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Stars Give Live Earth A Goring
Neil Tennant and Roger Daltrey have joined Bob Geldof in criticizing the Live Earth concerts due to take place across the globe in July.
The Who frontman’s scathing attack on former U.S. Vice President Al Gore’s initiative to raise awareness about climate change included claims that the idea is flawed because of the environmental damage the shows will cause. Tennant – half of the Pet Shop Boys duo – has said he’s also "uneasy" about the event.
"I’ve always been against the idea of rock stars lecturing people as if they know something the rest of us don’t – it looks arrogant," he explained. "It’s not as if they have a private source of information. To state the obvious as if you are the only person that knows it is intellectually weak."
Tennant was broader in his criticisms of rock stars using their position to get involved in global issues, hitting out at Bono – who isn’t involved in Live Earth – for his high-profile role in similar political activism.
"Bono uses his celebrity, but in doing so he increases his celebrity. I’ve never been totally convinced that the rest of U2 feel comfortable with that."
Tennant’s comments almost echoed Live Aid and Live 8 supremo Bob Geldof’s views on Gore’s initiative.
"I hope they’re a success. But why is he actually organizing them? To make us aware of the greenhouse effect?" the former Boomtown Rat said in an interview with Dutch national daily De Volkskrant. "Everybody’s known about that problem for years. We are all fucking conscious of global warming," Geldof continued.
Daltrey had his own brief and somewhat simplistic idea of how to solve the problems of the greenhouse effect.
"My answer is to burn all the oil as fucking quick as possible and then the politicians will have to find a solution."