- Title: UK: A CONCERT CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF DIANA PRINCESS OF WALES IS STAGE IN LONDON
- Date: 7th December 1997
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (DECEMBER 7, 1997) (REUTERS) INTERVIEWER ASKS ABOUT RELATIONSHIP WITH BARLOW, WILLIAMS SAYING, "WELL YOU SHOULD SEE WHAT WE ARE GETTING UP TO LATER THE TONGUE IN THE EAR, THAT IS JUST THE START. I DO NOT WANT TO START ANY TABLOIDTASTIC RUMOURS BUT I AM HAVING HIS LOVE CHILD." (ENGLISH) GARY BARLOW SAYING, "THE MUSIC INDUSTRY DOES NOT OFFER H
- Embargoed: 22nd December 1997 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Arts,Royalty
- Reuters ID: LVA472IUA4NC9FF6S4JXHIW6809S
- Story Text: A concert celebrating the life of Diana Princess of Wales has been staged in London with some of Britain's biggest names in pop music performing. Ex-Take That band members Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow seized the moment to make very public ammends following 2 years of acrimony.
Six thousand people attended the sell-out concert staged at London's disused Battersea Power Station on Sunday (December 7) to see their favorite pop bands.
Many had turned out to see ex-Take That member Robbie Williams in a rare performance.
Williams said he was honoured to be included in the concert line-up "We have such a vast array of talent, I am just honoured to be there", he said.
Appearing on the same stage as Gary Barlow, Williams said the tabloids had it wrong over stories that the two remained at loggerheads over the Take That split. During Barlow's interview with Reuters, Williams walked up to him and appeared to stick his tongue in his ear before making fun of Barlow's sweater.
"You should see what we are getting up to later...the tongue in the ear that's just the start. I do not want to start any tabloidistic rumours but I am having his love child," Williams joked.
Williams revealed that he would like to write a song with Barlow and said fans had that to look forward to next year.
Turning to the more serious topic of the concert's theme, Williams said he had fond memories of the princess and had once had lunch with her. "Everything that people say about her now that she has passed away, all the good things is exactly how she was that night. She was just lovely and that is why I am here," he added.
Gary Barlow said he had wanted Take That to reform specially for the tribute concert, but that not all the ex-band members were keen to take part. "Not everyone wanted to do it so of course it did not happen tonight, but it would have been a brilliant end for Take That to have reformed for one song," he said.
Peter Andre said it was important that people remembered Princess Diana, "What a special person she was, what an ambassador she was, and what she did for her people and that old saying about her being the queen of people's hearts," he said.
Williams opened the concert, with an energetic performance of "Let Me Entertain You." He was followed by Damage, All Saints, 911, Gary Barlow, Peter Andre and Boyzone.
The concert was wound-up with a finale of "Let It Be" - with all the artists appearing on stage en masse.
All proceeds from the concert will go to the "Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fund" - set up after the princess's death in August.
"The Concert of Hope" project was the brainchild of Princess Diana and producer Rod Gunner to help raise funds for The National Aids Trust.
There have been three previous concerts - the first in 1993 to mark World AIDS Day and to support the National AIDS Trust. George Michael, k.d.Lang and Mick Hucknall performed at the event.
The second concert, held in 1994, was again to raise awareness for world AIDS Day and starred Take That.
The third was two years later - in 1996 - and featured a performance by Pavarotti. It raised money for children's charity Ty Hafan.
This year's Concert of Hope is the first of a planned series of international events.
Gunner is now effectively carrying out the princess's wishes to make the event a global one. The plan is to launch concerts in all major cities around the world.
The concert is staged as part of the events making up London's indoor festival - "Midland '97" - 19 days of music staged in what is world's largest temporary structure - with Battersea Power Station as its backdrop.
The structure measures about 185 meters (560 ft) long by 65 metres (198 ft) wide, is 33 meters (100 ft) high and weighs over 700 tonnes.
Over the couse of the festival - from the 4th until the 22nd December - the arena plays host to some of the biggest names in popular music.
The Prodigy, Morrissey, Paul Weller and Jamiroquai will all perform in the run up to Christmas. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None