Look To The Stars News: Coldplay

Stars Gather For Annual Bridge School Benefit

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Veteran musician Neil Young was surrounded by a plethora of stars at his annual Bridge School Benefit Concert on Saturday night.

The concert benefits a non-profit educational institution in Northern California for children with physical disabilities and severe speech impediments. It was co-founded by Young’s wife, Pegi, in 1986, after three of the couple’s children were born with cerebral palsy and epilepsy (their two sons have cerebral palsy and their daughter – like Neil – has epilepsy). Young organized the first Bridge School Concert in 1986, and with the exception of 1987, has hosted the event every year since.

Appearing at Saturday’s show at Mountain View in California were Gwen Stefani, Sheryl Crow, Wolfmother, Gavin Rossdale, Adam Sandler, Chris Martin from Coldplay and many more.

Bridge School ensures that children with severe speech and physical impairments achieve full participation in their communities through the use of augmentative & alternative means of communication (AAC) and assistive technology (AT) applications.

Bridge School has established an outreach program to share what is developed at the school with parents, professionals and users of AAC/AT across the world.

Coldplay Donates To Gwyneth Paltrow's Favorite Charity

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

British band Coldplay have donated £1 million to a children’s charity in the UK.

The group has made the donation to Kids Company, a charity that provides practical, emotional and educational support to vulnerable inner-city children and young people, in particular those with severe emotional, behavioral and social difficulties, resulting from significant experiences of trauma and neglect. Actress Gwyneth Paltrow – who is married to Coldplay singer Chris Martin – is also a big supporter of the charity. Last year, she cleaned out her closet for an auction to benefit the charity, and she recently designed a range of clothes to raise money for the organization.

“[Coldplay] were moved by the tough stories they heard and want to be genuine participants,” said charity founder Camila Batmanghelidjh. “I got the feeling the donation was something they had planned from the start of their careers.”

Go Back To School With Celebrity Items

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

The Grammy Foundation and MusiCares want you to rock in the new school year by taking part in a new charity auction that features unique memorabilia and VIP experiences that benefit their high school music programs.

Decorate your room with original artwork and photos from Taylor Swift and Paris Hilton, signed postcards from Kanye West and Stevie Wonder, and play on guitars signed by Depeche Mode, John Mayer, Tom Petty and Sheryl Crow.

The auction also gives you the chance to extend your wardrobe with hoodies signed by the Jonas Brothers and a T shirt signed by Iggy Pop. There are also items and experiences from Coldplay, Maroon 5, Joe Satriani, the Dave Matthews Band, Slash, Alice Cooper, Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Hudson, Neil Diamond, 3 Doors Down, John Legend, Jason Mraz, U2, Melissa Etheridge, Green Day and many more.

The GRAMMY Foundation cultivates the understanding, appreciation and advancement of the impact of music on American culture through music education programs, scholarships and grants, and MusiCares provides a safety net of critical financial assistance and services for music people in times of need.

The auction runs until July 31 and can be accessed here.

Join Bill Clinton For Vegan Lunch In Charity Auction

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Russell Simmons has launched an online auction to 10th anniversary Art For Life Garden Benefit Party.

Simmons will flex his charity muscles on July 18 with the Art For Life Garden party benefit on July 18th in East Hampton. The auction and event benefits Simmons’ Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation, the organization he founded with his brothers, Danny and Joseph Simmons, that connects disadvantaged youth with art programs. Held at the private East Hampton Estate of Russell Simmons, this evening will once again celebrate the creative energy of New York City youth and honor exemplary individuals in the community, including Vanessa Williams, at a star-studded dinner and gala featuring live and silent auctions of unique art and luxury items.

The online auction features the chance to join an intimate and private dinner where Bill Clinton will be hosted with 35 guests at Simmons’ private residence in New York on July 20. The others in attendance will be 35 of the most influential movers and shakers in America under the age of 35, part of the noted Summit Series. Past Summit Series attendees have included founders and top officials of companies as Zappos, Facebook, Twitter, Google, Trump International, as well as top entertainment personalities. An extraordinary vegan dinner will be prepared by world famous chef Tom Colicchio, head judge on Bravo TV’s Top Chef, and founder of NYC’s famed Craft restaurants.

