I find it all hypocritical... I cannot describe how offense that "Christmas" song is... singing about "Do They Know It's Christmas" and all that rot. I think it's offensive to the people in Africa!!! Hero complexes all over the place... shucks man.

I don't want to sound bitter, it's just I think the idea of someone name 'Sir' a title from a country that colonised the developing world mercilessly, racked up the situations leading to intense poverty, cannot really understand... how can you sing about conditions you haven't experienced. How can you attack poverty if you live in a mansion, mate? You've touched a personal nerve with this one, as I've gotten into arguments with people over this.... I always get these looks like I should be appreciating Geldof, but I think he's a hypocrite.

Al, great points. David Gilmour seems to be setting a different stance

Pink Floyd's David Gilmour has called on his fellow Live8 artists to give any profits they make from the show to charity.
....
He announced that he would not profit from the Hyde Park concert as it emerged that some acts saw their album sales rise by more than 1,000 per cent in one day thanks to their performances on Saturday.
....
Woolworths music boss Jim Batchelor said: 'Our stores have been inundated with customers wanting CDs of the Live8 artists and we are busy re-ordering back catalogue titles.'

HMV's Gennaro Castaldo added: 'It's likely this impact will become more pronounced through the week, as more fans respond to the combined efforts of the weekend's televised event, the G8 summit and all the ensuing publicity.'

According to HMV, sales of Pink Floyd's 'best of' album Echoes went up by 1,343 per cent. Sales of albums by the Who rose by 863 per cent, Annie Lennox by 500 per cent, Dido by 412 per cent, Razorlight by 335 per cent and Robbie Williams by 320 per cent.

Great article Al - it's high time the cynics put these pompous politically correct jerkoffs in their place. What gives these spoiled scumbag artists the right to talk down to people and appoint themselves unofficial representatives of the world.

Just because we listen to your music assholes doesn't mean we have to listen to a damn word you have to say.

The Al Barger's sneering derision of Live8 is a testament to succes of the event. As Gandhi said: First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you....then you win.

Laugh away....on to the next stage.

At least you spelled Gandhi's name correctly. I have to give you credit for that, Steve.

But seriously, I hope you're right. I hope this really is the beginning of the end for absolute poverty. It's long past time we banished extreme poverty to the dustheap of history.

Sadly there is still a great deal of work ahead in that struggle. I hope you and those who share your views are willing to keep it up for as long as it takes.

I think Live 8 was a great Idea..a great show for a great purpose. I can't figure out why bloggers just can't side with doing good. I'm appalled at the rhetoric and spatting going on especially in conservative circle. I consider myself a conservative yet I don't agree at all with them on this one.Perhaps blogsters simply take their own opinions far too seriously. Myself included.

BTW I think Chris Martin was right. It was the greatest rock show ever organized. Sorry but that's the truth.

Peace and Al Barger needs to chill and do right!

Joe, bloggers are probably all in favor of doing good. The point Al is making is that Live 8 didn't do any real good except "raise awareness" of poverty. As if nobody had any idea that there was poverty in the world until a bunch of musicians told us so.

heh, heh, Church Lady's got a point.

I dunno, I try not to be cynical, but Geldof's competitive altruism makes me cringe. It's the combination of egoistic fervor, condescension, and ultimately, ignorance, that is most bewildering.

Maybe Geldof should seek therapy. Or at least have a conversation with this African:

http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/spiegel/0,1518,363663,00.html

I wonder what was wrong with the comment I left here before? Censored?

never mind

Contrary to what Geldorf, Bono or any other Live8 celebrity thinks (and why would anyone care what a celebrity thinks anyway?), Africa is a an immensely wealthy place: gold, rubber diamonds, oil, copper, etc, etc, etc. But guess what? It is run by a bunch of thug crimminals, murderous tribal chieftans, warlords and religious zealots. Not to mention your average bad guy dictators and their military henchmen. Until these people are stopped -- and I do mean by any means possible -- no amount of money or debt relief or celebrity endorsemnts will end the suffering.