Live 8 is a series of 10 concerts that took place around the globe on July 2, 2005. The name is a play on G8 — the leaders of the world's top eight industrialized nations, who were set to hold their annual conference later the same week in Scotland. The stated aim of Live 8 was to draw the G8's attention to the plight of poor African countries and seek debt relief, trade benefits and $25 billion in aid for them.

Hundreds of big-name performers took part in the event, which took place in London, Cornwall, Philadelphia, Ontario, Versailles Palace, Rome, Berlin, Tokyo, Moscow and Johannesburg. Also in attendance were Bill Gates, Kofi Annan and Nelson Mandela.

The project was put together by Bob Geldof, who also organized Live Aid, a similar endeavor for famine relief that took place 20 years previously.

Last updated: July 04, 2005.

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