The Live Eight concerts are underway as hundreds of the top names in popular music appear in nine countries today-Saturday to draw attention to the plight of the poor in Africa.
Former Beatle Paul McCartney kicked off London's version of the concert in Hyde Park with "Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." The city's line up also includes a performance by U2 leader, Bono.
The concerts began in Tokyo earlier today-Saturday with Icelandic singer Bjork, the British band McFly and U.S. rockers Good Charlotte.
Live Eight is a more ambitious version of the Live Aid concert held in two countries in 1985, but its goal is not to raise money. Some 150 of the most accomplished entertainers are performing on four continents.
Tokyo, London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Moscow, Johannesburg and Philadelphia. There will also be performances in Cornwall in England and the Canadian town of Barrie, north of Toronto.
Organizer Bob Geldof is pressing leaders of the world's seven top industrial nations and Russia to do more to eliminate poverty in Africa at their summit next week.
Information for this report is provided by AP and AFP.
