As to whether Live 8 would have any effect on the G-8 leaders, Matthews said backstage, “I think they’re aware of what’s going on, and judging from President’s Bush’s speech, he’s moving in the right direction. We want him ... to move a little bit further,” he said.

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Introducing it as especially appropriate, Maroon 5 played a version of “Keep on Rockin’ in the Free World” by Neil Young, who was to conclude the Canada concert.

Country singer Keith Urban also played the cover card, performing Phil Collins’ “Another Day in Paradise,” while the not-exactly-current Def Leppard were sure to play their old favorite, “Pour Some Sugar on Me.”

The day’s acts were punctuated by celebrities (including Natalie Portman, Jennifer Connelly and Richard Gere) who further reminded the audience of the cause with statistics and ways to petition.

Image: Dave Matthews
Carolyn Kaster / AP
Shown on a video screen behind the band, lead singer Dave Matthews of the Dave Matthews Band performs during the Live 8 concert in Philadelphia on Saturday.

“Today’s gathering is not about charity, it’s about humanity,” said “Rush Hour” actor Chris Tucker.

Also in attendance were celebrities ranging from the Rev. Al Sharpton to Anna Nicole Smith, plus performers Alicia Keys, Destiny’s Child, Toby Keith, Sarah McLachlan, Jars of Clay and Rob Thomas.

Fans stormed down the parkway just before 6 a.m. and pressed as far forward as possible, but only those closest to the front were able to see the stage. The less fortunate were treated to giant screen broadcasts of the concert, along with clips from the other cities.

Organizers and performers said as many as one million fans were there, but that was impossible to verify and seemed overblown, with several hundred thousand seeming more accurate. Police declined to provide an estimate.

Bon Jovi performed “Living on a Prayer” after being introduced by actor Don Cheadle as hailing from “the most exotic of locales” — New Jersey.

“An amazing event,” Cheadle said backstage. “Hopefully it will light a fuse that will continue to go for years and years.”

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