McCartney sings for peace and George
By Inger Sethov
OSLO (Reuters) - Ex-Beatle Paul McCartney has played for peace in Oslo in his first concert appearance after the death of George Harrison and dedicated his songs to the fellow Beatle who died last month.
McCartney performed two songs, "Your Loving Flame" and "Freedom", from his new album "Driving Rain" at a Nobel Peace Prize concert to mark the 100th anniversary of the first award.
"The first one I wrote for my fiancee, Heather, and the second one I wrote for the American people after September 11, but tonight I'd like to dedicate them both to my friend George," McCartney said.
He topped off the event with the Beatles anthem "Let it Be", joined by other stars including Haitian-born rapper Wyclef Jean, R&B singer Anastacia and Australian pop star Natalie Imbruglia.
McCartney has been mourning the death of the youngest Beatles member since he died on November 30 at the age of 58 after battling cancer.
The ex-Beatle told Norwegian NRK television on Monday that he had held hands with Harrison for two hours on their last meeting just a couple of weeks before he died.
Harrison, called the "Quiet Beatle", was the youngest member of the Liverpool group, only 27 when the group split in 1970.
The Beatles conquered the world with 27 number one hits in the United States and Britain.
McCartney said he "was very honoured to be here at the 100th anniversary of the Nobel Peace Prize", performing for a packed Oslo Spektrum concert hall for guests including the 2001 Peace Prize winner U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
Annan shared the award with the United Nations.
Norway's Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Princess Martha and several former Peace Prize laureates were also among the audience.
McCartney said in a statement on Sunday that he would play for peace in Oslo and that he had "always felt that the strength of peace and love can give the world hope upon which to build our future."
In support of the Peace Prize, McCartney's wife-to-be Heather Mills, also in Oslo, appeared on a pre-recorded video shown at the concert, calling for support for the 1997 Peace Prize winner, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines.
"Please join me in celebrating support for the work of this group," Mills, who became engaged to McCartney in July, said in the video. Mills lost part of her left leg in a traffic accident in 1993.
The Oslo concert was hosted by U.S. actress Meryl Streep and Irish-born actor Liam Neeson
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