Other items include the chance to meet Deepak Chopra and Ice T, yoga lessons with Simmons, meet-and-greets with Third Eye Blind and Fall Out Boy, exclusive tickets to Coldplay, and much more.

The auctions run until July 18 and can be accessed here.

Gary Barlow Organizes Charity Concert

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Take That singer Gary Barlow is planning a one-off charity fundraising extravaganza at the Royal Albert Hall.

Following his successful charity trek to the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro earlier this year, the singer has now enlisted the help of Peter Kay, Leona Lewis, and Coldplay’s Chris Martin to put on the show.

“Gary’s been bitten by the fundraising bug,“ reported The Sun. “He was amazed by people’s generosity during his Kilimanjaro climb. As soon as he got off the mountain he made the decision to lend his support to more charities. Take That are going to perform and there will be a whole host of surprises throughout the evening. It is shaping up to be a very special night.”

The gig, which is slated to take place in October, will raise money for Children in Need, the BBC’s charity established to provide practical and lasting support to thousands of youngsters aged 18 and under, including those who have experienced homelessness, neglect, abuse or poverty.

Ricky Gervais Designs Manbag For Charity

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Ricky Gervais is among celebrities who have made their mark on a new fundraising initiative designed to raise awareness of prostate cancer.

Leading online retailer manbagcompany.com threw down the gauntlet to some of the UK’s favorite celebs to let their imaginations run riot and customize one of its exclusive Messenger bags. The great and the good from the arenas of fashion, comedy, art, music and film stepped forward to add their personal touches to a Manbag – and raise money for The Prostate Cancer Charity into the bargain.

A host of contributors rose to the challenge and joined Ricky in supporting the initiative, including Coldplay, Depeche Mode, Alan Carr, Rio Ferdinand, Twiggy, Jade Jagger, Joe Corres, Spandau Ballet, Darth Vader, Bruce Oldfield, Jimmy Choo, Tom Baker (Dr Who) and many more.

The resulting collection of bags – from the comic to the cool – will now be auctioned on eBay on 24 June, with all of the proceeds going to the Charity.

Ricky Gervais explained his belief as to why so many celebrities have come forward to support the campaign: "Prostate cancer touches the lives of 35,000 men and their families every year in the UK. I hope the auction of celebrity manbags will raise as much money as possible for The Prostate Cancer Charity.”

Manbagcompany.com has enjoyed great success since it launched its collection of top of the range men’s bags last year, so much so that it now wanted to give something back.

Says manbag founder Bain Ellisdon: “We are delighted to be raising funds for such a worthy cause as The Prostate Cancer Charity. We have received great feedback from those we have contacted so far; this initiative really seems to have brought out people’s creative as well as philanthropic side!”

John Neate, Chief Executive of The Prostate Cancer Charity, said: “This collaboration really seems to have struck people’s imaginations – and revealed some hidden artistic talent. The designs range from a glittery prostate by Jason Gardiner to a playful creation by Jimmy Choo. We would like to thank Bain and the rest of the Manbagcompany team for their support, as well as all of the celebrities who have taken the time to customize a bag. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK. I think this project will really help raise awareness of the disease across different age groups, as well as generate funds for the Charity.”

To find out more and view the designs, click here.

Paul McCartney Launches Meat Free Mondays

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Sir Paul McCartney is spearheading a campaign to encourage people to "go vegetarian“ for at least one day every week. Meat Free Monday is a food campaign to encourage the world to help slow climate change by reducing their meat consumption by having one meat free day a week.

The former Beatle is leading the star-studded campaign that includes Stella McCartney, Yoko Ono, Kelly Osbourne, Moby, Alec Baldwin, Kevin Spacey, Ricky Gervais, Chris Martin of Coldplay, Sheryl Crow, artist Jeff Koons and chefs Yotam Ottolenghi and Giorgio Locatelli.

