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Daily Mirror
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Bob Geldof tells why, 40 years on, Live Aid, wouldn't work today
As Live Aid celebrates its 40th anniversary, Sir Bob Geldof has told how it wouldn't work as a fund-raiser today because rock'n'roll no longer has the currency it did in the 1980s. And the Boomtown Rats star, who was knighted for his 1985 effort to raise money for starving victims of the Ethiopian famine, also claimed there was 'no such thing' as white saviour complex, and dismissed criticism that the event, which raised £350m in today's money, should have had more black British artists performing. 'Rock'n'roll was so powerful it was beyond language,' he explained. 'When Little Richard said 'a wop bop a loo bop, a wop bam boo' we all knew what he meant and by 1985 the entire world used the common language of rock 'n' roll. 'It won't happen again because this sort of thing isn't romantic any more, it's not a thing,' he said. 'Rock'n'roll is the most powerful art there has ever been - but it has ceased to be the spine of our culture, it was of the moment and could transmit an idea to the game-changing part of the population, but I'm not sure that exists now. 'The Six O'Clock News was a communal event - the news now is broken up, the algorithm is an echo-chamber of your own prejudices. It's sh*t and its dangerous but it can be used brilliantly.' Speaking after a BAFTA screening of a new BBC documentary to celebrate Live Aid's milestone anniversary, Sir Bob said it was up to others now to come up with new 'mad and fun' ideas, but added: 'Taylor Swift is a phenomenon. You could do one just with the women. That would be very effective.' Sir Bob, 73, said that complaints about 'white saviour complex' infuriated him, claiming it was a 'cultural artefact' that didn't exist. 'There isn't such a thing,' he told BBC journalist Maryam Moshiri, who interviewed him at the event. 'You can f*** off! It's nonsense. To pay lip service to this tripe is belittling. 'It was about 32 million people dying, live on TV, in a world of surplus food. Millions of people are alive today because us lot watched a f***ing pop concert. That's nuts. It's disgraceful.' He said that critics, including a journalist from The Voice who appears in the three-part series, were wrong to say there should have been more black British artists involved. 'It wasn't about black representation, it was about getting the artists who sold the most records so we could raise the most money,' he insisted. 'It was about stopping people from dying. 'That man from The Voice - name the band we should have had? Imagination and Aswad? They weren't huge. They sold 80,000 records, so do I take them, or the ones that sold 20million? These bands were not big enough.' Sir Bob also revealed that watching Michael Buerk's famous BBC news report, shot by cameraman Mohamed Amin, still makes him emotional. 'If I see that footage again, it makes me cry - it still bothers me a lot. It's won endless awards - it goes to, particularly in this day and age, reporting the truth, showing it how it is. "I remember Michael's report verbatim simply because the words were so well chosen. And Mo Amin's pitiless, cyclops eye. You could tell Michael's rage. He was being the objective reporter but his shame at what he was having to show us, that's why the entire country reacted as I did.' The I Don't Like Mondays singer said that plenty of people needed that sort of help today, but there was now embarrassment around the words aid and charity. 'I'm not embarrassed in the least by the word 'charity', but we can't say it any more, we have to put into inverted commas now.' He said it was hard 'not to see hurt, not to know, right now, 2.5million children in Sudan are not getting the American food that they were getting in February - and not react.' Blaming US policy, he branded Elon Musk, President Trump and Vice President Vance a 'confederacy of dunces' for freezing all the country's humanitarian aid, with Musk describing it as putting USAid 'In the wood chipper' at the start of the year. Dad-of-four Bob said:'Seriously? The strongest nation on earth, the most powerful man on the planet and the richest individual on the planet cackle over feeding aid to the weakest, most vulnerable people in the world into the wood chipper. There is something seriously f***ed about that.' He said that reports from reputable sources claim that a minimum of 300,000 people had died as a direct result of that policy. 'And I would argue that it's conceivably ten times that. In the UK, we need to re-arm right now and so does the rest of Europe. We're being invaded by a thug and he needs to be stopped.' With the wars in Ukraine and Palestine also ongoing, Bob feels that people didn't now have the 'emotional bandwidth' to cope with all the devastation in the world. 'It's just too easy to go 'f*** you'. If we can use this anniversary then perhaps there's a glimmer, a slight chance, that we can put back the argument that it is really not in our interest to abandon the marginalised.' He said he found it hard to watch the BBC documentary, quipping: 'I hate the stupid f***ing things I say, I hate looking at myself' and he also moaning that he wasn't keen on all the music choices the programme-makers had made, which included Status Quo, U2, Phil Collins, Paul McCartney and Queen. 'If you had Pete Townshend talking about The Who, I'd have had The Who on,' he said. 'And I would have had Bob Dylan's disastrous performance.'
