For immediate release:
War Child and Astralwerks Records are pleased to announce the full track list and artist lineup for the new benefit album, Heroes, which will be released on February 24, 2009. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of Heroes will go to support War Child, an award winning charity that provides humanitarian assistance to war-affected children in some of the most devastated regions of the world.
The album’s concept mirrors one of the intrinsic aims of War Child’s efforts in war zones around the world – to place faith in the next generation. We asked some of the biggest legends in music history to select a classic track from their own songwriting canon, and nominate an artist from the next generation to create a modern reworking of that classic song. This album is the result: 16 exclusive and truly inspired cover versions.
The track list in full:
1. Beck (Bob Dylan – “Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat”)
2. The Kooks (The Kinks – “Victoria”)
3. The Hold Steady (Bruce Springsteen – “Atlantic City”)
4. Hot Chip (Joy Division – “Transmission”)
5. Lily Allen feat. Mick Jones (The Clash – “Straight To Hell”)
6. Yeah Yeah Yeahs (The Ramones – “Sheena Is A Punk Rocker”)
7. Franz Ferdinand (Blondie – “Call Me”)
8. Duffy (Paul McCartney – “Live And Let Die”)
9. Estelle (Stevie Wonder – “Superstition”)
10. Rufus Wainwright (Brian Wilson -” Wonderful & Song For Children”)
11. Scissor Sisters (Roxy Music – “Do The Strand”)
12. Peaches (Iggy Pop – “Search And Destroy”)
13. Adam Cohen (Leonard Cohen – “Take This Waltz”)
14. Elbow (U2 – “Running To Stand Still”)
15. The Like (Elvis Costello – “You Belong To Me”)
16. TV On The Radio (David Bowie – “Heroes”)
“I have been supporting War Child since 1995. Their work with children in war zones saves lives and their work with those who take decisions that help them to do something about it saves even more lives. The breadth of talent on this project is amazing; it’s great that so many people gave their time, energy and support to this initiative. I urge everyone to support War Child.” – Sir Paul McCartney
“War Child do exactly what it says on the tin. These kids shouldn’t be in such circumstances in the first place, but they are, so thank god someone’s doing something about it.” – Guy Garvey, Elbow
“On television we are constantly bombarded by all these horrific images. It’s important to realize that they are real people, real children, and that they need real help and real love.” – Rufus Wainwright
The album is dedicated to the support of the real heroes – children who live with the brutal effects of war.
Why is War Child needed?
Two-thirds of all casualties in war are children. In Afghanistan, one in four children will die before the age of five. War has forced eighteen million children to flee their homes, and there are three hundred thousand children who have been conscripted into armed forces around the world.
War Child is an award-winning charity that provides opportunities and long term solutions for war-affected children, focusing on education, strengthening children’s rights, reducing poverty and fostering self-reliance. War Child works in partnership with local people and organizations to build sustainable programming that empowers children and their communities.
Despite increased security constraints War Child is still operating successfully to protect children in Darfur, Sudan; continues to rebuild and re-equip schools in the increasingly volatile Democratic Republic of Congo; is on the ground in Afghanistan providing support to vulnerable women and their children; and works to protect the rights of women and girls in northern Uganda who have suffered greatly from a long and brutal war. War Child also has programs in Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Georgia and Sri Lanka. Working closely with the music industry, War Child provides awareness, support and action for children’s rights everywhere. www.warchild.us
Notes to editors on “Heroes”
– The 16 legends supporting the project have combined global album sales of over 1.4 billion.
– The new artists chosen to cover the classic tracks include the act behind Rolling Stone’s Album of the Year 2008, TV On The Radio, 2008 Grammy nominees Beck, Hot Chip and Rufus Wainwright, UK Mercury prize winners Elbow, and multi Grammy award nominee Duffy, the UK’s biggest selling album artist of 2008.
– Some legends selected one of their all-time classic standards like Stevie Wonder’s ‘Superstition’, covered by Estelle, and Blondie’s ‘Call Me’, covered by Franz Ferdinand. Some selected favorite tracks that deserve to be rediscovered as with Scissor Sister’s exhilarating version of Roxy Music’s ‘Do The Strand’ (not released as a single in the UK) and Lily Allen’s stunning new take on The Clash’s ‘Straight To Hell’ (originally the b-side of ‘Should I Stay, Or Should I Go’).
– The album was recorded over six months in studios in London, Manchester, Paris, Berlin, New York and Los Angeles. It was mastered at Abbey Road studios in London.
For further information about Heroes, please contact:
Steve Martin
Nasty Little Man
Ph: (212) 343 – 0740
steve@nastylittleman.com
Angelica Cob
Capitol Music Group
Ph: (323) 871-5552
Angelica.Cob@emimusic.com
For further information about War Child, please contact:
Fiona Hack
War Child Canada
(416) 971-7474
1-866-927-2445
fiona@warchild.ca