David Gray is “Green” but Madonna is a “Bad Girl”

David Gray has been voted the greenest artist to appear at Live Earth this Saturday, according to Fool.co.uk readers.

The singer-songwriter just pipped neo-soul diva Corrine Bailey Rae in an online poll.

However, the readers have given Madonna a reason to feel blue by voting her the least green artist. The “Material Girl” was reckoned to be six times less green than her nearest rival James Blunt by polling over 60% of the votes.

David Gray, closely followed by Corrine Bailey Rae, is considered to be the greenest artist appearing at Live Earth

Six out of ten people surveyed say Madonna is the least environmentally friendly

Indie rock band Snow Patrol is voted greenest group

One in four people think the Beastie Boys are not in touch with green issues

It seems we associate acts from this side of the Atlantic, and also those that use acoustic instruments, with doing more for the green cause. The “green” artists also appear to be helped by a lower public profile than their non-green counterparts.

Unfortunately, artists such as Madonna, the Beastie Boys and Black Eyed Peas scored poorly with Fool.co.uk readers. This may be because of a perceived rock & roll lifestyle, which presumably doesn’t involve making their own compost and using grey water.

Amusingly, Red Hot Chili Peppers appears in both the top three greenest and top three least green artists. Admittedly, chili peppers can be both green and red. But the confusion over the group’s environmental credentials may suggest that we don’t really know much about their private lives at all.

David Kuo, Head of Personal Finance at Fool.co.uk, says: “Although none of us really know for sure how green celebrities really are, public perception plays an important part. Consequently, celebrities who are adored by millions of fans can do lots to raise environmental awareness by publicising their green credentials.

“Live Earth will go some way to help, but caring for the environment goes beyond exercising vocal chords, rapping and crooning. A green gig is all very nice, but celebrities can do more to encourage ethical spending by setting an example. Wouldn’t it be refreshing if all the artists turned up to Live Earth on their bicycles?

“Hopefully, Live Earth will be a light-bulb moment for millions of people around the world – preferably an energy saving light-bulb moment.”