“I think many of us feel helpless in the face of environmental challenges, and it can be hard to know how to sort through the advice about what we can do to make a meaningful contribution to a cleaner, more sustainable, healthier world,“ said McCartney. "Having one designated meat free day a week is actually a meaningful change that everyone can make, that goes to the heart of several important political, environmental and ethical issues all at once. For instance it not only addresses pollution, but better health, the ethical treatment of animals, global hunger and community and political activism.”

The UK’s Food Climate Research Network states that food production is responsible for between 20-30 percent of global green house gas emissions. The United Nations has supported the figures, saying that the livestock sector is ‘one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global’.

“A couple of years ago the United Nations came out with a report that said for people to eat less meat would have a big impact on the environment,“ McCartney told Sky News. “It’s all got a bit out of hand and I think people want to do their bit to bring it back into line, and this is an answer we’ve got involved in. A few years ago you’d say to people recycling is good. And they’d stick it all in one bin anyway. I mean I was the same. Now you don’t see that. You go round to people’s houses and they’ve got the bins and stuff. I think the time is right now for that idea.”

The Meat Free Monday campaign states that meat consumption has quadrupled since 1961, and poultry consumption has increased 10-fold.

“The reality is a lot of people don’t eat meat every day,“ said Stella McCartney. “You don’t have to be a vegetarian to cut out one day of meat consumption. It’s something anyone can do.”

“I thought this was a great idea,“ Sir Paul told reporters at the campaign’s official launch yesterday. “To just reduce your meat intake maybe by one day a week and this would seriously benefit the planet. It’s kind of easy to do. You’ve had too much over the weekend anyway and you’re all running down to the gym to try and work it off – so just have a meat-free Monday.”

To find out more about Meat Free Mondays and lend your support, visit the official website.

Celebrities Do Whatever It Takes For Charity

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A huge selection of celebrity-designed bags and T-shirts are currently available at the UK’s premiere celebrity charity auction website, Buy Once Give Twice.

The auction site is hosting the auction for Whatever It Takes, a unique charity artwork project which inspires hope by gathering artworks from leaders in all fields; royalty, film, music, Nobel Peace Prize laureates, sports, literature etc. The artworks are used to ethically produce Whatever It Takes products which are then sold to raise funds for charitable causes chosen by each contributing leader.

Going under the hammer in the auction are T-shirts featuring designs by The Killers, Pink, Snoop Dogg, Nicole Kidman, Hilary Duff, Lucy Liu, Toni Collette, Coldplay, Minnie Driver, Keane, Whoopi Goldberg, Green Day, Barry Manilow, Penelope Cruz, Melanie C, Annie Lennox, and the Kaiser Chiefs. There are also bags and purses designed by Gwen Stefani, Snoop Dogg, Lucy Liu, Kanye West, Slash, David Bowie, Ozzy Osbourne, and Stella McCartney.

Charities supported by Whatever It Takes include: Adopt-A-Minefield, Anti-Slavery International, Breast Cancer Campaign, CARE, Children of the Andes, Children’s Medical Research Institute, Christian Children’s Fund, City at Peace, Comic Relief, Dreams Can Be Foundation, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Greenpeace, Healthlink Worldwide, Heifer International, Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen, Red Cross, LIFEbeat, LifeLine & Rape Crisis PMB, Opportunity International, Oxfam, ROTA, Rights and Humanity, S.A.F.E., Save the Children, Sharon Osborne Colon Cancer Program, Snoop Youth Football League, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Teenage Cancer Trust, The BRIT Trust, Christina Noble Children’s Foundation, Little Dreams Foundation, Lotus Outreach, Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, Toothfairy Foundation, Trade plus Aid, UNHCR, UNICEF, and WaterAid.

To make a bid in the auction, which runs until June 30, click here.

Stars Duet With Cuban Musicians For Climate Change

Tue, 26 May 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Amy Winehouse, The Killers and The Rolling Stones have teamed up with a group of Cuban musicians on an album designed to fight climate change.

