Bono, Peter Gabriel, Beyonce Featured in AIDS Benefit Concert
Bono from U2, Eurythmics, Beyonce, Peter Gabriel, and Queen surviving members are some of the acts who will be appearing at an AIDS benefit concert backed by Nelson Mandela. The concert, which has been named “46664,” will take place on November 29 in South Africa.
Other performers will include Zola and Zucchero, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Yusif Islam (the former Cat Stevens), Youssou N’Dour, Watershed, The Corrs, Ready D, Paul Oakenfold, Ms Dynamite, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Sipho Mchunu & Johnny Clegg, Jimmy Cliff, Gary Mudbone Cooper, Danny K, Bongo Maffin, Baaba Maal, Angelique Kidjo, Anastacia and Abdel Wright.
Organizers are claiming that the concert of three hours is going to be media history’s most widely distributed event. The potential audience from 166 countries could exceed 2 billion people. The concert will be simulcast from the event’s website from Greenpoint Stadium in Cape Town.
According to organizers for the event, the show is going to be broadcast live from SABC network in South Africa as well as 71 member stations of the European Broadcasting Union. BBC World Service is going to be broadcasting the convert live over radio in 14 different language. On December 1, World AIDS Day, Worldwide MTV network stations will be premiering the concert.
Brian May and Roger Taylor of Queen are among the musicians who are already in Cape Town to perform in the concert. Frontman for Queen, Freddie Mercury, 12 years ago died of AIDS. May in a statement said, Anastacia said she wants to perform a set along with us for a Freddie tribute.
The concerts will be raising funds for AIDS work done by Nelson Mandela’s Foundation through donations given online and via the telephone. Phone numbers will be provide during the broadcasts of the concerts.
46664 was Mandela’s prison number and is also a song title written by Joe Strummer, Dave Stewart from the Eurythmics and Bono.
Originally the concert was gong to be held on February 2 at Robbin Island, where the South African prison where Mandela was incarcerated for 18 years is located. However due to problems with the contract it was canceled.