Perth Now
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Bob Geoldof praises Paula Yates for key role in Live Aid
Bob Geldof has praised his late ex-wife Paula Yates for being instrumental in Live Aid. The Boomtown Rats frontman assembled a host of famous performers at the time for 1984's Band Aid charity single Do They Know It's Christmas?, which then led to the huge global concert series the following summer, but he admitted he wouldn't have been able to bring the line-up together without the help of his then-partner, who was co-host of music show The Tube. Speaking in upcoming documentary Live Aid At 40: When Rock 'n' Roll Took On The World, Bob said: 'All I had the power to do was write tunes. But the Boomtown Rats were not guaranteed to have hits any more. All these new guys had come along with beautiful suits and coiffed hair. 'And I understood this new thing because my wife had befriended all these people on the show that she was host of, The Tube. 'So I called Paula and I asked who was on the show that night and she said, 'Ultravox'. I said, 'Put Midge Ure on' and he just said, 'What do you want to do?'.' And even setting up an initiative to ease Ethiopian famine was the brainchild of Paula when she and Bob were watching an infamous news report on the situation with their daughter Fifi, who was two at the time. Bob, now 73, said: "My partner Paula couldn't stand watching it, she didn't want our child to watch it. She clearly associated what she was seeing with our child. She just grabbed her and went upstairs, but I stayed, transfixed. 'I came down the next morning and there was a green bowl on the table in the kitchen, and Paula had put a note in there saying, 'Anyone who comes to this house must put a pound or five pounds into this bowl'. I thought, 'That's not adequate'.' Several of the musicians who took part in Band Aid praised Paula' - who died in 2000 aged 41 - for her calming presence during recording. U2's Bono said: 'There was a lot of male egos in the room, not enough women.' Gary Kemp noted: 'Paula Yates was really the lovely glue, carrying her child around, Fifi, and their dog, Growler. They're a great family.' And Midge added: 'Everybody knew Paula, we all knew Bob through Paula. 'She was funny and witty and highly intelligent, and she kept everyone entertained, walking around chatting to them.' Live Aid At 40: When Rock 'n' Roll Took On The World airs on BBC Two next week.
Business Insider
21 hours ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Top 10 African countries with the weakest currencies in June 2025
For some African countries, the unpleasant reality of currency devaluation remains a challenge even as the year passes its mid-point. Business Insider Africa presents the top 10 African countries with the weakest currencies in June 2025. This list is courtesy of the Forbes currency calculator. São Tomé & Príncipe ranks number 1 on the list. Many currencies, including the Egyptian pound and the Nigerian naira, have seen sharp declines in value in the previous year as a result of policy blunders, inflationary pressures, and a strong reliance on imports. But for some of these countries, early indications of currency recovery are beginning to show up, whether as a result of stronger exports, stricter monetary policy, or outside funding. Even small gains in weak currencies might yield significant benefits and lessen the strain on faltering economies if this trend keeps up. Right off the bat, a weak currency often drives inflation, particularly in countries that rely on international imports. As these currencies show signs of recovery, inflation rates may begin to ease. Lower inflation not only enhances consumer confidence but also allows central banks to explore lowering interest rates, which may encourage domestic borrowing and investment. Weak currencies significantly increase the cost of imported goods, fuel, medication, food, and industrial machinery, exacerbating the cost-of-living issue for ordinary individuals. A stronger local currency contributes to the reversal of this tendency. For example, if the Nigerian naira or Ethiopian birr begins to appreciate, the cost of basics may eventually stabilize or perhaps fall. This would bring immediate help to millions of consumers facing exorbitant prices. Furthermore, a currency weakening typically deters investors owing to concerns about capital loss and economic mismanagement. When a traditionally weak currency begins to show indications of resilience, market sentiment can improve. With that said, here are the 10 African countries with the weakest currencies, presently, according to the Forbes currency converter, last updated on the 23rd of June. Save for Rwanda, the currency value for Nigeria, Malawi, Burundi, Tanzania, DRC, Uganda, Guinea, all increased this month compared to the top 10 list last month. While the currency values for São Tomé & Príncipe and Sierra Leone remained the same. Top 10 African countries with the weakest currencies in June 2025 Rank Country Currency value per US$ Currency 1. São Tomé & Príncipe 22,281.80 São Tomé & Príncipe Dobra 2. Sierra Leone 20,969.50 Sierra Leonean Leone 3. Guinea 8,657.48 Guinean Franc 4. Uganda 3,605.57 Ugandan Shillings 5. Burundi 2,975.85 Burundian Franc 6. Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,905.28 Congolese Franc 7. Tanzania 2,653.06 Tanzanian Shilling 8. Malawi 1,732.71 Malawian Kwacha 9. Nigeria 1,553.68 Nigerian Naira 10. Rwanda 1,448.29 Rwandan Franc
