No slot for Albarn at 'Anglo-Saxon' Live 8
Popstar Damon Albarn will not be appearing at a Live 8 event, it was confirmed today.
Earlier this week the Blur and Gorillaz frontman was announced by one of the organisers, Midge Ure, as part of the line-up for the Scottish leg on July 6.
But today a spokesman for Albarn confirmed: “Damon will not be appearing at the Live 8 event on the 6th.”
Earlier today, Albarn voiced criticism of the main British concert in London’s Hyde Park, saying there were not enough black artists on the bill and it was too “Anglo Saxon”.
The Edinburgh event, being held at Murrayfield, is intended to be more eclectic than other Live 8 events with an African influence, according to Ure.
The free concert is timed to coincide with the G8 world leader’s summit and as the climax of the Long Walk to Justice rally.
Ure and Bob Geldof have urged up to a million people to turn up for the march which will take place four days after the other Live 8 concerts in London, Rome, Paris, Philadelphia and Berlin on July 2.
Albarn was not thought to have pulled out of the concert, raising the possibility that he may have been mistakenly announced in the first place.
Earlier today, when asked if he was taking part in Live 8, he said: “No. I am not. I haven’t even been asked.”
