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PRESS RELEASE:
46664 JOBURG - THE CONCERT - INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS ANNOUNCED
01 Dec 2007
Following the announcement earlier this month by former
President Nelson Mandela of a World AIDS Day concert in Johannesburg,
South Africa, for his 46664 action against HIV/AIDS campaign, the first
details of international artists who have confirmed their involvement in the
event were revealed today.
With six weeks still to go before the concert at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park
Stadium on December 1st, Peter Gabriel, Annie Lennox, Ludacris, Corinne Bailey Rae, Goo Goo Dolls, Razorlight, and Jamelia have already pledged their support to perform for Nelson Mandela on the day. A further announcement of international and South African artists will be
Involved from day one, and now at the forefront of the 46664 campaigning
activity, the concert at Johannesburg’s famed 50,000 seat Ellis Park
stadium sees Peter Gabriel and Annie Lennox once again answering
Mandela’s call in the fight against AIDS. Founding ambassadors of 46664,
both appeared at the very first concert held in Cape Town in November
2003, and again when Mandela took his message to the Arctic Circle with
a historic concert in Tromsø, Norway in June 2005. Lennox made a further
appearance for Mandela in George, South Africa in 2005.
At the Tromsø concert Peter Gabriel personally introduced Nelson
Mandela on stage with the now famous line…"From the pain comes
the suffering, from the suffering comes the dream, from the dream
comes the vision, from the vision comes the people, from the people
comes the power, from the power comes the change, but if the world
could only have one father, the man we would want to be our father
is Madiba, Mr. Nelson Mandela".
Lennox has openly stated that her first meeting with Mr. Mandela at
the Cape Town concert changed her life, and she has since then
dedicated herself to fighting HIV AIDS and social injustices. Her
forthcoming album ‘Songs of Mass Destruction’ is a result of her
determination to bring awareness to the fact that the fight against
AIDS needs to be sustained.
As a further response to the HIV Aids crisis, Annie has created a
unique musical project entitled "SING", which aims to focus mainly
on women and children's issues. For the first recorded song for "SING"
Annie has been joined by "The Choir of 23" – an extraordinary line up
of internationally celebrated female recording artists which includes
Madonna, Joss Stone, Anastacia, Celine Dion, Anjelque Kidjo, Dido,
Gladys Knight, Sarah Mc Laughlin, K D Lang, Pink, Shakira, and the
Sugarbabes . SING aims to work in partnership with female artists in
order to raise money and bring awareness to the pandemic.
For both Gabriel and Lennox the upcoming December 1st concert
brings them both to perform for the first time in Johannesburg.
Exemplifying the fact that Mr. Mandela’s message has reached out
across all musical divides and ages, the Johannesburg concert brings
together long-established artists with some of today’s newest and
most popular, mixing the rich music heritage of artists such as superstar
rapper Ludacris and the multi-platinum selling
the most current wave of chart artists such as Grammy nominated
Goo Goo
UK soul singer Corinne Bailey Rae, UK R & B singer Jamelia, plus
UK rock band Razorlight who are making a second commitment to
46664 after appearing at the Norway concert two years ago.
Along with each artist appearing in a solo set, the Johannesburg
concert like those previous is likely to showcase many unique artist
collaborations, which have become a 46664 concert trademark. For
those who witnessed the original 46664 Cape Town concert live or
who were amongst the millions who witnessed the broadcast in the
166 countries across the world in which it was seen, it would be hard
to ever forget Annie Lennox’s unforgettable performance with
Youssou N’Dour, Beyonce with Bono, Anastacia with Queen and
Peter Gabriel together with Yusuf Islam.
Talking about their forthcoming involvement in the concert and
Mr. Mandela’s 46664 campaign, the new ambassadors said:
Ludacris,
the 2007 Grammy Award Winner for "Best Rap Album" said:
"It’s a shame that after all these years we still have to raise awareness
for a disease that continues to infiltrate communities, countries and families.
But I am proud to be able to stand by Nelson Mandela, a man of dignity,
power, strength and change and one who always leads by example.
I hope this concert will be another stepping stone to finding a cure."
Corinne Bailey Rae:
the 46664 concert. Nelson Mandela is someone who I have admired since
I was a child. His application of forgiveness and justice are an example to
the world, and I hope the concert will go a long way to raising awareness
about HIV/AIDS."
