Look To The Stars News: John Lennon

Stars Come Out For Charity Cocktail Party

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:30:00 -0000

Celebrities flocked to the March 6 ‘Montblanc Charity Cocktail’ event hosted by Harvey and Bob Weinstein in West Hollywood to benefit UNICEF.

Montblanc has been known for generations as a maker of sophisticated, high quality writing instruments, and for their unwavering support of UNICEF.

One year ago, Montblanc committed to raise US$1.5 million for UNICEF between February 2009 and June 2010 through its global Signature for Good initiative. This initiative features twelve of the world’s brightest stars photographed portraying a heroine from one of literature’s timeless classics.

Emily Blunt, Marcia Cross, Andie MacDowell, Helen Hunt, Milla Jovovich, Eva Longoria, Sienna Miller, Christina Ricci, Susan Sarandon, Mira Sorvino, Jessica Lange and Lauren Hutton each donated their portrait to an exhibition and auction to support UNICEF.

The Montblanc Charity Cocktail to honor UNICEF celebrated the Weinstein Company’s Academy Award Nominees “Inglourious Basterds” (8 nominations); “Nine” (4 nominations); and “A Single Man” (1 nomination).

Celebrities such as Jackie Bissett, Adrien Brody, Kristin Davis, Lawrence Fishburne, Tom Ford, Diane Kruger, Nicole Richie, Quentin Tarantino and many others attended this exclusive Charity Gala hosted by Montblanc, where Montblanc International CEO Lutz Bethge handed over a subtotal of US$2 million to Ms. Caryl M. Stern, president and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.

Following the event, the Montblanc Wish Tree, bearing these special aspirations for those less fortunate, will tour the world, and return to New York City in September where it will be exhibited for the international launch of the Montblanc Donation Pen John Lennon to collect more wishes. At this special occasion, Montblanc will further announce the charity programs which will benefit from the donations of the sales of the Montblanc John Lennon pen. At the end of the year, the Montblanc Wish Tree will be auctioned to benefit education programs for children in need.

For more information about Montblanc Charity Initiatives, please visit www.montblanc.com or become a fan on Facebook.

Hard Rock Serves Up John Lennon For Charity

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Last week, Look To The Stars brought you the news that Yoko Ono had donated John Lennon’s Give Peace A Chance to charity. Now we can reveal that she has also donated another of the singer’s songs to another charity campaign.

The World Hunger Year (WHY), along with Hard Rock Cafe, has released Serve4, the latest in their series of albums designed to fight hunger around the world. Yoko Ono has donated John Lennon's Gimme Some Truth to the album.

“This is a beautiful step towards world peace,” she said. “By imagining there’s no hunger, like what John sang in his song, we express our strong desire to bring a world in which children will never again suffer from hunger or poverty. Let’s come together and help spread this message around the world. John would have loved the fact that so many illustrious and good meaning partners and organizations have stood up to make this effort together.”

It is the second time Ono has donated one of Lennon’s songs to Hard Rock’s Imagine There’s No Hunger campaign and Serve CDs.

100% of net proceeds from Hard Rock’s campaign will directly benefit WHY and its grassroots partners around the globe, that have developed ways to feed children worldwide who are victims of poverty and also teach them farming and entrepreneurial skills for the future. Proceeds will be donated directly to WHY to benefit local charities, including the Common Ground Foundation and Pathfinder Academy both located in Kenya, the Pattanarak Foundation located in Thailand, City of Joy located in India, the Yéle Haiti Foundation located in Haiti, Hope North located in Uganda, Roots and Shoots located in China, Project Bona Fide located in Nicaragua and Sentabale located in Lesotho.

“Hard Rock has been a longtime supporter of WHY, and I’ve seen firsthand how the organization helps to make a difference around the world,” said Hamish Dodds, President and CEO, Hard Rock International, and Global Ambassador for WHY. “We are proud to continue to support WHY’s life-saving efforts, in hopes that one day, we will have a world without hunger and poverty.”

The track list of Serve4 is as follows:

John Lennon “Gimme Some Truth”
O.A.R. “Lay Down”
Brandi Carlile “If There Was No You”
Starsailor “Listen Up”
Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint “The River In Reverse”
Earth, Wind & Fire / Chicago “You”
Eric Hutchinson “OK, It’s Alright With Me”
The Low Anthem “Home I’ll Never Be”
Arno Carstens “Heartbreak Monday”
Brett Dennen “Heaven”
Toby Lightman “One Day”
moe. “Wicked Awesome”
The Raveonettes “Oh I Buried You Today”
Uncle Kracker “Smile”

In addition to SERVE4, beginning November 9th, Hard Rock locations around the globe will offer IMAGINE THERE’S NO HUNGER merchandise, including a limited-edition bracelet and pin to benefit WHY.

A charity event held in New York to launch the CD last week attracted a plethora of famous supporters, including Ringo Starr.

