Live 8

The Floyd - back together after 24 years, blowing the young pretenders off the stage with ease. It really doesn't get any better than this. They should have given them a whole 2 hours, after all I'm sure Blair is a fan and it might have swayed things.

I don't care if Gilmour looked uncomfortable (he's looked like that since the early 80s, whoever he's on the stage with), I don't care if he described the experience as "sleeping with the ex-wife", I don't care if nobody would look at Roger, I don't even care if they don't do a proper Farewell Tour. If Pink Floyd ends here then at least they ended it together.

Now, if they were to deliver the aforementioned tour then you'll almost certainly find me in the front row with the inflatable pig. Until then, we can but dream.

Anyway, I watched the whole lot - 10 hours waiting for The Floyd! - and I hate to be disingenuous about a "charity" concert but it was a bit of a cock-up wasn't it? Perhaps it was great at the location itself but it didn't translate very well on the TV. The crowd looked bored/pissed off/catatonic.

The so-called "golden circle" was a bad idea. A football field of PR men, minor celebs (I spotted three ex-BB contestants), family, friends and competition winners. About 80% of them looked like they'd rather be somewhere else. The remaining 20% spent less time jumping up and down and waving their arms in the air than they did taking photos on their mobile phones.

The real fans were about a mile away from the stage. It just seemed to lack the atmosphere and emotion of Live Aid and I'm sure the "VIP" area must have contributed to that. The concert itself was OK with a few weird moments thrown in for good measure.

From what I can remember:

• U2: a good opening, not really a fan. Would have preferred Status Quo to be honest.
• Coldplay: OK, especially the Status Quo bit
• Elton John: what a tart.
• Bill Gates: a storming set
• The Killers/Keane/Travis/Snow Patrol: all these new-fangled bands kinda merge into one
• Bob Geldof: Apparently he was supposed to bring Midge Ure on stage and "forgot". Again! The cut from the stage to Ure's interview with Fearne 'Amazing' Britten said it all really: "That was crap!"
• REM: Michael Stipe is Peter Gabriel in The Story of Zorro
• Snoop Dogg: Is there really any f**king need? He didn't even ask us for any money!
• Joss Stone: I can't stand her, I don't know why but I just get the impression she is a spoilt prima-dona with a weird face.
• Scissor Sisters: "And here's a new song..." Get off, you jokers, before the Floyd find you!
• Velvet Revolver: who the hell booked these jokers? Spinal Tap without the wit.
• Sting: as boring today as he was 20 years ago. That's consistency for you.
• Mariah Carey: the hissy fit over the mic stand will haunt her forever. Good.
• Robbie Williams: say what you like about the little twat, but he knows how to work a crowd
• The Who: not bad. The keyboard solo sounded like early Genesis.
• The Floyd: worth the 10 solid hours of waiting
• The finale: OK, I suppose; the hey Jude sing-a-long descended into a schmaltzy farce, but what do you expect?

The only possible contender for 'best moment' has to be Ricky Gervais' Saskia gag. Poor lass.

And speaking of BB, it's started to degenerate into a soft-core version of Friends. I can't stand it - pure behind the sofa torment. It's like your watching your best mate get a hand-job from a work colleague under the photo-copier.

Stop supplying them with alcohol.

Craig's unrequited love for Anthony is hilarious, and strangely touching, though, and if there was one snog I'd pay to see it would be that one. It probably scores low on "man points" though, so I won't hold my breath.

Comments

[Stu]

You forgot Dido.

The best thing all day.

I'm serious.

Come back ...

[Neil]

Along with everyone else I was queing for the toilet when she was on...

[Kevin Jordan]

I also loved Fearne's "interview" with Robbie a couple of hours before his set. He looked totally rat-arsed and insisted on not talking about Live8 but how he was single, she was single and why didn't they just "get it on" right there and then.

Lovely to see a presenter squirm so much !

[Paul Hayes]

I thought Robbie Williams was very good. Can't believe Geldof (who snuck on despite Goldsmith trying to keep him off, havign secretly agreed to use Travis's gear) did the "The lesson today is how to die" pause again. Much like most of the rest of the concert, something of a re-heated souffle.

I was disappointed they didn't show anything of the PSB in Moscow, either, at least not during the bits I was watching.

[Stu]

Actually the PSB turned up in the highlights package at about 3 am -- yep, I was there right to the end ... although apparently, if you had Sky you could tune into any of the concerts as they were on interactively ...

[Paul Hayes]

Was their set any good? What did they play?

[Paul Hayes]

Actually, I just found the report on their official website - should have looked there earlier:

"Live 8 in Moscow - 3 July '05
Pet Shop Boys played in Moscow last night at the conclusion of the Russian Live 8 concert in Red Square.

After a series of Russian bands had performed, at 10 pm (local time) Pet Shop Boys took to the stage situated at the side of the Kremlin and in front of St Basil’s Cathedral and, having been asked to perform for 45 minutes, this was their set list:

It’s a sin
Suburbia
Opportunities
Domino dancing
New York City boy
Always on my mind
Where the streets have no name (I can’t take my eyes of you)
West End girls
Left to my own devices
Go West

Joining Chris and Neil onstage were Sylvia Mason-James (vocals), Mark Refoy (guitars) and Dawne Adams (percussion). Live sound was mixed by Pete Gleadall. After the final song, everyone left the stage assuming the show was over but most of the audience refused to leave so Pet Shop Boys returned and performed “It’s a sin” for a second time!"