Look To The Stars News: Live 8

Glee Stars Cover Do They Know It's Christmas For Charity

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 13:00:00 +0000

In the spirit of the holiday season, Glee will donate 100% of the net monies from the sales of their version of Band Aid’s 1984 hit “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” to The Band Aid Trust.

The Band Aid Trust, a registered British charity since 1985, has raised in excess of 190 million dollars to support projects designed to make a lasting difference in Ethiopia, Somalia and surrounding countries in East Africa. This includes the construction of schools, hospitals, boreholes, wells, rain-water harvesting facilities and latrines, as well as food security, hygiene, sanitation, livelihood diversification and income generating activities, training in-country for teachers, doctors and nurses, assistance for those living with HIV/AIDS, and emergency interventions such as nutrition screening programs, seed and animal distribution and the procurement of emergency food aid to treat severely malnourished children and adults.

By July 1985, over $6 million had been spent on buying and transporting food, shelter, medical supplies, water equipment and other essential items to famine victims Ethiopia and Sudan.

Paul McCartney To Be Honored As 2012 MusiCares Person Of The Year

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 19:30:00 +0000

Paul McCartney, legendary singer/songwriter and 14-time GRAMMY winner (as well as Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement and Trustees Award recipient), will be honored as the 2012 MusiCares Person of the Year at its 22nd annual benefit gala, it was announced today by Neil Portnow, President/CEO of the MusiCares Foundation and The Recording Academy, and Scott Pascucci, Chair of the MusiCares Foundation Board.

Proceeds from the dinner and concert — to be held in Los Angeles during GRAMMY Week on Friday, Feb. 10, 2012, two days prior to the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards — will provide essential support for MusiCares, which ensures that music people have a place to turn in times of financial, medical and personal need.

The legendary performer is being honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year in recognition of his singular creative accomplishments as well as his charitable work, which has included an extraordinary range of philanthropic activities over the years.

Pink Floyd May Reunite For Charity

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason has announced that the iconic British band could reunite for charity.

The group, who last performed at the Live 8 concert in 2005, have been inactive for a number of years – but Mason says the right cause could prompt them to put aside their differences.

“I think all of us would like the idea of repeating the Live 8 concept… something that’s not necessarily for us, but do something for the right reasons and enjoy doing it,” he said. “I think it would be a very nice way for a band to gently move towards retirement, by doing shows absolutely for charity rather than for more income.”

Pink Floyd Legends Reunite For Charity

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 13:00:00 +0000

A star-studded line-up hit the stage in Oxfordshire, UK, on Saturday to raise money for Palestinian children.

The concert – which benefited the HOPING Foundation – saw performances by Tom Jones, Nick Cave (joined by Kate Moss on tambourine), and a reuniting of Pink Floyd legends David Gilmour and Roger Waters.

The Pink Floyd reunion was a highlight for many, and marked the first time the rockers have played together since the Live 8 concert in Hyde Park five years ago. And as a special treat for Floyd fans, the duo started their set with a rendition of Phil Specktor’s To Know Him Is To Love Him, a regular feature of Pink Floyd sound checks for many years that is rarely heard by the public.

Paul McCartney To Stream Concert Online For Charity

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy and The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria are proud to announce that singer/songwriter Paul McCartney is throwing his support behind the BORN HIV FREE campaign.

His performance this weekend at Hard Rock Calling 2010 will be exclusively available through the BORN HIV FREE YouTube channel around 8:30pm GMT (2:30pm E.T) on Sunday, June 27.

McCartney’s concert from London’s Hyde Park will be the first musical performance streamed globally from Europe on YouTube. It will remain in the BORN HIV FREE YouTube channel for a month after the show, giving people who want to watch it again or view it for the first time a chance to do so. Visitors to the channel will also be able to learn more about Born HIV FREE and sign up to show their support for the campaign.

Bryan Adams To Receive Charity Award At Junos

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Bryan Adams will receive the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award at this year’s Juno Awards on Sunday night.

