarantees. So it's just an enormous pop concert or the umpteenth time that, say, Madonna or Coldplay get up on stage." Indeed, Madonna already seems to be using the event as a crafty launch for her new Pharrell Williams-produced material.
Live Earth's spokesman has hit back, claiming that a lot of people still aren't fully aware of the dangers of climate change. Sir Bob's attack also serves as a reminder of what Live8 managed to achieve. Britain and Japan are the only two of the G8 nations that are fulfilling the commitment they made at the 2005 summit, which the concerts were supposed to spotlight. Yesterday, cynics on one music industry message board suggested that the biggest beneficiary of Live8 turned out to be Razorlight's career.
We've discussed whether Live Earth will work on this blog before. Since Bob Geldof's criticisms call into question what benefit gigs are actually meant to do, might Live Earth and the Diana Memorial gig this summer be the concept's last stand?