The artists will perform duets with Rhythms Del Mundo on the CD, titled Classics, with proceeds from the project going to fund climate change projects and natural disaster relief around the world.

Inspired by the 2004 Asian Tsunami, the album will contain musical gems such as The Killers singing The Eagles’ Hotel California, and The Rolling Stones taking on The Drifters’ Under the Boardwalk. Also included on the album will be Amy Winehouse’s take on Sam Cooke’s Cupid. But perhaps the real highlight will be Fall Out Boy and John Mayer teaming up to cover Michael Jackson’s Beat It.

The album will follow the first Rhythms Del Mundo album which was released in 2006 and featured an all-star cast of Cuban musicians including Ibrahim Ferrer and Omara Portuondo of the Buena Vista Social Club and international artists such as the Arctic Monkeys, Dido, U2, Coldplay, Sting, Jack Johnson, Maroon 5, Franz Ferdinand, and Kaiser Chiefs. Proceeds from the CD went to environmental nonprofit organization Artists Project Earth.

The new CD is due for release in July.

Coldplay Auction Charity Tickets

Thu, 21 May 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

Coldplay has teamed up with CharityFolks.com to offer fans 2 VIP tickets to each of their North American shows to benefit Oxfam America, an international relief and development organization that creates lasting solutions to poverty, hunger, and injustice.

Ticket auctions end about two weeks before each show, so don’t miss this opportunity to see Coldplay up close and personal while helping stomp out hunger. For details on each auction package, please visit Charity Folks.com.

Celebrities Send Messages Of Support For Earth Hour

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

This Saturday, March 28, will mark Earth Hour, an initiative of the WWF in which people around the world are being encouraged to switch their lights off between 8:30 and 9:30pm in a bid to reach the target of one billion people who are committed to fighting climate change.

Earth Hour has grown from a single event in Sydney, Australia, in March 2007 to a global phenomenon that will change the way the world sees climate change. On March 31, 2007, over 2.2 million people and 2,100 corporations in Sydney turned their lights off for an hour, creating an energy saving of 10.2% – that’s roughly the same as taking 48,000 cars off the road!

A number of celebrities have thrown their support behind the initiative and have spoken about its importance:

Edward Norton: “I am encouraging people toturn off their lights for one hour on March 28th at 8:30 p.m. – EarthHour – and join tens of millions of people around the world in the largest call to action on climate change in history. Earth Hour sends a powerful message to the world that we must act urgently before it’s too late. By turning out the lights, Americans will be casting a vote for action.”

Desmond Tutu: “Earth Hour is an opportunity for every man, woman and child from all corners of the globe to come together with a united voice and make a loud and powerful statement on the issue of climate change.”

Jo Dee Messina: “Earth Hour is such a great campaign. It lets something as simple as flicking a light switch become so much more. Earth Hour reminds everyone that if we all put in a little effort, we can achieve big results.”

Gavin DeGraw: “Not only is this going to be great for the environment, but it also shows how powerful an idea can be if people with different backgrounds, cultures, shapes, and sizes all work together. I’m not exactly sure what city, state, or country I will be in on March 28, 2009, but I look forward to sharing this monumental occasion with not only the locals but my friends, family, and all of my wonderful fans around the world.”

KT Tunstall: “In 2009, I’m going to join in for the first time on March 28th at 8.30pm and turn off every light, appliance and pull out all the plugs to support Earth Hour. Experience power to the people – fully off the grid!!”

Wynonna: “I think this hour can give people everywhere a chance to be mindful that we are all in this together and that we can – and will – make a difference.”

Dierks Bentley: “I think it’s an honor for Nashville to be included in the list of flagship cities being asked to help promote Earth Hour. Climate change is for real and I’d like for my daughter to enjoy this beautiful world as much as I have. Personally, I’m hoping to be down in one of the Lower Broadway honky-tonks at 8:30! Acoustic hour at Robert’s…Cool!”

Simple Plan: “Global warming and the devastating effects it has on our planet are among the most urgent and serious issues we face in the world today. It’s up to us to do our share, evolve, adapt and change the way we live. On March 28th, we can all get involved by doing something extremely simple: turn off the lights! It’s easy and a great way to send a message and let the world know that we care about the environment.”

Linkin Park: “Climate change is a crisis affecting the world right now, negatively impacting the Earth’s ecosystems and the strength and frequency of climate-related disasters such as drought, flooding, and catastrophic storms. Earth Hour is an opportunity for individuals to come together with one voice and declare that we are ready to tackle this critical issue head on.”

Backstreet Boys: “The Backstreet Boys are proud and excited to be a part of Earth Hour 2009. It is absolutely inspiring for the four of us to come together with millions of people from all over the globe for such an important and monumental cause. On March 28th at 8:30pm, put in your vote to take action against the climate crisis. Get creative for an hour. Turn off your bedroom lights and light some candles. Unplug the electric and serenade your sweetheart with an acoustic guitar ballad instead. Forget the microwave and indulge on that huge bowl of Captain Crunch you’ve been craving. You know that’s what we’ll be doing. Not necessarily in that order though.”

Other celebrities who have shown their support for the initiative include Coldplay, Donny Osmond, Marie Osmond, Larry Flynt, Amy Grant, The Veronicas, Vince Gill, Cate Blanchett, Janeane Garofalo and Alanis Morissette.

To learn more about what you can do to join the campaign on Saturday, visit the Earth Hour website.

War Child Album Cover Artwork To Be Auctioned

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Artist John Squire’s artwork for the new War Child Heroes compilation is to be auctioned off for the charity.

The former Stone Roses guitarist has donated the image for the online auction on eBay.

“For me the appeal of War Child is pretty simple, they help the hungry, the displaced and the traumatised children in certain war zones to deal with that situation and they involve them in deciding how that help is organised," he said. “Anything I can do to support them is no trouble at all.”

It is the third time the musician/artist has created a cover for the charity’s benefit albums.

“I did the first two War Child albums, so why not make it a hat trick?” Squire told NME.COM. “They told me Bowie and the Ramones might be involved, so the first two things I offered them were based on lyrics. They rejected those, I think over the last few years I’ve forgotten how to make record sleeves! So this is the final offering, it’s a bit literal now. I did some exhaustive research, found some psycho website full of guns.”

Also up for auction are copies of the Heroes album and t-shirts signed by Coldplay.

The album features a series of once-in-a-lifetime collaborations between some of the best known names in the music world and up-and-coming stars – a concept that mirrors one of the intrinsic aims of War Child’s worldwide efforts in war zones across the world: to place faith in the next generation. The project paired stars such as Sir Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, David Bowie, and Brian Wilson with up-and-comers such as Duffy and The Hold Steady.

The auction can be accessed here.

Kylie Minogue Joins The Wiggles For UNICEF

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Pop star Kylie Minogue has teamed up with Australian children’s group The Wiggles for a new song, with performance royalties going to UNICEF.

Monkey Man – a cover of a song oringinally recorded in 1969 by reggae group The Maytals – features on the Wiggles’ latest children’s album, Go Bananas, which is to released worldwide today, March 23. The band – made up of Anthony Field, Murray Cook, Sam Moran, and Jeff Fatt – have been UNICEF Australia Goodwill Ambassadors since February, 2008, and are helping UNICEF work towards the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) to reduce by half the proportion of people without access to safe water and basic sanitation by 2015. With album and ticket sales in the millions, The Wiggles have picked up a swag of celebity fans, including Coldplay’s Chris Martin, who met the band and covered one of their songs during his recent tour of Australia.

All performance royalties from this track will go to UNICEF, and UNICEF Australian CEO Carolyn Hardy says the organization is thrilled that the superstars have teamed up to help vulnerable children around the world.

To find out more about The Wiggles Go Bananas, click here. To see the video – which includes Kylie donning a pink skivvy in the multi-colored group – check this out.