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘I Came Back With a Vengeance': 7 Best Moments From Launch of The Weeknd's Sold-Out Run at L.A.'s SoFi Stadium
The Weeknd has a love-hate relationship with Los Angeles. He wanted to flee from the fast life on 'Escape From LA' from his 2020 blockbuster album After Hours. Five years later, he reflected on simpler, sun-soaked times on 'Take Me Back to LA' off of his latest album Hurry Up Tomorrow. But on Wednesday night (June 25), he seemed genuinely happy to be back in the city he's called home for years. More from Billboard White House Uses Usher's 'Hey Daddy' to Soundtrack Trump's NATO Return Kehlani Reflects on 'You Should Be Here' Mixtape 10 Years Later: 'I'm Grateful That It Changed My Life' Keke Palmer Dissects 'Just Keke' Visual Album and Why She's Found It 'So Hard Being a Person and a Product' 'It's been way too long, Los Angeles. It's been way too long. We have some memories on this stage right here, don't we?' he reminded the 70,000 fans at SoFi Stadium. The Weeknd and SoFi have quite the history. During his second of two sold-out shows at the Inglewood, Calif. stadium in September 2022, the Ethiopian-Canadian superstar lost his voice, an incident that made the pop star feel so defeated that he began debating taking a curtain call on the persona fans have come to know and love and inspired his first feature film Hurry Up Tomorrow that was released in theaters earlier this year. Even though he performed two make-up shows in November 2022, one might expect him to experience PTSD stepping back on that stage three years later. But for The Weeknd, how could he fear a venue he's now made history at? KTLA 5 reported that the 'Blinding Lights' hitmaker now holds the record for the most sold-out shows by a male artist at SoFi Stadium with a total of seven shows, three from the 2022 leg of the After Hours Til Dawn Tour and four from this current 2025 leg. Here are the seven best moments from The Weeknd's first SoFi Stadium stop of his After Hours Til Dawn Tour. While The Weeknd has been honoring his Ethiopian heritage by donning a black and gold kaba – a hand-embroidered Ethiopian robe historically worn by royals and traditionally worn at weddings – during his latest live performances, his fans honored him by wearing his old wardrobe. From the white T-shirt, vest and pants from the 2023 European leg of the After Hours Til Dawn Tour to the infamous After Hours era red suit jacket and black slacks with a bloody, bandaged nose, the XO fans paid homage to his different eras. Travis Scott brought out Playboi Carti to perform 'FE!N' during his historic headlining show at SoFi Stadium back in November 2023. Almost two years later, the King Vamp returned the favor by surprising his ravenous fanbase with his raging partner in crime. Scott stepped out to 'Goosebumps' before the two sent the audience into a frenzy with a delirious performance of 'Crush' from Carti's Billboard 200-topping album MUSIC, with Carti's guttural shrieks bouncing off the walls and rapidly flashing strobe lights bouncing off the crowd. They saved 'FE!N' for the high-octane finale of Carti's opening set. The Weeknd and his right-hand producer Mike Dean cooked up a number of remarkably seamless transitions for his 2023 co-headlining Coachella set and first legs of his After Hours Til Dawn Tour. But for this recent leg, and with the Hurry Up Tomorrow album now added to the setlist, the two had to go back into the lab and create a new experience. The final reverberating shrieks from 'Wake Me Up' blended right into the pulsating bassline from the second half of the After Hours title track. And a pitched-up version of the chorus from Metro Boomin's 'Creepin,' also featuring 21 Savage, led straight into the pitched-up sample of Jon B and Babyface's 1995 Hot 100 top 10 hit 'Someone to Love' that kicks off 'Niagara Falls.' After concluding 'Faith,' The Weeknd took off his gold-plated mask and came face-to-face with the crowd, who was in an uproar during the dramatic reveal. Right after revealing his face to fans, The Weeknd took a minute to bask in glory in the same spot he once felt defeated. 