Mark Knopfler , vocalist and guitarist of Dire Straits , assembled a supergroup of over 60 rock legends to record a new version of his single, "Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero," for charity. All proceeds will go to the Teenage Cancer Trust and Teen Cancer America, organizations that fight cancer in teenagers.
Pre-orders for the 12-inch vinyl and Blu-ray are already sold out. The single can be purchased online for £0.99 (approximately R$6.26) here . The song will be officially released on March 15th, but a preview is already available.
Mark Knopfler's supergroup
The group known as Mark Knopfler's Guitar Heroes includes over 60 artists such as Bruce Springsteen , Eric Clapton , Slash , Ronnie Wood , Sting , Tom Morello , Pete Townshend , Steve Vai , Brian May , Joan Jett and David Gilmour .
The song also features the last recording of guitarist Jeff Beck , who passed away last year. Production was handled by former Dire Straits keyboardist Guy Fletcher .
Some participants submitted their contributions remotely, but most musicians recorded at British Grove Studios in west London.
The artwork was created by none other than Peter Thomas Blake , co-author of the cover for the Beatles ' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) .
In addition to guitar legends, the lineup features Ringo Starr and his son, The Who Zack Starkey , Sting on bass, and Roger Daltrey a sponsor of the Teenage Cancer Trust, on harmonica.
The list of all collaborators can be seen below: Joan Armatrading , Jeff Beck , Richard Bennett , Joe Bonamassa , Joe Brown , James Burton , Jonathan Cain , Paul Carrack , Eric Clapton , Ry Cooder , Jim Cox , Steve Cropper , Sheryl Crow , Danny Cummings , Roger Daltrey , Duane Eddy , Sam Fender , Guy Fletcher , Peter Frampton , Audley Freed , Vince Gill , David Gilmour , Buddy Guy , Keiji Haino , Tony Iommi , Joan Jett , John Jorgenson , Mark Knopfler , Sonny Landreth , Albert Lee , Greg Leisz , Alex Lifeson , Steve Lukather , Phil Manzanera , Dave Mason , Hank Marvin , Brian May , Robbie McIntosh , John McLaughlin , Tom Morello , Rick Nielsen , Orianthi , Brad Paisley , Nile Rodgers , Mike Rutherford , Joe Satriani , John Sebastian , Connor Selby , Slash , Bruce Springsteen , Ringo Starr and Zak Starkey , Sting , Andy Taylor , Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks , Ian Thomas , Pete Townshend , Keith Urban , Steve Vai , Waddy Wachte l, Joe Louis Walker , Joe Walsh , Ronnie Wood , Glenn Worf , Zucchero .
“Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero”
"Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero" was part of the soundtrack for Burt Lancaster 's Local Hero and was Knopfler's first solo single. Nowadays, the song is best known as the anthem of the English football club, Newcastle United.
St. James' Park, the club's stadium, will host the first public performance of the single on March 2nd, during the team's game against Wolverhampton. Some of the artists who participated in the recording will be present at the match.
The initiative will also include the donation of 8 guitars autographed by the artists to help raise funds, as reported by The Independent . One of them will be auctioned by Knopfler at a private event in Newcastle on March 1st.
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