The "Live 8" concerts aimed at rallying worldwide support for African aid and debt relief are under way with the first show in Tokyo.
| Boy band McFLY performs on the stage during the Live 8 Japan concert in Tokyo, Saturday |
Live 8 is an expanded version of the Live Aid musical event produced in 1985, and will be performed in 10 cities on four continents.
Some 150 musical acts perform Saturday in Tokyo, London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Moscow, Johannesburg and Philadelphia, as well as Cornwall in England, and the Canadian town of Barrie, north of Toronto.
The event is timed to precede next week's Group of Eight summit in Scotland, where world leaders are expected to discuss ways of reducing poverty in Africa.
"Live 8" organizers hope to attract two billion viewers through television, satellite and video cell phones.
Some informatino for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.