'I came back with a vengeance. Four nights, SoFi, back to back to back,' he exclaimed. 'And that's because of you. We gotta make sure night one is the best night out of four nights though, right?' He later commemorated the momentous occasion by tweaking the second verse on his and Anitta's 'São Paulo': 'Hit it from the back, she louder than four sold-out nights at SoFi.' Following his opening stint, Baby Boi hopped back on stage to perform their Hot 100 No. 3 hit 'Timeless' and 'Rather Lie' from MUSIC. Carti took a page out of The Weeknd's playbook by interspersing some (Auto-Tuned) melodic runs as well as his signature 'schyeah' ad-lib throughout both songs, and the joint performance reminded 00XO fans that outsiders can't handle the both of them at the top. When 'Rather Lie' debuted at No. 4 on the Hot 100 in March, The Weeknd earned his 20th top 10 hit and tied Mariah Carey and Prince's record for the most consecutive years with a top 10 hit (12) in history. That same week, Carti became the first rapper to notch more than 30 Hot 100 hits in a single week and the third artist ever, after Morgan Wallen and Taylor Swift. The Weeknd coached one lucky girl through an intimate duet of the Dawn FM standout track 'Out of Time' on the floor of SoFi. He later handed the microphone to another fan right before the end of the chorus, who belted, '… make you mine, out of tiiime!' Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Time Out
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
These are the 100 best food trucks in the US, per Yelp—and 25 are from the same state
We've come a long way since the days when food trucks only doled out greasy fries or soggy tacos out of its side door. Today, mobile eateries serve fare just as delicious as you'd find in a restaurant, and the lack of overhead means they can take creative risks while keeping prices low. Talented chefs can be "at the wheel" and food truck villages have found a sort of permanent impermanence in cities like Portland, Oregon. With all that in mind, a new Yelp round-up lists the 100 best food trucks in the country and, surprisingly, 25-percent of these on-the-go restos can be found in Hawaii. Yes, the Aloha State dominated the Yelp ranking, even claiming the No. 1 spot with Tony's Catch of Kapa'a, Hawaii—the easygoing vendor is a local favorite for its seared ahi tostadas, carne asada fries, mahi sandwiches, poke bowls and more. It's conveniently located near both the beach and a bike path, making it the perfect quick, no-frills meal that lets you keep surfing, swimming or biking. Outside of Hawaii, Austin, TX, Portland, OR and Los Angeles, CA revealed themselves to be fellow food-truck strongholds—it obviously helps to have a warm climate, with diners lining up al fresco for their food. The roundup also shows that Yelpers appreciated fusion foods that creatively merge cuisines to form a new mashup, like JoJo's Hot Chicken (No. 4 on the list), which serves finger-licking Nashville hot chicken but with a zesty Ethiopian flair. The number two spot, Jim's Smokehouse, is located in a small park in Austin and serves barbecued Angus brisket that has been smoked for 12 hours. Taco Libre on Kauai rounds out the top three, known for its signature dish the "Mexi Moco," which is inspired by Hawaii's traditional loco moco dish (rice layered with hamburger patties and egg that's smothered in a savory gravy), but done up with Mexican flair. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jim's Smokehouse (@jimssmokehouseatx) You can check out Yelp's full list of 100 best food trucks here, and the top 25 on-the-go options below: 1. Tony's Catch, Kapa'a, Kauai, Hawaii 2. Jim's Smokehouse, Austin, Texas 3. Taco Libre, Koloa, Kauai, Hawaii 4. Jojo's Hot Chicken, San Jose, California 5. La Jalisciense, Santa Nella, California 6. La Piñata Taqueria, Vallejo, California 7. Capitol Burger, Torrey, Utah 8. T-Loc's Sonora Hot Dogs, Austin, Texas 9. Mike's BBQ 101, Key Largo, Florida 10. Nico's Burgers, Los Angeles, California 11. Deckhand Dave's Fish Tacos, Juneau, Alaska 12. Taqueria Mi Guadalajara, Bishop, California 13. Mariscos Mi Gusto Es, San Diego, California 14. Aloha Shrimp, Hauula, Oahu, Hawaii 15. Yoshi's Sushi, Portland, Oregon 16. Pit Stop Hawaii Food Truck, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii 17. Ragga Surf Cafe, St. Augustine, Florida 18. Bake on the Run, Portland, Oregon 19. Paprika ATX, Austin, Texas 20. Iolani's Plate Lunch, Portland, Oregon 21. Bomb Burger, Northridge, California 22. Frogtowns Gourmet Tacos, Los Angeles, California 23. Bodhi Viet Vegan, Austin, Texas 24. Chochu Local, Portland, Oregon 25. HI Thai Food, Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii
