BLATHER REVIEW

And in other news...

This was posted as an exclusive over at Drudge yesterday but is no longer there. (Luckily I went to sleep with the page still on my monitor, heh.)

LIVE 8 founder Bob Geldof is determined to see his international concerts stay focused on the plight of Africa's poor -- and not fall into cliched Bush bashing and global warming rhetoric!

Geldof has ordered show organizers and producers to redouble all efforts to keep LIVE 8 performers "on message" during the July 2 event, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.

"Please remember, absolutely no ranting and raving about Bush or Blair and the Iraq war, this is not why you have been invited to appear," Geldoff said to the manager of a top recording artist, who asked not to be identified. "We want to bring Mr. Bush in, not run him away."

[Geldof tells next week's TIME magazine how Bush "has actually done more than any American President for Africa ."]

Bob wants the message to be Africa and nothing else. Can't blame him, of course, but you just know that some of these artists are gonna mistake their musical talent for expertise in global politics and take the opportunity to presumptuously spout off from their soapbox about everything under the global warming sun.

"Bob wants no attention on global warming, or the war," the manager warns, "He is very determined, he does not want to lose control of the message... But we have the most unpopular American president since Nixon, soldiers are dying... you are going to see some righteous anger on stage."

...whether it's off-topic or not. @#$% concert trolls...
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LIVE 8 will be a series of free international concerts with unprecedented star power.

Will Smith is host of a hip-hop-heavy show in Philly with 50 Cent and P Diddy headlining; Pink Floyd and the Sex Pistols will reunite in London on the same bill as U2, Coldplay, Keane, Madonna, Elton John, Mariah Carey, Sting and Paul McCartney. Concerts will also be held in Paris, Berlin and Rome.

BBC and AOL plan live broadcast and streaming worldwide.

But here's the cool part:

[FOOTNOTE: U2's Bono

has been attacked by his rock peers for associating with Bush and Blair. Fellow Irish star Sinead O'Connor

says, "I think you risk losing your credibility by going to a party at Downing Street. I would draw a line at drinking wine and eating cheese with the Prime Minister."]

Oh, Sinead, Sinead, Sinead. Will you ever grow up?

Bono talks to Bush and Blair because he actually has some credibility. Bob Geldoff and Bono understand what you've yet to learn; that in order to bring the house into order you have to go inside. Y'wanna be little Miss Rebel and shout from beyond the walls that's fine, stay there. But, Geldoff and Bono can do something that you'll never be able to do so long as you have that silly only-outsiders-have-credibility attitude: actually accomplish something.

Geldoff gets it. Bono gets it. Sinead? Honey? Shuddup.

Posted by Tuning Spork at June 21, 2005 08:01 PM