Stars line up for Mandela birthday concert

LONDON, May 6 (UPI) -- Queen, Leona Lewis and Annie Lennox have signed on to perform at Nelson Mandela's upcoming 90th birthday concert in London, organizers said.

The June 27 event honoring the former South African president will also feature performances by the Soweto Gospel Choir, Shirley Bassey, Razorlight, Simple Minds, Sugababes, Andrea and Sharon Corr, Eddy Grant, Italian star Zucchero and the Spanish group Amaral, the BBC said.

Several surprise guests are expected to appear as well.

Proceeds from the star-studded concert in Hyde Park are to go to Mandela's AIDS charity, the report said.

"You all know that I am supposed to be retired. But my friends and the charitable organizations that bear my name want to use my 90th birthday year to raise funds to continue our work and so, of course, I want to help them," Mandela said when the concert was announced. "So, we have a bargain -- I am going to London and they will host a concert in Hyde Park, which will raise awareness of our continuing work and much needed funds."

The BBC said the concert is to take place 20 years after one at Wembley Stadium marked his 70th birthday and called for his release from prison.