Stars to play Wembley climate change gig

Updated 12.14 Tue Apr 10 2007

Keywords: James Blunt, Foo Fighters, David Gray, Damien Rice, Corinne Bailey Rae, Bloc Party, Beastie Boys, Genesis, Black Eyed Peas, Duran Duran, Snow Patrol, Keane, Razorlight, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Madonna, Live Earth, Wembley, entertainment, John Legend, Paolo Nutini

Madonna, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Razorlight will be the main attractions at the Live Earth concert in July at Wembley.

More than 100 acts will take part in concerts around the world to highlight the threat caused by climate change.

"We hope Live Earth will launch a global campaign giving a critical mass of people around the world the tools they need to help solve the climate crisis" - Al Gore

Keane, Snow Patrol, Duran Duran, the Black Eyed Peas and Genesis will also perform at the London gig, while there will also be events in Shanghai, Johannesburg and Sydney, and other concerts in Japan, Brazil and America.

Live Earth founder Kevin Wall said: "This monster line-up will ensure Live Earth meets our goal of bringing together people from around the world to combat the climate crisis.

"Live Earth will not only span all seven continents, but the musicians who have answered our call span multiple genres and generations."

The Beastie Boys, Bloc Party, Corinne Bailey Rae, Damien Rice, David Gray, the Foo Fighters, James Blunt, John Legend and Paolo Nutini are also confirmed for the Wembley gig.

Organisers hope more than two billion people will be able to tune in to coverage of the 24-hour event on television, radio and online.

The concerts will form part of the SOS (Save Our Selves) global publicity on climate change headed by former US vice-president Al Gore and the proceeds will create a foundation to combat climate change led by The Alliance for Climate Protection, which is currently chaired by Mr Gore.

He said: "By attracting an audience of billions we hope Live Earth will launch a global campaign giving a critical mass of people around the world the tools they need to help solve the climate crisis.

"But ultimately, corporations and governments must become global leaders taking decisive action to stop global warming."

Registration for tickets to Live Earth London, which will all be priced at £55, will open at midday on Friday, April 13 and close at midday on Monday, April 16.

Organisers are expecting overwhelming demand for the concert and will be allocating tickets by ballot, with successful buyers notified on Wednesday, April 18 about how to purchase their tickets.

Mr Wall also announced that Live Earth will stage gigs at Sydney's Aussie Stadium, Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana Beach, Johannesburg's Cradle of Human Kind, Japan's Tokyo Stadium, and the Steps of the Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai.

The line-up and venue for the American concert will be announced later.