Look To The Stars News: Radiohead

Radiohead Release Charity Song For Royal British Legion

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:30:00 -0000

British band Radiohead has released a song in tribute to a World War 1 soldier who died last week, with proceeds to go to charity.

Harry Patch (In Memory Of) was released yesterday, August 5, for download from the band’s online store. Harry Patch – who passed away on July 25 at age 111 – was the last known British World War I veteran.

The 5 and a half minute song costs £1 (US$1.70) to download, and proceeds will be donated to The Royal British Legion, which promotes the welfare of former military personnel and their dependants.

“The way he talked about war had a profound effect on me,” said Radiohead singer Thom Yorke. “It became the inspiration for a song that we happened to record a few weeks before his death. It was done live in an abbey. The strings were arranged by Jonny [Greenwood].”

The Killers Launch Video Against Sex Trafficking

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Rockers The Killers have partnered with UNICEF and USAID to produce a music video that dramatically highlights the dangers and impact of trafficking for sexual exploitation, particularly for young women.

The video, for the band’s track Goodnight, Travel Well from the album Day & Age will premiere globally across all of MTV’s properties on-air and on-line on Monday July 13 2009. This video represents the second in a series of music video collaborations to highlight the dangers and impact of human trafficking that launched last year with an award-winning film produced by MTV EXIT for the Radiohead single All I Need.

The Killers commented, “We are deeply shocked and appalled that women and children are forced into such exploitative situations. We hope that through MTV’s efforts and this powerful video millions of people across the world learn about this tragic form of modern-day slavery.”

This music video represents an innovative and creative way to fuse musical content with MTV’s pro-social messaging. The Goodnight, Travel Well video will be released globally across all of MTV’s platforms in 168 countries. It has the potential to reach more than 500 million households worldwide.

“Trafficking is a crime which violates the basic rights of all people: the rights to freedom, equality, and dignity. Through MTV EXIT and MTV’s global networks reaching over two billion people in 160 countries, we are uniquely positioned to support and advocate these rights. We are committed to raising awareness and empowering our audience, many of whom are particularly at risk from human trafficking," said Bill Roedy, Chairman & CEO MTV Networks International.

“There is almost no country in the world now that isn’t affected by human trafficking in some way,” said Susan Bissell, UNICEF’s Head of Child Protection. “The statistics are staggering. More than 1.2 million children are being trafficked each year and nearly 80 per cent of all trafficking is for sexual exploitation, and the most at risk are girls. We see this music video as a powerful way to reach out and raise awareness among young people, across borders and across language barriers.”

More information can be found here.

Neil Finn Gathers Musical Friends For Charity Album

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Crowded House singer Neil Finn is behind a new charity album that aims to raise money for Oxfam.

The double album, to be called The Sun Came Out, was recorded during the musician’s Seven Worlds Collide charity concerts in January and features contributions from Radiohead’s Phil Selway and Ed O’Brien, The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, Soul Coughing’s Sebastian Steinberg, multi-instrumentalist Lisa Germano, and Wilco members Jeff Tweedy, John Stirratt, Glenn Kotche and Pat Sansone.

“7 Worlds Collide is a great project – I hope The Sun Came Out is a huge success,“ said Jeremy Hobbs, Director of Oxfam International. “Not just because it’s a unique musical experience but because each CD sold will make a difference – raising money to fund Oxfam’s work to fight poverty.”

The album is due for release on August 10. Information can be found here.

Radiohead Donates Song To Shelter Charity

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

British band Radiohead will feature in a new television campaign for a charity dedicated to the homeless later this month.

The band’s song Videotape will feature in the new advert, which aims to raise awareness of Shelter – a charity that makes a tangible difference to the lives of people in desperate housing need through providing practical help, putting pressure on government, and raising public awareness of the housing crisis.

The advert – called House of Cards (which is, incidentally, the name of another Radiohead song) – will be voiced by British actress Samantha Morton.

“We have always been big supporters of Shelter and believe that now more than ever Shelter urgently needs help and support to keep up its vital work,” the band said in a statement. “‘Videotape’ is the perfect track to support the ad so we decided to let Shelter use it in their new ad in the hope that it will help make a real impact.”

The advert can be viewed now on the Shelter website.

Scarlett Johansson And Annie Lennox Sign Oxfam's Climate Letter

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Nineteen actors, musicians and activists signed a letter drafted by international aid agency Oxfam to tackle the issue of climate change in December.

The letter was written to world leaders who attended the UN climate negotiations in Poland and urged them to lead the way and show the political will demonstrated in the face of economic crisis so that dangerous climate change can be averted.

