Look To The Stars News: Sugababes

Fashion For Relief A Huge Success

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Supermodel Naomi Campbell took to the runway on Wednesday for her 2008 Fashion For Relief charity catwalk show benefiting the White Ribbon Alliance.

Celebrity models who graced the catwalk included Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Cole, model Erin O’Connor, artist Tracey Emin, rock daughters Kimberley Stewart and Lizzie Jagger, the Sugababes, Cilla Black, and Olympic gold medalists Rebecca Adlington and Sarah Ayton.

The show – which took place at London’s Natural History Museum – was opened by the wife of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Sarah, and was watched by a star-studded audience that included Mischa Barton.

“This is what the fashion world is doing to give back," said Campbell. "I won’t ask people to do anything unless I think it’s really important. I only ask when I think it’s something they will be passionate about. All these people here tonight feel the same way.”

The White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood is an international coalition of individuals and organizations formed to promote increased public awareness of the need to make pregnancy and childbirth safe for all women and newborns.

“I do lot of work with Save the Children, and today I was doing press with them and they told me this charity is affiliated with theirs,” said Barton. “I learned up on it, and Naomi is doing a good thing with it. She has always been very friendly and caring to me. She’s really sweet."

Sugababes To Headline Charity Concert

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

British girl group the Sugababes are part of a special charity gig in England this weekend.

The ‘Babes will headline a two day festival in Dagenham on Saturday night, and will be followed by classic rockers Status Quo on Sunday night. Also performing will be the Bay City Rollers and David Essex.

The festival will benefit Cancer Research UK and St Dunstan’s – a charity helping blind ex-servicemen.

“The last couple of weeks have been absolutely amazing,” said artistic director Rob Ferguson. “The sun has come out. It’s made a huge difference to sales. We do have the ability to expand past 10,000 [ticket sales]. We’ll keep pushing to the end – we have a 20,000 licence. Every penny is for charity. There is no profit whatsoever."

Tickets are available through www.ticketmaster.co.uk.

Stars Beat Bullying With New Auction

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A hot new charity auction has been launched on eBay, featuring items from Nicole Kidman, Avril Lavigne, and Girls Aloud.

The stars have joined with the UK’s leading bullying prevention charity – BeatBullying – for its annual celebrity auction, with all cash raised going towards its peer mentoring work in schools throughout Britain.

Bidders have the chance to pick up items such as a Golden Compass movie poster signed by Kidman and Daniel Craig; the outfits Girls Aloud wore when performing their number one hit Sexy No! No! No! live on BBC1; sheet music, photos, a t-shirt, and a CD signed by Avril Lavigne; a vest worn by Cheryl Cole; a DVD signed by Jimmy Carr; a photo signed by Simon Cowell; a program signed by Judi Dench; and a chance to meet the Sugababes and 2 tickets to see them in concert in Dagenham on August 9.

Beatbullying believes that the introduction of progressive bullying prevention programs in the UK will reduce bullying, reduce truancy levels, and reduce racist and homophobic violence and abuse in schools. The auction runs until July 20, and can be accessed via eBay.

Celebs Sign Mercedes for 46664 Auction

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Jennifer Beckmann

There was a lot of action backstage at the 46664 Concert Honouring Nelson Mandela at 90 last Friday night. In addition to performing and giving interviews, celebrities were asked to sign a new Mercedes-Benz C350. Mercedes-Benz, a lead sponsor of the Mandela concert, then presented the vehicle to 46664, which will put it on the auction block.

Celebrities whose autographs now decorate the car include Amy Winehouse, Leona Lewis, Queen and Paul Rodgers, Annie Lennox, Simple Minds, Peter Gabriel, the Sugababes, Razorlight, Jamelia, Zuccero, Geri Halliwell, Eddy Grant, the Soweto Gospel Choir, Quincy Jones, and Lewis Hamilton.

Earlier in the day, tennis legend and Mercedes-Benz brand ambassador Boris Becker – who is also a representative of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation – took the vehicle to visit socially disadvantaged children in London. The children decorated the sedan with multi-colored handprints; they were also invited to attend the concert later that evening.

“It is a great honor for us to be able to support a public figure like Nelson Mandela who has influenced entire generations and has inspired people,” said Dr. Olaf Göttgens, Vice President Brand Communications Mercedes-Benz Cars. “In recognition of Mandela as a symbolic figure for the next generation, and in appreciation of his efforts to combat HIV/AIDS, children have decorated a new Mercedes-Benz C 350 with their handprints.”

Nelson Mandela's 90th Birthday Party Rocks London

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Jennifer Beckmann

Hyde Park was transformed into a giant birthday bash Friday night as 46,664 people joined “birthday boy” Nelson Mandela and a stellar lineup of entertainers to raise funds and awareness for his 46664 charity.

It had been raining on and off all day in London, but the skies cleared just in time for the once-in-a-lifetime lineup of musicians and entertainers to take the stage in honor of Nelson Mandela’s 90th Birthday. The event was hosted by an enthusiastic Will Smith, and performers included Jivan Gasparyan, Razorlight, the cast of Into the ’Hoods, Sipho Mibuze, Leona Lewis, Zucchero, Suzanna Owiyo and D’Gary, Sugababes, Annie Lennox (who performed with the Agape Children’s Choir), Emmanual Jal, Vusi Mahlasela, Jamelia, Loyiso, Johnny Clegg, Joan Baez, Eddy Grant, Kurt Darren, Simple Minds, Brian May and Andrea Corr, Amy Winehouse, 9ice and Bebe Cool, Josh Groban, Amaral, and Queen and Paul Rodgers. The renowned Soweto Gospel Choir accompanied many of the acts. Additional entertainers who introduced the musical acts included Quincy Jones, Lewis Hamilton, Geri Halliwell, Peter Gabriel, Stephen Fry, and Jerry Dammers.

After Jivan Gasparyan opened the show with an instrumental piece to accompany a moving series of photographs of Mandela, Will Smith took to the stage with his wife Jada and announced, “The party starts now.” An energizing performance by Razorlight set the tone for the rest of the evening.

Quincy Jones introduced crowd favorite Leona Lewis, who sang her two top hits “Better in Time” and “Bleeding Love.” Lewis wished Mandela a happy birthday and told a touching story of how she and her family used to sing songs about him when she was young.

Other birthday wishes came via a film of various celebrities who were unable to attend, including David Beckham, Victoria Beckham, Sharon Osbourne, Sheryl Crow, Morgan Freeman, and Susan Sarandon.

Smith returned to the stage throughout the show, revving the crowd with a surprise performance of his song “Switch,” which included rap verses from his hit television show “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.” Annie Lennox, a passionate HIV/AIDS activist and staunch supporter of Mandela’s charities, made a moving speech about a young girl she had met in Africa who was gravely ill with AIDS but was able to make a miraculous recovery thanks to proper treatment and care. Before and after images of the girl were shown on the large screens behind Lennox, who then performed a song with the Agape Children’s Choir. The crowd sang along as the lyrics “We are together… We are family” flashed across the screens.

Peter Gabriel introduced Emmanual Jal, a former child soldier in Sudan who sang a song dedicated to the British aid worker who rescued him and 150 other children. Gerri Halliwell introduced trailblazing South African music legend Johnny Clegg, who performed a duet with Joan Baez.

Immediately following this performance was the highlight of the night. Will and Jada Smith introduced the “birthday boy” himself, and Nelson Mandela was escorted onto the stage to thunderous cheers and applause. The concert performers gathered on stage and, together with the nearly 50,000 people in attendance, sang “Happy Birthday.”

Mandela waved to the crowd and made a brief, moving speech. “We say tonight after nearly 90 years of life, it’s time for new hands to lift the burdens,” he said. “It’s in your hands now, I thank you.”

Eddy Grant and Kurt Darren followed up Mandela’s appearance with “Give Me Hope Johanna,” a song Grant wrote during South Africa’s apartheid regime. Simple Minds performed, having also performed at the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert at London’s Wembley Stadium in 1988; and celebrated English humorist Stephen Fry introduced Brian May and Andrea Corr. The most highly anticipated performance of the evening came next, as a recently hospitalized Amy Winehouse teetered onto the stage in platform heels to perform her hit songs “Rehab” and “Valerie.”

After a politically-fueled performance by Nigerian artist 9ice and Ugandan musician Bebe Cool – who appeared on stage in bright orange prison jumpsuits emblazoned with "46664” – Josh Groban sang with Vusi Mahlasela and the Soweto Gospel Choir. Spanish artists Amaral performed an acoustic number, and then Mandela and the audience were treated to a video of U2’s Bono and The Edge singing Stevie Wonder’s peppy rendition of “Happy Birthday.”

