12-Sep-08

350 000 voices choired “Life must go on!” with Queen+Paul Rodgers in Kharkov!

Playing an awareness-raising outdoor concert in Kharkov's Freedom Square, the second largest Square in Europe, the show by Queen + Paul Rodgers attracted more than 350,000 to see the overture concert for its 33-city tour of Europe and immediately entered the record books as the biggest charity event devoted to the fight against AIDS in Ukraine.

Post-show a visibly moved Brian May, Roger Taylor and Paul Rodgers gave their accounts of the experience of the Kharkov concert, with Brian May saying: “Our show in Kharkov was an unforgettable experience … one of those rare things in life which you know you will never forget. It was a meeting in Music, but also a fateful coming together to fight a common enemy … HIV AIDS.... we felt privileged to be part of this pivotal point in Ukraine’s journey …”

Roger Taylor: “We would like to say a big thank you to the people of the Ukraine in giving Queen such a wonderful welcome after so many years. We hope the concert helped to bring a message of awareness of the terrible threat of HIV/AIDS to all the people! We have suffered the great loss of our dear singer Freddie Mercury – we hope this kind of loss does not happen to you. Be kind to yourselves – be careful – be alive!”

And from Paul Rodgers: “To all who came out and rocked with us thank you. We believe that our Aids Awareness message was received by 20 million! Hopefully we touched those hearts and minds and I pray that it makes a difference.”

eSP joined the concert and subscribes to an opinion of Roger Taylor Be kind to yourselves – be careful – be alive!