Scarlett Johansson, broadcaster Sir David Attenborough, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, singer-songwriter Angélique Kidjo, Colin Firth, Missy Higgins, Kristin Davis, Thom Yorke, Annie Lennox, Ian McEwan, Jarvis Cocker, Bill Nighy and Gael Garcia Bernal were among the stars to put their signatures to the letter.

“It is desperately unfair that the poor should again feel the brunt, despite being least responsible,” read the letter. “Wealthy nations, who are in their advantaged position because of heavy industrialization, are the most responsible and able to lead the world in tackling climate change. This is why they must show leadership in Poland and provide solutions that have the interests of the world’s poor at their heart.”

Oxfam says climate change is already affecting the lives of millions of poor people around the world and threatening progress made in pulling people from poverty, and progress must be made to stop global warming from exceeding 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels.

The full letter can be read here.

Seven Worlds Collide For Oxfam

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Here’s a series of events that our Southern Hemisphere readers will want to mark in their diaries for the New Year: Neil Finn is holding his Seven Worlds Collide concerts to benefit Oxfam in January.

The concerts – which will feature Radiohead’s Phil Selway and Ed O’Brien, The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, Soul Coughing’s Sebastian Steinberg, multi-instrumentalist Lisa Germano, Wilco members Jeff Tweedy, John Stirratt, Glenn Kotche and Pat Sansone, and New Zealand musicians Liam Finn, Don McGlashan and Bic Runga – will be held at the Powerstation in Auckland, New Zealand, on January 5, 6, and 7.

It is the second time the Crowded House frontman has held his Seven Worlds Collide concerts. He introduced the concept in 2001, and released a successful live album of the events. This time round the star-studded band will repeat the exercise for Oxfam.

“Many of us have had previous connections with Oxfam,” said Finn. “We are working with them on this album not only to highlight the great work they do but to hopefully make some money for them as well.”

Oxfam New Zealand Executive Director Barry Coates added “We are honored to be working with Neil and so many other talented and committed artists on this project, many of whom have supported Oxfam over a number of years. At a time when the number of people living in extreme poverty is growing, funds generated from this project will be urgently directed to those in need, providing opportunities and hope for a better future.”

Tickets for the events cost $98.70 and are available here.

Radiohead Auctions Remix For Missing People

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A four-hour video remix of a Radiohead song is to be auctioned on eBay to raise money for charity.

Videotape is a song off the band’s In Rainbows album, and has been remixed for the extra long one-off release by James Rutledge (AKA Pedro). The VHS remix is signed by all of the members of the band, who gave their full support to Rutledge for the project.

Proceeds from the auction will go to Missing People, the UK’s leading charity for missing and unidentified people. The charity addresses an important cause for Rutledge, whose former bandmate Dave Tyack went missing in Corsica in 2002 and was found dead in 2004.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to own a piece of signed Radiohead memorabilia, it’s the ultimate Christmas gift for any Radiohead fan,“ said Paul Tuohy, CEO of Missing People. "All The money raised will help Missing People continue to provide support for families and missing people themselves.”

The auction ends on December 21, and can be accessed here.

Jack Johnson, Oasis, Radiohead Appear On Charity CD

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Urban Outfitters and Filter Magazine have teamed up to create the fifth installment of the Give.Listen.Help compilation CD to raise money for the Pablove Foundation.

The Pablove Foundation is named after Pablo Castelaz, the five-year-old son of Dangerbird Records co-founder Jeff Castelaz and his wife Jo Ann Thrailkill. On May 17, 2008, Pablo was diagnosed with bilateral Wilms’ Tumor, a rare form of children’s cancer. The cancer appeared out of nowhere, with no warning signs in Pablo’s general demeanor or health. He is currently undergoing treatment at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and is doing extremely well. Thanks to decades of research and treatment at places like CHLA, Wilms’ Tumor is over 90% curable.

A large percentage of the proceeds from the CD ($13.88 of every $14.99) will be donated to the Foundation, which directly supports the pediatric cancer community in and around CHLA.