The penultimate act was Queen and Paul Rodgers, who performed a fan-friendly medley of Queen’s greatest hits, including “The Show Must Go On,” “We Will Rock You” and “We are the Champions.” The crowd sang and clapped along thunderously.

The concert’s finale featured anti-apartheid campaigner and musician Jerry Dammers, who organized the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute. Dammers and Winehouse led the entire line-up of performers and the crowd in singing Dammers’ anthem “Free Nelson Mandela.” Formerly sung in protest against Mandela’s imprisonment, the song took on a celebratory tone and was a fitting end to an historic event.

All proceeds from the concert will go to 46664, the Nelson Mandela Foundation’s campaign for global HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention.

To send birthday wishes to Nelson Mandela – who turns 90 on 18 July – visit www.happybirthdaymandela.com. Proceeds from this birthday card campaign go to Nelson Mandela’s charities.

More Artists Confirm For Mandela's Birthday Bash

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:38:00 -0000

Multi-million selling classical pop singer Josh Groban, legendary folk rock singer Joan Baez, and a special appearance by Jerry Dammers – one of the organisers of Artists Against Apartheid and Nelson Mandela’s 70th birthday concert, and whose song ‘Free Nelson Mandela’ became a banner for the 80’s anti-apartheid movement in the UK – are further highlights added to the forthcoming Nelson Mandela 90th birthday concert taking place in London’s Hyde Park on the evening of Friday, June 27.

These additional artist appearances were announced today by the concert organisers who said, “these three artists hold a special place with Nelson Mandela."

The announcement comes only a week after singer Amy Winehouse confirmed she was adding her voice to those who will show their support for Mr Mandela and his 46664 organisation by taking part.

The three newly confirmed artists will join a performance line-up that already includes Queen, Annie Lennox, Simple Minds, Leona Lewis, Sugababes, Shirley Bassey, and Razorlight, along with more than a dozen of Africa’s most highly regarded artists including Johnny Clegg, Soweto Gospel Choir and Papa Wemba.

The 90th birthday evening concert now boasts an extraordinary roster of some of the most important artists of the twenty years which have passed since London first came together to call for Mr Mandela’s release with the 70th birthday concert on June 11, 1988.

A virtual who’s who of music history, the artists performing for the celebration of Mr Mandela’s 90th birthday account for multi millions of record sales across recent years, and in their diversity reach out across popular music fans across all ages and music preferences.

“The 46664 message is one that needs to be heard in every corner of the world,” said a spokesman for 46664. “These artists between them reach into every one of our communities – upholding Mr. Mandela’s message that HIV AIDS is not a local issue, but a universal one.”

Jerry Dammers and Josh Groban both have existing links with Mr Mandela and the causes he has addressed in his years as one of the world’s most revered statesmen. Jerry Dammers was instrumental in staging 1988’s Nelson Mandela 70th birthday concert. Josh Groban, who emerged the biggest selling recording artist in the US last year, is already an Ambassador for Nelson Mandela’s 46664 organisation, appointed by Mr Mandela when the two met in South Africa in 2004. Inspired by that meeting, Groban established the Josh Groban Foundation to help children in South Africa through education, healthcare and Arts. His 2007 ‘Noel’ Christmas album featured the African Children’s Choir.

Joan Baez provided one of the most influential voices of the 1960’s folk rock era and has continued to do so in the years that have followed. Along with Bob Dylan, her songs have defined generations of peaceful protest against various political issues.

Made possible through the support of Live Nation, the Royal Parks, and the generosity of the private sector including Mercedes-Benz, Zain and Investec, British Airways, Samsung, Intercontinental Hotels, and The Westbury, the June 27 concert proceeds will benefit Nelson Mandela’s HIV AIDS charity 46664 that he founded in 2002.

The three and a half hour 46664 Concert Honouring Nelson Mandela at 90 begins at 6:30pm on Friday, June 27.

Remaining tickets for the concert are available from www.46664.com or through Ticketmaster online at www.ticketmaster.co.uk.

Stars Sign Up For Mandela's Birthday Bash

Wed, 07 May 2008 10:21:30 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

The list of artists signing up for the June 27th 46664 concert in honor of Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday just keeps growing. 45,000 tickets are available for the one-day event, which will feature acts such as Eminem, Queen, Annie Lennox, Razorlight, Keane, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith.

Mandela says of the event, “London wants to celebrate my birthday and I said I would go if they would raise funds for our charities. So, we have a bargain – I am going to London and they there will host a concert in Hyde Park, which will raise awareness of our continuing work and much needed funds.”

The list of expected performers, as of yesterday, includes

Leona Lewis
Sugababes
Duffy
Jamelia
Amy Winehouse
Shirley Bassey
Emmanuel Jal
Andrea and Sharon Corr
Eddy Grant
Simple Minds
Amaral
Soweto Gospel Choir
Loylso
Kurt Darren
Johnny Clegg
The Children Of Agape
Papa Wemba
Sipho Mabuse

There will also be numerous unannounced appearances, as several major artists are keeping silent about their involvement in order to take both Mr Mandela and the audience by surprise.

The 46664 campaign got its name from Mandela’s prison number during 18 of his 27 years of incarceration on the notorious Robben Island. The campaign raises awareness about the impact of AIDS, especially in Africa, and promotes effective HIV prevention measures throughout the world.

Those wishing to purchase tickets, which are priced at £65 each, must first register at the concert’s homepage.

Annie Lennox And Friends Sing For Africa

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 12:59:52 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Momentum is building behind Annie Lennox’s Sing Campaign, and the singer is now offering fans the chance to download the song that started it all for free in an initiative to raise awareness of the HIV/AIDS problem in South Africa.

US residents will be able to download the song from Amazon MP3 until March 17 and support the Treatment Action Campaign, an orgainization that provides much needed support in the country’s struggle against the deadly virus.

The single, which was made available in the UK through the Body Shop, has sold out in countries such as Ireland and cities such as London. The entire UK has sold half of its stock in only two days, an unprecedented occurrence in the music industry, especially in relation to a charity single.

“One third of pregnant women in South Africa are HIV positive,” said the 53-year-old in a recent CNN interview. “We can prevent their children being born with the virus if we let the women have access to treatment. If you do not allow that to happen, you’re going to have future generations simply being wiped out.”

Lennox was joined by a choir of 23 well-known female performers for the song, which was originally released on her Songs of Mass Destruction album in 2007. The former Eurythmics lead singer believed that a group of female voices would make the message of the song stronger, so she enlisted the talents of Madonna, Céline Dion, Dido, Faith Hill, Joss Stone, Pink, Melissa Etheridge, Fergie, Bonnie Raitt, KT Tunstall, Shakira, Beth Orton, Sarah McLachlan, Anastacia, the Sugababes, KD Lang, Martha Wainwright, Angélique Kidjo, Beverley Knight, Shingai Shoniwa, Gladys Knight, and Isobel Campbell in the recording.

“Because I had written a song called ‘Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves’ in the 80s, which became a fairly well-known feminist anthem really, [I thought] perhaps it would be possible to try to attempt to write another kind of anthemic song for women,” said Lennox. “So I started to write a song and it ended up being called ‘Sing’. I sort of melded the song in with an HIV activist song written by a group of activists living in Khayelitsa in South Africa."

The Sing Campaign, which Lennox launched in 2007, has also just set up a new video on YouTube, in which the public can leave comments in support of the campaign.

More information about the campaign, visit the Sing Campaign website.

Celebrities Clean Out Their Closets For Charity

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 11:09:39 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Is your closet looking a little empty? Or maybe a little boring? Have the moths eaten holes in your favorite frock? Well, never fear, help is here – in the form of a couple of celebrity auctions for great causes.

March will see the opening of Katherine Heigl’s new film 27 Dresses, and to mark the occasion, 20th Century Fox is auctioning 27 celebrity dresses on eBay. Fabulous frocks from Heidi Klum, Thandie Newton, Mariah Carey, Geri Halliwell, Naomi Campbell, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Alesha Dixon will be up for sale in the special event, with all proceeds going to the Lavender Trust, an initiative of the UK charity Breast Cancer Care to raise money for young breast cancer sufferers.

The auction also features a stunning white John Galliano dress worn by Kylie Minogue to Cannes 2007, and a full length silver halter top belonging to her sister, Danni Minogue. The auction starts on eBay at 7pm on March 4, and a different dress will be auctioned every day.

If accessories are more your thing, then an exciting auction being held in Britain may be of interest. The Grace House North East Children’s Appeal Celebrity Bag Auction features a range of bags donated by some of England’s top stars, including members of Girls Aloud, as well as Dame Judi Dench, Twiggy, Sarah Ferguson, celebrity chef Ainsley Hariott, and newsreader Kirsty Young.