“You get so many invites every day to do stuff,” said Starr. “When I read the statistics of this, it just blew me away. So I thought, why not? How hard is it to do something? Because it is of some value, you give your name to great causes.”

The 14-track Serve4 is available as a download card at Hard Rock locations and at hardrock.com and as a download with five bonus tracks at Amazon ($8.99 or 99 cents a track). Cafe patrons who add a $1 donation to a meal tab receive an Imagine bracelet.

Yoko Ono Gives Song To United Nations Peacebuilding Fund

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:00:00 -0000

To celebrate the unifying spirit and 40th anniversary of the Plastic Ono Band’s universal anthem, “Give Peace a Chance,” Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon and Julian Lennon have partnered with EMI Music and Sony/ATV Music Publishing to donate net proceeds from the sale of a commemorative 40th Anniversary digital single to the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF).

Beginning today, iTunes will exclusively offer the single’s special anniversary edition for download purchase, with net proceeds benefiting the PBF through December 31.

Says Yoko Ono, “I am thrilled that so many in the music business are readily supporting ‘Give Peace a Chance’ on its 40th anniversary. It is indeed a time when we are all getting more aware of the necessity of doing something to achieve world peace, no matter how small. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I feel deeply that we are all one, regardless of where we stand.”

“I am delighted to see that a song so closely identified with the pursuit of peace, will shine a light on the United Nations’ peacebuilding efforts and financially support PBF projects,” the Chairperson of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), Ambassador Heraldo Muñoz of Chile said.

Written during John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s 1969 honeymoon bed-in protest against the Vietnam War, “Give Peace a Chance” was inspired by Lennon’s off-the-cuff explanation to a visiting reporter of the couple’s purpose for protesting the war by remaining in their honeymoon bed. From March 25 to March 31, the newlyweds invited the world’s media to visit and interview them daily between the hours of 9am and 9pm in their bed at the Amsterdam Hilton Hotel.

The song was recorded live on June 1, 1969 in a room at Montreal’s Queen Elizabeth Hotel, with several well-known friends joining Lennon and Ono to sing the chorus. Since the single’s original release on July 4, 1969, it has been the world’s foremost anthem for peace, beginning most notably with the Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam’s massive protest in Washington, DC on November 15, 1969, where more than 500,000 people gathered and sang “Give Peace a Chance.”

Yoko Ono Donates iPod To Charity Auction On John Lennon's Birthday

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Yoko Ono has given her support to a small Liverpool charity that is planning a fundraising initiative at a Beatles landmark to celebrate John Lennon's birthday on Friday.

The Henshaws Society for Blind People will hold a concert at The Cavern Club on October 9 – World Sight Day and Lennon’s birthday – which will feature a number of local bands and a special auction. Going under the hammer will be a John Lennon-engraved 16GB ipod touch and a personally signed postcard donated by Ono, as well as football shirts, artwork and more.

“The Cavern gig last year was such a huge success but this year it’s bigger and better,” said Henshaws fundraiser Nikki Andrews. “We’re so glad that Yoko Ono has given her support on such a significant day.”

Henshaws aims for a society where anyone affected by sight loss has choice and control over their future and can live, learn and work as part of their community. They deliver practical, caring and imaginative services to visually impaired people and to their friends, family and colleagues. They also work to raise awareness around visual impairments in the wider community. Celebrity supporters of the charity include Roger Moore, Judi Dench and more.

Henshaws Live at the Cavern will take place on Friday from 8pm. Tickets will be available on the door and cost £10. For more info about the charity, click here.

World March For Peace Starts In New Zealand

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The World March for Peace and Non-Violence kicked off in Wellington, New Zealand, today, beginning a trek that will visit 90 countries on 6 continents, ending in Argentina on January 2 of next year.

Marchers braved chilling winds in the country’s capital to start the march, which has been endorsed by world leaders and celebrities such as Penelope Cruz, Viggo Mortensen, Desmond Tutu, Martin Sheen, Jane Fonda, Jimmy Carter, Lou Reed, Yoko Ono, Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan, Bryan Adams and many more.

The 160,000-kilometre (99,419 mile) march has been organized by World Without Wars. A core group of 25 marchers will complete the entire journey, carrying with them a “nuclear abolition torch” taken from the Hiroshima Flame which was lit from embers following the 1945 nuclear explosion in Japan. The primary goals of the World March include:

nuclear disarmament at a global level
immediate withdrawal of invading troops from occupied territories
progressive and proportional reduction of conventional weapons
signing of non-aggression treaties between countries
renunciation by governments of the use of war as a means to resolve conflicts

A rehearsal march was held in New Zealand earlier this week, led by Xena Warrior Princess star Lucy Lawless, who walked beneath a Chinese-style dragon made from the sails of the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior, sunk by French agents in Auckland in 1985.

Earlier this year – as a lead up to the march – organizers created roving billboards and also recreated the famous Bed-In held by Yoko Ono and John Lennon.

Look To The Stars is proud to support the March For Peace and Non-Violence, and wish all those taking part a great and successful journey.

More info can be found here.

Beatlemania Returns For Charity

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Beatlemania has hit the headlines once again this week, with the release of the Fab Four’s remastered CD collection, their Rock Band video game, and a popular British presenter’s efforts to re-record their hits for charity.

A whole new generation of fans are currently being exposed to the music of John, Paul, George and Ringo through the release of Rock Star, and a number of limited edition Xbox 360 consoles are available to benefit Doctors Without Borders. The consoles are available at eBay.

Doctors Without Borders is an international medical humanitarian organization created by doctors and journalists in France in 1971 working in more than 60 countries to assist people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe. Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, along with Yoko Ono Lennon and Olivia Harrison, personally selected the charity as the beneficiary of these proceeds.

According to eBay: "Starting Sept. 9, Xbox 360 will also give its more than 20 million Xbox LIVE members the opportunity to give to charity and support the Beatles’ eternal message of peace and love. “All You Need Is Love,” the Beatle’s iconic anthem of peace, will be released exclusively on Xbox 360 as a downloadable song for the game through Xbox LIVE with Apple Corps Ltd, MTV Games, Harmonix and Microsoft, with proceeds benefiting Doctors Without Borders. Good deeds never go unnoticed: purchasing and downloading the “All You Need Is Love” track for 160 Microsoft Points for charity will also register you for the “The Beatles: Rock Band” Download & Win* for a chance to win one of the limited edition “The Beatles: Rock Band” Xbox 360 consoles and a Rickenbacker 325 replica guitar controller."

In other Beatles news this week, British TV and radio presenter Sir Terry Wogan has been busy in a recording studio with Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason and the Rolling Stones’ Bill Wyman laying down tracks of classic Fab Four songs for the upcoming Bandaged Together album to benefit Children in Need.

The project has been organised by a group of Terry Wogan fans known as The TOGs (Terry’s Old Geezers and Gals).

“Last year, thanks to the TOGs, we raised about £3 million for Children In Need,” said Sir Terry. “We had Bandaged One which sold an awful lot and made hundreds of thousands of pounds for the charity. The idea this year is Bandaged Two and we are hoping to raise even more money.”

The album – which will feature Sir Terry’s take on All You Need Is Love – will be released next month.

John And Yoko's Bed-In Recreated For Peace

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:00:00 -0000

In celebration of the 40th anniversary of Yoko Ono and John Lennon's Bed-In, the organizing committee of the World March for Peace and Nonviolence will be holding a “Bed-In for Peace and Nonviolence” at the Cherry Hill Fountain Terrace in Central Park on August 16th from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m, where they will pay tribute to John Lennon, and Yoko Ono, and the timeless cause of peace. Cherry Hill Fountain Terrace is located adjacent to Strawberry Field inside the park.

A “Peace Bed” will be set-up where the public can express their thoughts on peace, nuclear proliferation and violence just as Lennon and Ono brought attention to the violence of the Vietnam War from their honeymoon bed. The event will feature activities like sign painting, face painting, poetry reading and a live recording of the new song “We Want Peace on Earth” by Mark Lesseraux and Earthdriver at 3 p.m. The public is invited to sing along.

World March US spokesperson Chris Wells will be on hand to speak to the press. Says Wells, “the Bed-in is a tribute to two remarkable people who dared to dream and used their imagination to promote and support the planet’s most urgent need.” Other Bed-ins have been organized by the World March for Peace and Nonviolence to date in Montreal, Rio, Prague, Helsinki, Ireland, San Clemente, Munich, Madrid and Berlin.

An international team of marchers will kick off the World March in New Zealand on October 2nd, the International Day of Nonviolence and bring together more than one million direct participants in 95 countries on seven continents for thousands of supporting marches, festivals, exhibits, concerts, forums, conferences and social, cultural, educational and athletic events. The goal of the march is to celebrate and demand peace, end wars, dismantle nuclear weapons and eliminate all forms of violence.

The march will arrive in New York City on November 30, 2009, and reach its final destination in Punta de Vacas, Argentina on January 2, 2010.

The World March has been endorsed and backed by more than 500 prominent newsmakers, Nobel Laureates, heads of state, mayors and artists, including Jimmy Carter, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, Penelope Cruz and Yoko Ono, who has received a special invitation to attend the anniversary event she so famously brought to the world’s attention 40 years ago.

In a special message to March organizers, Ono writes: “Remember, each one of us has the power to change the world. Power works in mysterious ways. You don’t have to do much. Visualize the domino effect. And just start thinking PEACE. The message will circulate faster than you think. It’s Time For Action. The Action is PEACE. Spread the word. Spread PEACE.”

The World March was launched by the international organization World Without Wars affiliated with the Humanist Movement. For more information, go: www.worldmarchusa.net

Yoko Ono Supports Peace Initiative

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Yoko Ono is supporting the 40th anniversary celebrations of her famous Bed-In for Peace by encouraging a new public show of solidarity calling for nuclear disarmament and an end to war as a means of solving conflicts.

The World March for Peace and Nonviolence is planning to create a giant peace sign using people dressed in white at the Cherry Hill Terrace Fountain which is adjacent to Strawberry Fields of New York’s Central Park on August 16. There will also be a special bed in place for anyone to experience and express their views on peace.

According to the organizers: "40 years ago, John Lennon and Yoko Ono invited the world into their bed and asked us to give peace a chance. Today, with the threat of nuclear confrontation more real than ever, it is time to loudly affirm that the will for peace is stronger than the will for war, and to proudly engage in nonviolent acts of support for a world without wars or violence."

The World March for Peace and Nonviolence will be held in seven continents, starting in New Zealand on October 2nd, the International Day of Nonviolence, and will bring together more than one million direct participants in 95 countries, who will celebrate and demand peace for all countries. The message carried by all is the end of wars, the dismantling of nuclear weapons and for an end to all forms of violence.

The World March is backed by hundreds of endorsements including Nobel Laureates, heads of state, mayors and artists, such as former President Jimmy Carter, President Michelle Bachelet and Penelope Cruz. The World March was launched by the international organization World Without Wars and the Humanist Movement. For more info: www.worldmarchusa.net.

“Remember, each one of us has the power to change the world,” said Ono. “Power works in mysterious ways. You don’t have to do much. Visualise the domino effect. And just start thinking PEACE. The message will circulate faster than you think. It’s Time For Action. The Action is PEACE. Spread the word. Spread PEACE.”

More information on how to take part in the Peace Sign initiative can be found here.

John Stamos To Rock n' Roll For Charity

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Actor John Stamos will make an appearance at a special night of Rock n’ Roll benefiting Project Cuddle tonight, June 10.

The event celebrates the public opening of the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame in New York, and will feature great food and drinks, and the chance to look through the history of popular music – with a selection of items from Bob Dylan to Bruce Springsteen, Madonna to John Lennon.

Project Cuddle is a 24-hour crisis line for women who are hiding their pregnancies and is the result of one woman’s crusade to help prevent infants from being abandoned, Debbe Magnusen. Since its inception, the organization has saved over 600 babies across the US and into Canada from the fate of being abandoned or worse. Project Cuddle works with frightened girls or women and helps them find safe, legal options so that they never have to leave a baby at a dumpster, a church or dirty back alley.

As part of the event, Project Cuddle is also running an online auction featuring guitars signed by John Stamos – national spokesman for the organization – and a variety of health and beauty experiences. The auction can be accessed here.

For more information about tonight’s event – to be held at the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame, 76 Mercer Street, SoHo, New York at 6:30pm – visit the Project Cuddle website.

John Lennon's White Feather

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

John Lennon's first wife, Cynthia Lennon, and their son, Julian, are to launch a new exhibition featuring memorabilia in the name of a new charity.

White Feather: The Spirit of Lennon is being held in conjunction with Liverpool’s Beatles Story museum, and will feature possessions and images of Lennon’s family life. The White Feather Foundation is also the name of a charity currently being set up by the pair, focusing on environmental and humanitarian issues.

“The white feather is so prevalent in my life,” said Julian Lennon. "One thing for sure is that it’s always represented peace to me. And one of the things my father said to me was that should he pass away, if there was some way of letting me know he was going to be ok, or that we were all going to be ok, it was by in some way, shape or form presenting me with a white feather.

“I hope this exhibition lets people see another aspect of his life and our time together as a family. This collection represents something of great importance to us as it is part of our history.”

The exhibition opens at the Mersey Ferries terminal building at Liverpool’s Albert Dock on June 17 and runs until December 31. More information can be found at the official website.

Beatles Launch Game With Charity Download

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Former Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr were in California earlier this week to launch the new Xbox The Beatles:Rock Band game. During the event, the musicians announced that one of the songs from the game, All You Need Is Love, will be released exclusively as a download through Xbox Live, with proceeds to benefit Doctors Without Borders.

McCartney and Starr joined Yoko Ono – widow of John Lennon – and Olivia Harrison, widow of George Harrison, in unveiling the game at Microsoft’s 2009 E3 Media and Business Summit.

All You Need Is Love will be released exclusively as a downloadable song on September 9, with all proceeds benefiting Doctors Without Borders. Also known as Médecins Sans Frontières, this international humanitarian aid organisation provides emergency medical aid in more than 80 countries. Established in 1971, Doctors Without Borders provides aid “to people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe, primarily due to armed conflict, epidemics, malnutrition, exclusion from health care, or natural disasters. MSF provides independent, impartial assistance to those most in need and reserves the right to speak out to bring attention to neglected crises, to challenge inadequacies or abuse of the aid system, and to advocate for improved medical treatments and protocols.” The organization was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999.

Find out more about the work of the organization at its official website.

Beatles Day 2009 To Benefit Charity Appeals

Wed, 13 May 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Fans of the Fab Four around the world will have the chance to celebrate their favorite band during Beatles Day 09 and raise money for the Imagine Appeal for the Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and the Marina Dalglish Appeal for a radiotherapy centre in Liverpool.

Officially launched by Julia Baird – John Lennon's sister – and Ricky Tomlinson, the event will take place on July 10 in places as diverse as China, Russia, New Zealand and of course Liverpool.

This year will mark the second time the event will be held, with last year’s homage to John, Paul, George and Ringo – which gained support from Pink, Russell Brand and the Sugababes – raising over £45,000. Liverpool will once again host a concert as part of the event, and there will be loads of merchandise and happenings available.

July 10 was chosen as the date as it is the anniversary of the Beatles triumphant return to Liverpool from the States and the premiere of the film ‘Hard Day’s Night’ in 1964. The streets were lined with thousands of adoring fans, and organizers hope to re-create the same sort of Beatlemania this year.

“It’s 24 hours when people can show their love for the Beatles and celebrate the legacy of their music,” said Chas Cole, Summer Pops promoter. "The concert at the Echo Arena will be a great way to finish, but BEATLES DAY is really a chance for the ordinary people of Liverpool and other towns and cities all over the world to take part in Beatles related fundraising activities and events. The most important thing is to have fun whilst raising money.

“Liverpool will be the centre of events on 10th July. It would be a great time to visit and let the people show you what makes this city truly great; its heritage, humor, boundless enthusiasm under pressure and above all, its ability to not take itself too seriously. BEATLES DAY here we come!”

The Imagine Appeal is a fundraising campaign launched in 2005 with the help of Yoko Ono to raise money for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital – the largest children’s hospital in Europe. Since 1914, the hospital has led the way in the care of sick children and now treats more than 200,000 young patients every year. And with patrons such as Wayne Rooney, the Imagine Appeal aims to make the work of the hospital easier.

To find out more about this event, visit the official website.

Yoko Ono Revisits Acorn Peace Campaign

Tue, 05 May 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Yoko Ono is to recreate a peace promotion she originally carried out in 1969 with her husband, John Lennon, to celebrate its 40th anniversary.

The 76-year-old artist will send acorns to 123 world leaders – including Barack Obama – encouraging them to strive for world peace. Each world leader will receive two acorns in a transparent box with the inscription “Acorn Peace by John And Yoko, Spring 2009”.

On 15 June 1968, John Lennon and Yoko Ono planted two acorns for peace at Coventry Cathedral. The acorns were planted in east and westerly positions, symbolizing the meeting of the couple and the union of their two cultures. This was the first of many peace events that the couple would initiate throughout their lives. They followed the planting by sending acorns to world leaders in the hope that they would plant oak trees in their gardens.

Beatles fans will remember and recognize the stunt from the lyrics of their number 1 hit The Ballad of John and Yoko: “Caught the early plane back to London/Fifty acorns tied in a sack/The men from the press said, ‘We wish you success, it’s good to have the both of you back’”.

To see the letter Ono has written to Obama, as well as the original letters she received from world leaders in 1969, visit the Imagine Peace website.

Jarvis Cocker To Play For Children's Hospital

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

British musician Jarvis Cocker is to play a special charity gig in Manchester next month.

The former Pulp singer will perform at the Royal Northern College Of Music on April 16 as part of the second John Lennon ‘Imagine’ Charity Fundraiser.

Imagine Appeal is a fundraising campaign launched in 2005 with the help of Yoko Ono to raise money for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital – the largest children’s hospital in Europe. Since 1914, the hospital has led the way in the care of sick children and now treats more than 200,000 young patients every year. And with patrons such as Wayne Rooney, the Imagine Appeal aims to make the work of the hospital easier.

Also due to play at the gig are Badly Drawn Boy, I Am Kloot, Stephen Fretwell and Cherry Ghost. James Harrington is supporting Alder Hey Imagine Appeal with this event

For information about tickets or to find out more about the Imagine Appeal, visit their website.

Yoko Ono To Auction Artwork On World Autism Awareness Day

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Yoko Ono – artist, singer and widow of former Beatle John Lennon – is to unveil a new mural titled at UN headquarters next month in honor of World Autism Awareness Day.

Titled Promise Piece, the mural is to be auctioned off in support of the non-profit group Autism Speaks, and will be revealed at an event that marks the 2nd Annual World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) on April 2.

The artwork is to broken apart into smaller pieces, and the 58 signed puzzle pieces will be auctioned throughout the month of April, with the caveat that they are to be “re-united” and re-assembled when the cure for autism is found. The event will be sponsored by the Chilean Mission.

  "I am proud to partner with Autism Speaks in promoting awareness and advocacy for children with autism," said 76-year-old Ono. “World Autism Awareness Day is not only a day to raise awareness about the importance of early diagnosis and treatment, but also to celebrate another big step towards healing our world.”

