New York’s fabled Carnegie Hall was the venue last night as ONE and (RED) marked World AIDS Day with a massive gig.
“This is a celebration,” the organisations’ co-founder Bono announced. “This is an instigation. This is a provocation. This is not a charity concert.”
Accompanied by The Edge on keyboards and a very large orchestra, he belted out such mega-U2 hits as ‘Every Breaking Wave’, ‘Stuck In A Moment You Can’t Get Out Of’ and ‘Angel Of Harlem’.
“I just turned 23, and as a baby I know I will live in an AIDS-free world one day,” decreed Miley Cyrus who was also among the A-List performers.
Jessie J brought the house down with an emotionally-charged version of Prince’s ‘Purple Rain’ while Hozier also got a mighty cheer when he launched into ‘Take Me To Church’, and was joined by Bono and the Edge for a celebratory ‘When Love Comes To Town’.
Vice-President Joe Biden recalled the meeting with the late Senator Jesse Helms which gained ONE and (RED) the US Congressional support they needed.
“I was there when Bono walked in, met Jesse Helms for the first time and convinced Jesse Helms in one fell swoop to forgive $6 billion in third-world debt… That's when I became a disciple of the church of Bono," Barack’s no. 2 enthused.
The It Always Seems Impossible Until It’s Done: A Night Of Music ended with an ensemble version of ‘One’ that put goose pimples on goose pimples on your goose pimples.