Vasco Rossi pulls out of Rome's Live 8

ROME, June 22 (UPI) -- Italian rock star Vasco Rossi has pulled out of Rome's Live 8 concert, one of 10 worldwide to push G8 summit leaders to increase aid to Africa.

Irish rocker and Live 8 organizer Bob Geldof urged music stars in Italy, where the Live 8 concerts have gotten little attention, to join the Rome performance he said would be "the biggest concert of your life."

Rossi said he was already booked July 2.

"Vasco is a great star ... and I think he should be on that stage," Geldof told a news conference in Rome. "Where's Vasco? Vasco where are you? We want Vasco. We need Vasco."

Geldof said he would personally speak to pop singer Lorenzo Jovanotti, who asked for more details before agreeing to perform.

Italian singer Zucchero and U.S. stars Faith Hill and Tim McGraw were among confirmed acts for the Rome Live 8 concert, the BBC reported.