Live 8 invokes fond memories of Live Aid

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Live Aid was so quickly organized on July 13, 1985, as a once-only live broadcast, that the CDs and DVDs of it were only made after "grade B" tapes of the shows were found and upgraded.

Some performances were lost that day because of satellite or power failures. When a generator blew up during the Who's performance, only two of its four songs were broadcast.

Today's DVDs don't include the hit "Rat Trap" by Geldof's Boomtown Rats because in his excitement he wrenched the microphone cable from its socket and his vocals were lost.

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On July 2, the Live 8 concerts in London, Philadelphia, Paris, Berlin and Rome are likely to be better organized when they are held in smaller venues such as Philadelphia's Museum of Art.

Live Aid stars back for Live 8
Seven of the Live Aid stars will be back: Elton John, Madonna, McCartney, Sting, U2, Geldolf and Duran Duran. All of them except Duran Duran will perform at the show in London's Hyde Park, which also will include Coldplay, Dido, Robbie Williams, R.E.M. and Mariah Carey.

Live 8 is being held just before a summit by the Group of Eight industrialized nations in Scotland with the express purpose of trying to get the leaders to increase aid to Africa, which remains very poor.

Geldof is famous for speaking bluntly to world leaders about the help the continent needs, and for criticizing corruption in some African countries that has been an obstacle to fundraising. He also has acknowledged that even people who donate money to Africa and sympathize with its needs can suffer compassion fatigue.

But Geldof hopes that the Live 8 concerts, protests expected during the G-8 summit, and calls for more aid to Africa by British Prime Minister Tony Blair and U2 singer Bono can once again make fundraising for Africa a worldwide priority.

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