Live Earth Hits and Misses

The greatest surprise performance at the 24-hour Live Earth was not Kanye West and John Mayer joining the Police on “Message in a Bottle.” Hell, no. It was Spinal Tap (reunited) with some help from Metallica (they actually laugh) bringing down London’s Wembley Stadium with hits like “Stonehenge” and “Big Bottom.” Madonna’s gypsy-hobo-punk performance — fully choreographed — of “La Isla Bonita” with Eugene and Serge from Gogol Bordello was also surprisingly excellent (watch after the jump).

MSN reports that the Live Earth Web simulcast resulted a single-day record 9 million streams launched. It will be interesting to see if it experiences continued traffic over the next few weeks as the Live 8 site did in 2005 — before viral video and YouTube embeds became viewer’s choice.

Good LA Times coverage of Live Earth here.

12 more videos after the jump include Live Earth performances from Smashing Pumpkins, The Police, Roger Waters, Beastie Boys, Corinne Bailey Rae & John Legend, Metallica, Snoop Dogg, and more…

Madonna & Gogol Bordello: “La Isla Bonita” – Wembley Stadium, London

Beastie Boys: “Sure Shot / So Whatcha Want” – Wembley Stadium, London:

Corinne Bailey Rae & John Legend: “Mercy, Mercy Me / What’s Goin’ On” – Wembley Stadium, London:

Roger Waters: “Happiest Days of Our LIves / Another Brick in the Wall” – Giants Stadium (w/ flying pig & chorus of Jersey kids singing with British accents):

Smashing Pumpkins: “United States” (best cut on new record!) – Giants stadium, NJ:

Jorge Ben Jor – Rio de Janeiro:

Genesis (yep, reunited): “Turn It On” – Wembley Stadium, London:

Yusuf Islam: “Where Do the Children Play?” – Hamburg, Germany:

Snoop Dogg: “What’s My Name?” – Hamburg, Germany:

Metallica: “Enter Sandman” – Wembley Stadium, UK

Nunatak: “How Many People” — Survey Rothera Research Station, Adelaide Island, Antarctica:

The Police attempt “Message in a Bottle” w/ Kanye West & John mayer – Giants Stadium, NJ:

originally posted here.