Kylie Minogue Leads The Stars In Australian Charity Concerts

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Over 120,000 people attended the Sound Relief fundraising concerts in Sydney and Melbourne on Saturday, March 14, to raise money for victims of devastating fires and floods in Australia.

The concerts have raised over AUS$5 million to go towards the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Fund Appeal and Queensland flood relief efforts, with some of the world’s greatest entertainers turning on performances of a lifetime for a good cause.

Coldplay, Jack Johnson, Taylor Swift, Kings Of Leon, Neil Finn and Crowded House, and Kasey Chambers were just some of the artists that entertained the crowds, which included celebrities such as Toni Collette, David Wenham and Shane Warne. Kylie Minogue appeared at the Melbourne concert with a special rendition of I Still Call Australia Home, and the Sydney concert was closed by Olivia Newton-John and Barry Gibb, who performed Islands In The Stream and a wide range of Bee Gees hits. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin also joined Aussie legend John Farnham on stage for a duet on You’re The Voice.

“I was ready and I think the cause is so great – it’s essential,” said Barry Gibb, who flew in from the US the day before the concert. “I think we all need to be incensed about what happened and I think we need to care and I think we need to make the statement, so [that’s why] we’re here.”

Prince William and Prince Harry also made their first ever Australian address – via video – telling the crowds that they could “only imagine” what victims were going through and asked people not to forget the “amazing efforts” of the emergency services.

“It was a day for the ages, an event like no other that will live in the hearts of many Australians for generations to come,” said concert organizers, who went on to say that it was the biggest paying audience at any Australian concert or charity event ever. Millions more heard the concert on television and radio.

Among other bands to perform on the night were reunions of Hunters And Collectors, Icehouse, Split Enz, and Midnight Oil.

LTTS Exclusive: Keaton Simons - A Few Notes On Change

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Michelle Vink

Keaton Simons, a musician that has shared the stage with Coldplay and grew up with the guys from Maroon 5, is no stranger to the world of celebrity. So what inspired this provocative singer/songwriter to speak about the importance of raising a child?

Keaton Simons was raised in a family that believed in making a difference. “I have always had an awareness of charity since I was a child. My mother (Eliza Roberts) has always been involved with charity, particularly those to do with child abuse prevention. So it is something that I have always had in my life and been aware of. I have always wanted to do something to make a difference.”

Simons believes that the key to making a positive change in the world today is through educating parents on how to raise their children and through the prevention of child abuse.

“If you think about all of the other charities, they can all be profoundly affected just by an awareness of the prevention of child abuse and the importance of raising your child in an environment of love and compassion.”

This is the philosophy taught by The Natural Child Project. The concept of educating parents to raise their child with a “loving and respecting approach to raise a happy, trusting and confident child.” Keaton not only supports and embraces this philosophy but is now also the voice on the audio books, The Natural Child by Jan Hunt.

Keaton believes that if more people would get involved to build awareness, that it would make a dramatic change in society and we would see a decline in violent crimes and behaviors. “It will take a really committed movement. It is a self-perpetuated machine. Once you get the ball rolling, it is rolling. The change will continue to occur through a pattern that will correct itself.”

The gifted songwriter also believes that having this kind of education can drastically change the way a person functions as an adult and deals with adversity. He believes so many people have the wrong idea about how to address children’s difficult behaviors.

“What doesn’t kill you CAN make you stronger if you allow it to. For many people they don’t know how to channel it and it makes them weaker and makes it more difficult for them to survive. It is important that you give recognition to that. It goes back to the whole childhood development thing; it’s not about tough love. Tough love is something that only works with a strong education and the right safe and loving environment. Otherwise it just breaks people down and it and they retreat into themselves and stop asking for what they want and eventually they don’t know what they want anymore. They start looking to other people for their answers. You need the foundation of a loving and compassionate childhood and education to endure. You cannot just use “tough love” as rule.”

