AL GORE TWISTS RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS ARMS TO PLAY LIVE EARTH

Anthony Kiedis reveals former Vice President Al Gore personally approached The Red Hot Chili Peppers about performing at Live Earth in July

Bringing together more than 150 of the world’s top musicians for 24 hours of music from 9 concerts across all 7 continents, Live Earth will use the global reach of music to engage people on a mass scale to combat our climate crisis. With the series of concerts taking place on July 7th, 2007 organizers have chosen New York, London, Johannesburg, Rio De Janeiro, Shanghai, Tokyo, Sydney, Hamburg and Istanbul as the 9 locations. Live Earth marks the beginning of a multi-year campaign led by the Alliance for Climate Protection, The Climate Group and other international organizations to drive individuals, corporations and governments to take action to solve global warming. Live Earth founder Kevin Wall, the Worldwide Executive Producer of Live 8, formed a partnership with Al Gore and the Alliance for Climate Protection to ensure that Live Earth inspires behavioral changes long after the concerts take place. Just a few of the bands set to participate in Live Earth will be The Police, Dave Matthews Band, Foo Fighters, Smashing Pumpkins, Roger Waters, Bon Jovi, Alicia Keys, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Genesis, Madonna and Linkin Park.

We caught up with Anthony Kiedis lead vocalist of The Red Hot Chili Peppers to share his thoughts on being approached by Al Gore at The 2007 Grammy Awards, where coincidentally both Gore and The Peppers took home Grammy Awards.

“Al Gore twisted our arm like you wouldn’t believe. He worked whatever magic he has in his little bag right on our heads at The Grammys and he convinced us to go and do it. I’d rather show up and be of service for that cause and know that at least we made an effort, than five years from now to be drowning in a sea of retarded climate problems and think to myself you know I probably should’ve showed up that day back there on July 7th. I’d rather try something than nothing.”

The Sydney, Australia show will begin the program. Crowded House, Jack Johnson, Wolfmother, John Butler Trio, Missy Higgins, Eskimo Joe, Sneaky Sound System, Paul Kelly, Ghostwriters, Toni Collette & The Finish, and Blue King Brown are slated to perform.
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rnThe U.K. show will be held at London’s Wembley Stadium and it will feature performances by: Beastie Boys, Black Eyed Peas, Bloc Party, Corinne Bailey Rae, Damien Rice, David Gray, Duran Duran, Foo Fighters, Genesis, James Blunt, John Legend, Keane, Madonna, Paolo Nutini, Razorlight, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Snow Patrol, and Spinal Tap.rnrnThe U.S. show has been rescheduled for Giants Stadium in E. Rutherford, New Jersey. Performing at the event will be AFI, Akon, Alicia Keys, Bon Jovi, Dave Matthews Band, Fall Out Boy, John Mayer, Kanye West, Kelly Clarkson, KT Tunstall, Ludacris, Melissa Etheridge, Rihanna, Roger Waters, Smashing Pumpkins, and The Police.rnrnThe show in Hamburg, Germany will be held at the HSH Nordbank Arena. Performing at the event will be Chris Cornell, Jan Delay, Juli, Katie Melua, Lotto King Karl, Mana, Michael Mittermeier, Reamonn, Roger Cicero, Sasha, Silbermond, and Snoop Dogg.rnrnThe show in Tokyo, Japan will be held at Makuhari Messe. Performing at the event will be Linkin Park. Live Earth concerts will be broadcast to a live worldwide audience by MSN at www.LiveEarth.MSN.com.