January 20, 2009 18:01

Will.i.am., Maroon 5 join Al Gore at pre-inaugural Green Ball

The star-studded event also featured readings from actors and politicians

Will.i.am, Maroon 5, Jon Bon Jovi and Melissa Etheridge were among the artists who performed at the 2009 Green Inaugural Ball in Washington DC last night (January 19).

The star-studded event also featured readings from actors and politicians "celebrating the new green economy that will advance clean and efficient energy, create new jobs, reduce global warming and protect America’s natural heritage".

Michael Franti and John Legend also performed at the event, and Etheridge covered the song made famous by Janis Joplin, 'Piece Of My Heart', as former Vice President Al Gore - a strong supporter of green policies - looked on.

"We need to change the way we use energy, the way we treat the Earth," Gore told the guests who dined on organic fare at the carbon-neutral event, reports the E! Online.

See NME.COM for more coverage of the musical tributes expected to accompany Barack Obama's inauguration today (January 20).

--By our Los Angeles staff.
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