Keaton doesn’t just talk these practices about puts these philosophies to the test when he was faced with own personal hardships. He recalls a time that seems very reminiscent of so many musicians and celebrities, when his career started to take off and the reality of the entertainment industry started to reveal itself in a harsh light. He reflects on a huge setback that included a record that would never hit the shelves, dishonest dealings and a contract prohibiting him from moving forward.

“It was really difficult because I was so close to exactly what I wanted. I persevered and now I look back and don’t have any regrets at all…but it was extremely difficult. I think for a lot of people it would have been terminally heartbreaking and would have marked the ends of a lot of people’s careers. For me it ended up being a new beginning and every day, I continue to work harder and stick with it. And realize it happens when it happens.”

And the hard work is paying off. Keaton is now signed with CBS Records and has a new album out, called Can You Hear Me Now, with several songs already appearing on various television programs. Simons will also be among the performers at the United Nations for the inaugural Millennium Development Goals (M.D.G.) Awards on March 17, which will honor Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and Dr. Kevin Cahill for a Lifetime of Humanitarian Service with the initial M.D.G. Awards.

For those of you that will not be at the Awards show, you will also have the opportunity to catch Simons on tour and will be performing on March 28th at the Hotel Café in Los Angeles as one of his stops. There will also be a very intimate performance that will benefit one of his charities later this year that is already in the works.

If Keaton Simons is any example of the strength, endurance and love that can come from a Natural Child Project environment, then I think there it is time that we all started listening.

For more information about his tour dates and about his music, you can go to keatonsimons.com. To purchase the audio book for The Natural Child Project or to learn more about this cause, visit www.naturalchild.org.

Kylie Minogue To MC Australian Bush Fire Relief Concert

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Pop star Kylie Minogue is to MC one of the Sound Relief concerts to benefit victims of Australia’s bush fires.

The concerts – to be held in Sydney and Melbourne on March 14 – will raise money for families of the 210+ people who lost their lives in last month’s fires, as well as the thousands left homeless. The Melbourne concert has already sold out – making it the largest paid concert event ever held in Australia, with 78,000 expected to attend – and extra tickets have been added to the Sydney concert.

Minogue will fly to Melbourne from India – where she is currently filming a Bollywood movie – but is not expected to perform musically at the event.

“The lineup is without doubt a once in a lifetime one, but it’s truly impressive how much the Australian public has gotten behind this. It speaks volumes of the passion of our great country – helping a mate in trouble,“ said Sound Relief co-organizer and music promoter Michael Gudinski. “To me, Kylie is Melbourne. Her attendance is the cherry on the top of an already phenomenal lineup. She’s our girl.”

All profits from the Melbourne concert will be donated to the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal, while half of the proceeds from the Sydney concert will go to the Premier’s Disaster Relief Fund Appeal in QLD to aid the victims of the Queensland floods.

Acts expected to perform at the shows include Coldplay, Jack Johnson, Kings Of Leon, Neil Finn, Kasey Chambers and many others.

Tickets to the Sydney show are $75 and are available from Ticketek.

Coldplay To Headline Bushfire Benefit Concert

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A huge selection of bands have agreed to take part in Sound Relief, two concerts benefiting victims of Australia’s bushfires early next month.

Coldplay, Kings Of Leon and Jack Johnson are just some of the names signed up to appear in the concerts, to be held in Melbourne and Sydney on March 14. Organizers are hoping the twin concerts – labeled by some as ``the single largest music concert event in Australia’s history” – will raise up to $5 million dollars. 100-per-cent of the money raised from the Melbourne show will go to the Red Cross bushfire appeal, while the Sydney proceeds will be split between the bushfire appeal and for victims of the Queensland floods.

Also set to appear are Kasey Chambers, Paul Kelly, Liam Finn, Split Enz and a reformed Midnight Oil and Icehouse. Aussie legends Hunters and Collectors are also reforming for the concerts, with lead singer Mark Seymour telling the Herald Sun: “The sheer magnitude of this tragedy has really hit home for all of us – how important it is to show that we care about the lives of fellow Australians, especially given that they suffered a tragedy that simply came about because they lived in a certain postcode. What’s happened to them could have happened to any of us.“

Country singer Kasey Chambers shared similar feelings about the tragedy that has claimed over 200 lives and left thousands homeless.