WAAD was created by the UN General Assembly in 2007 to increase public awareness about autism and to stress the importance of early diagnosis and intervention, and is one of only three health issues honored by the UN with its own special awareness day. Autism Speaks, the world’s largest autism science and advocacy organization, will hold a series of national and international events to mark the second annual celebration of World Autism Awareness Day, on multiple continents and in venues ranging from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange to the United Nations.

“Last year’s WAAD events were a remarkable success, and we are confident that the scope of this year’s activities will help elevate autism as a topic of international discussion and exploration,” said Suzanne Wright, co-founder of Autism Speaks. “On this day, we will highlight the tremendous contributions of individuals with autism, as well as the strength and dedication of their families. Together, we are inspiring compassion, inclusion and hope by building a global autism community whose voice is finally being heard.”

To find out more about WAAD events, visit the Autism Speaks website.

James Taylor To Headline Musicians On Call Benefit

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Musicians on Call has announced Grammy award winner James Taylor as the headliner for their 5th Annual Benefit Concert & Auction which will take place at the world-famous Hard Rock Cafe New York in Times Square on February 24, 2009. The exclusive V.I.P. event will include a red carpet, with special appearances by artists and celebrities committed to the cause.

As music and philanthropy are at the core of the brand, Hard Rock International has partnered with Musicians on Call for the benefit event, helping the charity to continue its mission of room-to-room hospital performances by both local musicians and national celebrities.

In partnership with Hard Rock International, Musician on Call’s 5th Annual Benefit Concert & Auction will kick off Hard Rock’s month-long March On Stage charitable celebration. March On Stage is a global live music series featuring both iconic and emerging artists as a philanthropic initiative to support music healing organizations. Committed to its “Love All, Serve All” creed, Hard Rock will donate proceeds from its March on Stage events in North America to Musicians On Call.

“Musicians On Call’s campaign to bring music straight to the bedsides of patients in hospitals would not be able to continue to expand without the donations made at our annual event.” says Leslie Faerstein, Executive Director Musicians On Call. “It’s an exciting night made even more special by a performance by James Taylor. The impact of this one night has a profound effect throughout the rest of the year improving the health and spirits of thousands of patients one song and one bed at a time.”

For the past four years, the Musicians On Call Benefit Concert & Auction has produced the most exciting and rewarding experiences for music fans bringing the best in music to the stage of their events and exciting items to their auctions. Following are just a few items that will be available for bidding at www.musiciansoncall.org beginning on February 10th: a one-hour personal painting lesson from the renowned entertainer and revered painter Tony Bennett at his private studio in New York City; a visit to the set of Nickelodeon’s hit series iCarly; and autographed guitars from Bruce Springsteen, Coldplay, Depeche Mode, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Loggins, Black Crows, Kings Of Leon, Kanye West, David Cook, & Brooks & Dunn.

The annual Musicians On Call Benefit Concerts have raised over a million dollars for the organization in the past four years; helping them to continue their mission of bringing music to patients in healthcare facilities. While aiding Musicians On Call, lucky music fans have walked away with a myriad of signed guitars and other treasures including a signed 1952 reissued Telecaster from Bruce Springsteen, a played harmonica from the Johnny Cash Estate, time in the studio with Maroon 5, artwork from John Lennon, and a signed basketball from Justin Timberlake.

Tickets for this unparalleled benefit with a special performance by James Taylor are available at www.musiciansoncall.org.

Visit Abbey Road Studios To Benefit Cancer Research

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Cancer Research UK has announced February 26 as the date of their annual Sound & Vision event at Abbey Road Studios in London.

Although full details have yet to be released, the event will feature champagne and canapés, access to the recording studios where The Beatles recorded, a stunning exhibition and auction of images featuring iconic musicians by famous photographers, the opportunity to purchase a piece of music history in a live auction, live performances, and the chance to rub shoulders with celebrity guests.

Patrons of the event include legendary Beatles producer George Martin and Whispering Bob Harris. Last year’s event raised over £160,000 for vital cancer research with live performances by Beverley Knight, 10cc and The Brand New Heavies and auction items such as a one-off Rickenbacker guitar designed and signed by R.E.M's Peter Buck and handwritten lyrics from Bryan Ferry. Photos from the event can be viewed here.

Tickets for the event will be available soon, and more information can be found here.

John Lennon Serves Up Song For Charity CD

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Hot on the heels of John Lennon’s charity TV advertisements for lap tops, Hard Rock International is proud to announce the launch of its 2008 global “Imagine There’s No Hunger” campaign to benefit WHY, a nonprofit organization that strives to fight against hunger and poverty in America and around the world.