The event, to be held at the Apartment Bar in Newcastle-upon-Tyne on March 6, is sponsored by Makoosh, an online jewelry store, and will raise money to build the region’s first hospice for terminally ill children. The auction follows a similar event held last year, which raised $19,500, and featured items donated by Annie Lennox and Graham Norton.

“It is fabulous to see so many household names come out in force to support Grace House by donating their favourite handbags and manbags to be auctioned,” said Grace House Fundraising Assistant Sumera Bashir. “I would like to thank them all for making this event possible.”

More information about the auction can be found at www.gracehouse.co.uk.

Children in Need

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 12:27:27 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

The stars have lined up for the 2007 Children in Need Appeal, the BBC’s annual TV charity event. Airing tonight on BBC One, the evening of special programming will be hosted by Terry Wogan, and will feature special live performances by the Spice Girls in LA, Kylie Minogue, Westlife, Annie Lennox, David Gray and Sugababes.

The Spice Girls are also helping out by donating funds from their new single “Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)”. [Amazon: CD, MP3]

Irish boy band Boyzone have reformed for the event; the band split seven years ago when lead singer Ronan Keating went solo.

Last year’s appeal brought in £33 million ($66 million) for the charity, which strives to improve the lives of disadvantaged children.

As we are reporting in other news today, Children in Need is also one of the beneficiaries of a new fundraising book of celebrity handprints.

UK Comic Relief Raises £40.2m

Sat, 17 Mar 2007 14:52:42 -0000

Written by Steve Purcell

An eight-hour TV comedy marathon featuring cameos by Tony Blair and Kate Moss has brought this year’s Comic Relief appeal to a close, and the total funds raised to over £40m (78m USD).

Mr Blair played himself in a sketch set at Number 10 opposite comic Catherine Tate’s schoolgirl character Lauren, resorting to her catchphrase “Am I bovvered?”

The “Red Nose Day” TV gala featured other big names not normally known as comedians, including Daniel Craig, Elle Macpherson and Sting, while established comedy stars such as Ricky Gervais and Borat star Sacha Baron Cohen provided laughs aplenty.

The comedy was interspersed with music from the likes of The Killers, Sugababes and Girls Aloud, and with regular appeals for viewers to make pledges by Billy Connolly and others.

Although the appeal began on January 31, the majority of donations were made on Friday, with the final figure of £40,236,142 announced at the end of the TV show.

This year’s event marked the 11th anniversary of Red Nose Day and the 21st anniversary of Comic Relief in the UK. To date, £425m (825 USD) has been raised.

Sugababes and Girls Aloud Release Charity Single

Wed, 07 Feb 2007 09:17:13 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Chart-topping girl bands Sugababes and Girls Aloud are teaming up to release a charity single in support of Comic Relief in the UK. The single, a cover of Aerosmith’s Walk This Way, will raise money for projects in the UK and Africa. The girls donated their time, and all profits are going to the charity.

Girls Aloud’s Kimberley Walsh says: “It’s a fantastic song and hopefully will raise tons of money for people living in really difficult situations here and in Africa.”

The UK Comic Relief has raised over £425 million to date. Red Nose Day is an event which unites the UK event in trying to make a difference to the lives of thousands of individuals facing terrible injustice or living in abject poverty.

Treats From Sugababes

Fri, 10 Mar 2006 20:00:26 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

Sugababes are offering treats to their fans through an eBay auction. The auction is in celebration of their newest release, “Red Dress”, and fans can bid for handwritten lyrics from the album. Other items up for grabs are autographed albums, concert tickets and a phone call from the band.

All proceeds go to their favourite UK charity, Breast Cancer Care.

Look To The Stars News: Sugababes

Fashion For Relief A Huge Success

Related past articles

Sugababes To Headline Charity Concert

Related past articles

Stars Beat Bullying With New Auction

Related past articles

Celebs Sign Mercedes for 46664 Auction

Related past articles

Nelson Mandela's 90th Birthday Party Rocks London

Related past articles

More Artists Confirm For Mandela's Birthday Bash

Related past articles

Stars Sign Up For Mandela's Birthday Bash

Related past articles

Annie Lennox And Friends Sing For Africa

Related past articles

Celebrities Clean Out Their Closets For Charity

Related past articles

Children in Need

Related past articles

UK Comic Relief Raises £40.2m

Related past articles

Sugababes and Girls Aloud Release Charity Single

Related past articles

Treats From Sugababes

Related past articles