The Award recognizes an outstanding Canadian artist whose humanitarian contributions have positively enhanced the social fabric of Canada.

Since the early days of his music career, Adams has been at the forefront of fundraising and social awareness events from Amnesty International “A Conspiracy of Hope” and Rock for Amnesty Tours, Live Aid, Live 8 and One Night Live. In 1985 Adams co-wrote and took part in the recording of “Tears Are Not Enough,” Canada’s song to help raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia.

Stevie Wonder Named As United Nations Messenger Of Peace

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:00:00 +0000

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has designated Grammy Award-winning songwriter and musician Stevie Wonder as a United Nations Messenger of Peace with a special focus on people with disabilities.

Recognized for his ability to focus attention on and mobilize support for civil and human rights issues, Stevie Wonder joins ten other United Nations Messengers of Peace who advocate on behalf of the Organization.

Messengers of Peace are individuals who possess widely recognized talents in the fields of art, academia, literature, sports and entertainment, helping to raise worldwide awareness of the Organization’s ideals and activities. Through their public appearances, contacts with the international media and humanitarian work, they expand public understanding of how the United Nations helps to improve the lives of people everywhere.

World Cup To Begin With Charity Concert

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0000

A major charity concert event is being planned to kick off the 2010 Football World Cup in South Africa next June.

The lineup will not be released until January, but the BBC has reported rumors that the Spice Girls may reform for the gig, to take place on 10 June at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto, Johannesburg.

The show will be produced by Kevin Wall – who was behind the Live 8 and Live Earth concerts.

Bob Geldof Explains His Turning Points

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Sir Bob Geldof has revealed some of the turning points in his life that led to his charity work.

In a new book – Turning Points by Julia Ogilvy – Geldof talks candidly about losing his mother to a brain haemorrhage when he was just seven years old.

“It was so out of the blue, you know – there was no warning or lingering illness. Just bang… It’s unbearable to be that small and to have to take care of yourself. At the time, you just get on with it and it becomes routine to shop, to cook and to get the coal from the basement to light the fire. It was c**p coming home alone.

Band Aid Founder Awarded Honorary Degree

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 12:00:00 +0000

Midge Ure – the musician who helped Bob Geldof organize Band Aid and co-wrote Do They Know It’s Christmas? – has received an honorary doctorate for his humanitarian work.

The 55-year-old former singer for Ultravox was presented with the degree at Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland, an honor that follows similar awards from universities in Edinburgh, Abertay and Paisley.

Ure – who was awarded with an OBE in 2005 – is still a member of the Band Aid Trust and still gives his time to organizing benefit events, such as Geldof’s Live 8 events three years ago.

Sir Bob Geldof Honored For Music And Humanitarian Work

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:00:00 +0000

Sir Bob Geldof has been awarded an honorary doctorate for his contribution to music and humanitarian causes.

The 54-year-old legend behind Band Aid, Live Aid, Live 8, and a host of other major humanitarian initiatives received the degree at the University of East London yesterday.

A spokesman for the university said Sir Bob was chosen to receive the doctorate because of his “unique success in harnessing the power of popular music to raise funds and awareness of key global issues, and changing the lives of people worldwide”.

Photo Auction For Third World Relief

Tue, 07 Mar 2006 19:33:02 +0000

Avril Lavigne, Céline Dion and Alanis Morissette are among Canadian musicians taking part in the Art Gives Hope: A Decade of Music Portraits exhibit in Toronto.

Inspired by the Live 8 concerts, photographer Andrew MacNaughtan hopes that his prints will raise at least $100,000 for World Vision Canada, where the funds will go to families living with HIV/AIDS in Africa. He also would like fans of the artists to become active in bringing about social change in Third World nations.

Peace Prize Nominees

Thu, 02 Mar 2006 13:15:36 +0000

Bob Geldof and Bono are among 191 nominees for the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize.

Both were nominated for their efforts in eliminating world poverty; Geldof for his organization of the Live 8 concerts, and Bono for his campaigning against the condition.