Setting the foundation for the “Imagine There’s No Hunger” campaign, artist and musician Yoko Ono has graciously donated her late husband John Lennon's inspirational song “Give Peace A Chance” to the SERVE3 compilation. The CD will also include rare, new or previously unreleased tracks from some of music’s most influential artists, including Bruce Springsteen, Joss Stone, Avril Lavigne, Starsailor, My Morning Jacket and more. SERVE3 will be available at Hard Rock locations around the world and on www.hardrock.com, with digital downloads available at iTunes.com.

“I am glad that WHY is using John’s lyrics to communicate the seriousness of this issue to the world,” said Yoko Ono. “Let’s all work together to make a world without hunger as soon as humanly possible. We owe this battle to our children. WAR IS OVER if you want it. In brotherhood and sisterhood.”

The “Imagine There’s No Hunger” campaign also includes a charity bracelet, as well as a limited-edition pin and holiday ornament, featuring John Lennon’s famous self-portrait and signature. All net proceeds from the campaign will be donated directly to WHY to benefit grassroots efforts in Kenya, Haiti, Indonesia, Thailand, South Africa, Venezuela and New Orleans.

More info can be found here.

John Lennon Imagines From Beyond The Grave

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Elizabeth Willoughby

“Imagine every child, no matter where in the world they were, could access a universe of knowledge,” says John Lennon in a new TV advertisment. “They would have a chance to learn, to dream, to achieve anything they want. I tried to do it through my music. But now, you can do it in a very different way. You can give a child a laptop and more than imagine. You can change the world.”

The easy connection of “imagination” to John Lennon, due to his famous song, Imagine, made him a perfect candidate for One Laptop Per Child's campaign to provide every child in the developing world with a laptop – except that Lennon was killed nearly 30 years ago. However, through digitalization, a youthful image of the songwriter has been on television since Christmas with his message.

One Laptop Per Child is the latest project of Nicholas Negroponte, a driving force of the multimedia revolution. His goal is to have millions of wireless, solar powered, Internet-enabled laptops in the hands of children by 2010. The size of a textbook, the robust XO laptop acts as an entire library and more for each child, and thus can provide them with an education. Negroponte has spoken various times at TED conferences, most recently earlier this month about his latest delivery to children in Colombia

At TED2006 Negroponte said, “It’s amazing when you meet a head of state and you say, ‘What is your most precious natural resource?’ They will not say children at first. And then when you say children they will pretty quickly agree with you.”

That these laptops will act as “a springboard into [children’s] future,” digital-John’s message echoes Negroponte: Give a laptop, change the world.

Springsteen Serves Again For World Hunger Year

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Bruce Springsteen has once again donated a song to the World Hunger Year organization for a new benefit CD.

Serve3 is the third installment of the album that features rare and unreleased tracks released by Hard Rock International to help fight world hunger and poverty. The CD features performances by some of rock’s biggest selling artists, as well as Grammy winners and critically acclaimed musicians.

Joining Springsteen in donating songs for Serve3 is Joss Stone, Avril Lavigne, DMC, and The Chapin Sisters – the three nieces of the late folk singer Harry Chapin, who formed World Hunger Year in 1975 because he “saw hunger and poverty as an insult to America”. Chapin – who died in 1981 – donated all of the proceeds from his concert merchandise to World Hunger Year, and gave almost all of his personal fortune away to the 81 charities he was known to support.

Serve3 is available in both CD and digital formats, with 7 bonus tracks available when purchased from iTunes. The full tracklist is:

Bruce Springsteen Remember When The Music
Joss Stone Love Has Made You Beautiful
My Morning Jacket Look At You
Avril Lavigne When You’re Gone
Robert Randolph and The Family Band Diane
The Charlatans Complete Control
Ryan Shaw People Get Ready
Marc Broussard Keep Coming Back
Starsailor Military Madness
Micki Free Mother Earth
DMC I Be Rockin’ It
The Chapin Sisters I Know It’s Over
John Lennon Give Peace A Chance

Digital Bonus Tracks:

Dave Barnes On a Night Like This
Toby Lightman Color
The Brilliant Mistakes Becoming
Middle Distance Runner I Hope You’re Upset
Scott Barnhill Heaven
Lisa Bouchelle Time
The Dead Trees Jew Said Grace

Join the Hard Rock Imagine There’s No Hunger campaign by purchasing the album at the Serve3 website.

Stars Hold Bed-In For Peace

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 11:36:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Thirty nine years ago, celebrities didn’t have to travel round the world to give peace a chance. They didn’t need to rush to the poorest places, be seen at the flashiest charity parties, donate their old clothes to online auctions (well, they didn’t have the internet, so that last one was definitely out of the question). All they needed to do was stay in bed. Just ask John Lennon and Yoko Ono. OK, so you can’t exactly ask John Lennon, but you get the idea. Because back in 1969, when that illustrious pair held their famous bed-ins for peace, the world was a much simpler place – people wore their hair long, their feet bare, and smiled more than today. And believe it or not, history repeated itself last week.