The track list for the double CD is:

DISC 1

Garbage – “Witness to Your Love” (previously unreleased)
Radiohead – “House of Cards”
Of Montreal – “Jimmy” (M.I.A. cover)
Bat for Lashes – “What’s a Girl” (Plaid remix)
Oasis – “Falling Down” (Chemical Brothers remix)
Rilo Kiley – “Draggin’ Around” (previously unreleased)
Bloc Party – “Flux” (JKL remix)
The Faint – “The Geeks Were Right” (DIOYY remix)
CSS – “Rat Is Dead” (Rage)"
Decemberists “Billy Liar” (live)
Ra Ra Riot – “Can You Tell” (Little Ones remix)
Ladytron – “Ghosts” (Modwheelmood mix)
The Little Ones “I Don’t Want to Dance” (previously unreleased)
Other Lives – “Paper Cities” (previously unreleased)
Two Sheds – “You”
Jack Johnson “All At Once” (live at Bumbershoot 2008)

DISC 2

Silversun Pickups – “Table Scraps”
Eulogies – “Is There Anyone Here?”
Darker My Love – “Blue Day”
The Dears – “Crisis 1 & 2”
Sea Wolf – “The Promise”
The Curse of Company – “All the Mines”
One a.m. radio – “Old Men”
Ed Laurie – “Albert”
Eric Avery – “All Remote and No Control”
Dappled Cities – “Vision Bell”
La Rocca – “Cross the River”

The CD is available exclusively through the Urban Outfitters website.

Neil Finn's New Album Gets Crowded For Oxfam

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:15:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Crowded House frontman Neil Finn has invited a host of well known musicians to join him in recording a new album for charity.

Finn has invited the core band – and a few special guests – from his 2001 Seven Worlds Collide series of live shows and accompanying live album to create a new album at Roundhead Studios in Auckland, New Zealand, with proceeds going to support Oxfam.

Guests confirmed so far are Radiohead’s Phil Selway and Ed O’Brien, The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, Soul Coughing’s Sebastian Steinberg, multi-instrumentalist Lisa Germano, Wilco members Jeff Tweedy, John Stirratt, Glenn Kotche and Pat Sansone, and New Zealand musicians Liam Finn, Don McGlashan and Bic Runga.

The album will be recorded over Christmas and New Year, and will be accompanied by live performances at Auckland’s Powerstation on 5, 6 and 7 January 2009.

Previous participants in Finn’s Seven Worlds Collide shows include Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam in 2001.

Radiohead Are Friends Of The Earth

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

British alternative rockers Radiohead are the latest band to turn their current world tour environmentally-friendly.

The band – which consists of Thom Yorke on lead vocals, Jonny Greenwood and Ed O’Brien on guitar, Colin Greenwood on bass, and Phil Selway on drums – are reducing their carbon emissions by limiting the amount of equipment they take with them, using low-energy LED lights and refillable water bottles, and making all of their merchandise from recycled materials. It is an effort that has not escaped notice from Friends of the Earth, whose spokesperson Anna Mitchell is delighted with the band’s attempts to be eco-friendly.

“I’m not sure whether it is the most environmentally friendly tour ever, but it certainly feels like it,” she said. "They are doing everything they possibly can to cut emissions. It’s incredibly impressive.”

The green initiative continued with Radiohead’s tour of Scotland last week, where the band called on concert-goers to lobby their MSPs and push for an effective law as part of Friends of the Earth’s Big Ask campaign.

“We’re doing what we can to tackle climate change and encourage our fans to do the same,” said Thom York. "It’s time our politicians play their part as they are the only ones who can put the structures in place that will help us. That’s why I am supporting the Big Ask Scotland and asking anyone who cares about climate change to support it too, either by taking action at one of our concerts or online at www.bigaskscotland.org.uk.”

Radiohead Joins Child Labor Awareness Campaign

Fri, 02 May 2008 12:05:11 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

With a 20-year history of raising awareness for human rights and environmental causes, Radiohead is no stranger to the activist scene. And now, in partnership with MTV EXIT (End Exploitation and Trafficking), the band has released the “All I Am” video to bring child labor practices into the spotlight.

“It’s cool that MTV is taking this up, because normally, this is something I only get to talk to people about who are considered ‘extreme left-wing’ or whatever, but it’s good it’s hitting the mainstream, because I don’t consider it a left-wing issue; I consider it a political-stability issue,” he told MTV UK. “I think if [the campaign] does one good thing, it would be to make this concept of slavery — which is what it is — less taboo. If they can make it something that is OK for us to talk about, and for politicians in the West to actually accept that this is an issue, well, then we’re doing a good thing.”

There are currently more than 2.5 million men, women and children who are forced, defrauded or coerced into various forms of labor or prostitution. Radiohead recommends checking out Amnesty International, Witness and The The Fair Trade Resource Network to learn more.

“I think it’s important for everyone in the West or on High Street to understand the consequences of our economic activity. You must be aware of the level of exploitation that’s going on,” Yorke said. “It’s part of our Western life, and one we should accept responsibility for. There’s no such thing as a free lunch or a free ticket to another country.”

Watch video of Thom Yorke speaking on the topic of child labor at Think MTV.

Look To The Stars News: Radiohead

Radiohead Release Charity Song For Royal British Legion

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