Summary
IAIN MACWHIRTER argues that despite the big egos involved and the power hunger of the key players, there's a lot more to the G8 protests than the Spice Girls reforming, or Gordon Brown's career for that matter DOES the Spice Girls reforming do anything for anyone other the Spice Girls? Isn't it obscene for multimillionaire pop stars to be weeping stage tears over the starving? Isn't Bob Geldof just a superannuated punk who has swapped a failed pop career for an equally lucrative role as the world's conscience?
It's very easy to diss the "Live 8" extravaganza and people have been dissing it all week, from Janet StreetPorter to Clare Short. The event has even been accused of racism. Geldof has taken White Band Day a little too literally and filled the concert programme with white Western pop groups to the chagrin of the many African musicians who would have liked a bit of exposure on the greatest show on Earth.See the full content of this document
Extract
Real Progress Is Worth Marching for Powerplay
So, is Bob Geldof the world's greatest philanthropic impresario or the world's greatest con man? I suspect he isn't entirely sure himself. He is certainly no saint and has never pretended to be.
The ex-Boomtown Rat is impulsive, foul-mouthed, inconsistent, unpredictable, self-absorbed, and, I suppose, irresponsible in calling for kids ...See the full content of this document
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