Corrine Bailey Rae received three nominations at the
"I am very honored to be invited to perform at Dolls, with
made when the former South African president announces the final line-up
at a press conference on October 29.
The December 1st concert in Johannesburg will be the fifth International
46664 concert to take place since the AIDS charity was founded under
the banner of Nelson Mandela’s former prison number in 2002. The
Johannesburg concert is the first to be held on World AIDS Day.
2007 Grammy Awards:Record of the Year", "Song of the Year" (both for "Put Your Records On"),Best New Artist".www.annielennox.com and www.annielennoxsing.com
for "
and "
The popular UK and award winning band Razorlight, who headlined
festivals across Europe this year have also agreed to return to support
46664, following their first performance in Norway at 46664 Arctic. The
band said they were "honoured to be invited and had no hesitation in accepting".
The Goo Goo Dolls, awarded by Billboard as having the "Most Hot
AC Hits in Radio History" are a hugely popular band that has wowed
audiences the world over for the past two decades. Says band founding
member, vocalist/guitarist John Rzeznik: "It is a privilege to be a part of an
event that helps to relieve the suffering of so many human beings and is
educating so many young people so that someday no one will suffer. This
is easily definable as the most important performance of my career."
Jamelia
, who stormed back in 2004 with a multi-award winning album
"Thank you" after taking time out to bring up her children at the height of her
success is "…thrilled to be performing at the concert and to support 46664."
On making the first announcement of the concert at a press conference at
Mandela House, Johannesburg, on October 1, Nelson Mandela said:
"46664 is committed to HIV AIDS awareness and prevention. We create and
support initiatives that deliver sustainable solutions to help combat the HIV AIDS
pandemic that is so tragically affecting our world. We are grateful that the City of
Johannesburg has made it possible for 46664 to stage our first World AIDS Day
concert. Johannesburg has long asked for a concert to be held here and I am happy
that we can now deliver to the people of Johannesburg. We look forward to
being joined by thousands of citizens on that day."
###
About 46664:
Inspired by the vision and leadership of Nelson Mandela, 46664 is a campaign
vehicle of the Nelson Mandela charitable organisations. 46664’s aim is to raise
awareness of the global HIV/AIDS pandemic, as well as funds to support the
ongoing 46664 campaign and the HIV AIDS projects it directly supports throughout
sub-Saharan Africa. 46664’s project funds develop and support practical
programmes for the prevention, testing, care and support for those infected
and affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa.
46664 was the prison number of Nelson Mandela on Robben Island, Cape Town
where he was held in captivity for 18 years. He was the 466th prisoner to be
incarcerated on the island in 1964. In 2002 Mr Mandela gave his prison number
46664 to Dave Stewart of Eurythmics, who along with fellow artists Brian May
and Roger Taylor of Queen, was instrumental in persuading over 30 of the world’s
great artists to join Nelson Mandela at an all-star concert in Cape Town in
November 2003 in aid of 46664. Through radio and television coverage, the
concert delivered the 46664 message to more than 2 billion people in 166
countries, the most widely distributed media event in history.
All the artists that perform at the 46664 concerts are appointed by Nelson
Mandela as 46664 ambassadors to help him in his ongoing fight to raise
awareness of the global HIV/AIDS pandemic and to help those infected and
affected by the pandemic in South Africa.
46664 recently unveiled its 2007/2008 campaign which will build on its past
achievements and expand its outreach activities to communities and
schools to engage the youth most affected by HIV and AIDS.
The not-for-profit organisation harnesses the universal connecting
power of music, sport and entertainment to deliver its messages primarily
to children and young adults. The campaign is driven by well recognised figures
in these fields thereby capturing the attention of youth world-wide.
Tickets are priced from R120-00 (excluding the service fee) and are
available from Computicket. Call them on 083 915 8000 or visit
their website at www.computicket.com for more information.
Further information on SING can be found on
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
South Africa:
http://www.46664joburg.co.za/
REAL CONCERTS:
Kim Mari
27 (0) 11 4823550
E:
kim@realsa.co.za
International:
Shimon Cohen
The PR Office
Tel: +44 20 7383 3623
Fax: +44 20 7383 5595
Mob:+44 0 7836 728790
E:
scohen@theproffice.com
Phil Symes
The PR Contact
Tel: + 55 21 93 61 11 97
E:
philsymes@theprcontact.com
