Live 8 Hello Magazine special and Geldof Nobel nomination
Written by Matt   
Thursday, 07 July 2005

Not normally on a Pink Floyd fan's required reading list, this week's UK edition of Hello Magazine is a notable exception. The magazine, with a cover date of July 14th, has a huge feature on Live 8, with 30 pages of coverage.

They have a large number of exclusive backstage portraits, and on-stage action. Amongst the portraits is a lovely picture of Roger Waters arm-in-arm with his old bandmates.

The magazine has plenty of narrative, and pictures of, many of the artists involved in the show. There are also the expected pictures of the "beautiful" people who seem to spend their lives at the right parties, but that's what you expect from Hello, I guess! The magazine is out now, and will only be available for one week.

In other news, Bob Geldof, hero to many, has been nominated for the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for his work on behalf of debt relief and financial aid to Africa. Norwegian parliamentarian Jan Simonsen made the nomination on Wednesday, according to a BBC News report, singling out Geldof's tireless efforts to help the world's poorest nations.

Simonsen said: "Bob Geldof took the initiative in July 2005 to arrange a string of rock concerts to focus on the problems of poor nations, and pressure the world's leading politicians to take actions in fighting poverty."

Geldof was nominated for a Nobel Prize in 1986 for his work on Live Aid, which raised more than $100 million for African famine relief. He received many awards for this work, including an honorary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II (as a non-British subject, the Irish-born Geldof was legally precluded from being awarded a full knighthood and use of the title "Sir").