Award-winning actress and peace activist Maggie Gyllenhaal, founder of Peace One Day Jeremy Gilley, and Roy Kerwood, original photographer from Lennon’s 1969 Montreal Bed-in, spent the day in bed at the Ben & Jerry’s Times Square Scoop Shop in New York to launch a John Lennon tribute flavor, “Imagine Whirled Peace,” and announce a new social mission partnership between the ice cream makers and Peace One Day last week.

The bed-in followed a nation-wide competition held by Ben And Jerry’s Ice Creams to identify modern-day peace activists who embody the values set forth by Lennon through their work to create positive change in the world. The winners were presented with $10,000 each to donate to the peace charities of their choice.

“As a company that has supported peace initiatives throughout our thirty year history, Ben & Jerry’s is thrilled to continue its commitment through a joint effort with Peace One Day,” said Walt Freese, Chief Euphoria Officer of Ben & Jerry’s. “Founder Jeremy Gilley has worked tirelessly to help create a UN recognized annual day of global ceasefire and non-violence, now universally known as Peace Day. We applaud his efforts and are excited to join his mission to encourage people to recognize and celebrate Peace Day, and to support Peace One Day’s event on September 21st.”

The John Lennon tribute flavor, “Imagine Whirled Peace,” is described as a caramel and sweet cream based ice cream with toffee cookies and chocolate peace signs, and was developed to support Ben & Jerry’s social mission campaign.

“When Ben & Jerry’s decided to engage in a campaign about peace, we couldn’t think of a better person to exemplify the message than John Lennon,” said Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s. “Through his art and lyrics he imagined a world without war and asked us all to ‘Give Peace a Chance.’ We’re urging people to log on to www.PeaceOneDay.org and to make their own commitment to Peace Day.”

I just hope they didn’t drop any ice cream in the bed.

Icons Of Music Rock On For Charity

Mon, 26 May 2008 11:12:57 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The second annual Music Rising Icons Of Music auction will be held on 31 May at NYC’s Hard Rock Café, and is to broadcast live by the Auction Network.

Music Rising is a charity founded by U2's The Edge, producer Bob Ezrin, and Gibson Guitars CEO Henry Juszkiewicz to help replace musical instruments that were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. The auction will feature over 400 exciting lots, including one of The Edge’s famous 1976 Gibson Explorers (with an estimated price of $80,000), a Fender Stratocaster previously owned by David Gilmour, a snare drum signed by John Lennon, and Eric Clapton's Roland G-505 guitar used on his Behind The Sun album and on tour with Roger Waters.

The evening will also feature a very special performance from four-time Grammy Award winner Aaron Neville, who has helped bring major attention to some of the charity work being done in New Orleans today. Neville lost everything in the storms of Katrina and brings a unique personal experience to Music Rising, giving guests a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness his great musicianship when he brings the spirit of New Orleans to the auction.

A limited number of tickets for the event are currently available for $250.00 each through either Ticketmaster or Hard Rock Cafe New York, with all proceeds going directly to Music Rising. Tickets include entry into the evening portion of the event, special catered services, and a complimentary Icons of Music II collectible auction catalog.

Highlights from the Icons of Music II auction have already toured the world, and have been seen at The Museo De La Moda in Santiago, Chile, The Museum of Style Icons in Ireland, and the Celebrity Vault in Beverly Hills. The auction lots will be on display at the Hard Rock Cafe New York from 11am to 10pm daily from Monday, May 26th – Friday, May 30th.

Other items include a hat once owned by Elvis Presley, Madonna's high school yearbook, Elton John's toaster, and Jimi Hendrix’s personalized guitar straps. The auction can be accessed at the Auction Network website.

New CD To Raise Aid For Darfur

Tue, 19 Jun 2007 07:28:22 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign To Save Darfur is a new CD that seeks to raise aid for the humanitarian catastrophe in Darfur. It features the music of John Lennon recorded by some of the world’s best known musicians.

U2, Green Day, Christina Aguilera, and Avril Lavigne are some of the 50 musical artists and groups that are included in the Amnesty International project.

The album was released around the world on 12 June by Warner Bros Records, and was put together by Amnesty International’s “Make Some Noise” initiative.

“Make Some Noise” is a global venture that hopes to inspire a new generation to stand up for human rights. It mixes music, celebration and action to protect people wherever freedom is denied. Yoko Ono has been a longtime supporter of the initiative, and donated the rights to the entire John Lennon songbook to the project.

“Music speaks the language of freedom, revolution and solidarity. Without that freedom – without music that is angry, joyful and necessary – we are nothing” she said of the album’s release.

The CD calls attention to the war-torn countries of Darfur and Chad. All proceeds from the album and music downloads will go towards alleviating the risk of starvation and disease in these areas.

Other artists featured on the CD include Aerosmith, Lenny Kravitz, Jack Johnson, and Ben Harper. REM is also featured, and drummer Bill Berry came out of retirement to record the track “#9 Dream”. It is the first time the original four band members, including singer Michael Stipe, have been in the studio together since 1997.

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