“You try and find the thing you can do,” she said. “I can’t put out fires, I can’t rebuild houses for people but I can use my position as a musician to raise some money and hopefully inspire people to find their thing that they can do. It’s a pretty proud day to be Australian to see all of us come together.”

Tickets are expected to cost $75 and will be available from Ticketek from March 4.

Coldplay Joined By Bono For Charity Gig

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

After attending the annual Brit Awards in London last night, Coldplay raced across town to play a special charity gig with some very special guests.

The British band joined The Killers and members of U2 for a concert at O2 Shepherds Bush Empire to benefit War Child.

The concert kicked off with a loud and exquisitely played set from The Killers, who took the crowd through renditions of songs such as Spaceman and Human. Then it was Coldplay’s turn, who weaved songs from their entire back catalogue into a seamless set.

But it was the encores that raised the biggest interest. Coldplay returned to the stage to play Take That’s Back For Good with special guest Gary Barlow, and then were joined by The Killers and the one-and-only Bono for a rendition of All These Things That I’ve Done.

The exclusive gig celebrated the launch of Heroes, the new album that aims to raise money for War Child and features a series of once-in-a-lifetime collaborations between some of the best known names in the music world and up-and-coming stars – a concept that mirrors one of the intrinsic aims of War Child’s worldwide efforts in war zones across the world – to place faith in the next generation.

“In our eyes, War Child is one of the world’s most important charities, and The Killers are one of our favorite bands, so playing this concert is an absolute pleasure for us,“ said Coldplay singer Chris Martin.

Neil Diamond MusiCares Concert Is A "Double-Whammy"

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Neil Diamond will be honored as MusiCares Person Of The Year later tonight – Friday, February 6 – in a concert celebrating his music and humanitarian spirit.

Heading up the list of performers set to join the music legend on stage at the Los Angeles Convention Centre are Kid Rock and British band Coldplay. Also on the agenda are the Foo Fighters, Jennifer Hudson, Jonas Brothers, Josh Groban and Faith Hill.

“It’s a double-whammy,” Diamond joked to the Associated Press. “I get a chance to help raise a lot of money and a little plaque that says, ‘Hey, you’re OK.’”

Diamond is being honored for his charity work, which includes his recent donations to victims of Hurricane Ike.

Proceeds from the concert will go to MusiCares, an organization that provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need by supplying services and resources that cover a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies. The evening will also feature a fantastic silent auction.

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.

Neil Diamond Donates Money To Hurricane Ike Victims

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Neil Diamond has donated the profits from merchandising sales on his recent tour to the victims of Hurricane Ike.

The singer – who is to be honored as MusiCares Person of the Year in February – initially agreed to donate his merchandising sales from his shows last October to victims of the disaster, but has now turned over proceeds from every show he has played since then.

“Hurricane Ike hit southern Texas so fiercely and has been forgotten about by the rest of the country – but these people are still in desperate straits, and are in dire need of our help,” he told CNN. “I saw what was going on. The mayor of Houston took me around, and he told me about it and introduced me to some people. The next day, I drove down to some of the hardest-hit areas, and I just felt that I had to do something, and I felt that maybe my audience would help me out with it.”

The singer will be joined by performers such as Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, the Foo Fighters, Coldplay, Jennifer Hudson, John Mayer, and Josh Groban at a charity show on February 6 at the Los Angeles’ Convention Centre to benefit MusiCares, an organization that provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need by supplying services and resources that cover a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies. The evening will also feature a fantastic silent auction.

Tickets for the event are available here.

Coldplay Join The Killers For War Child Gig

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 15:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Rockers The Killers are to join Coldplay on stage for a special charity concert.

The exclusive gig will celebrate the launch of Heroes, the new album that aims to raise money for War Child and features a series of once-in-a-lifetime collaborations between some of the best known names in the music world and up-and-coming stars – a concept that mirrors one of the intrinsic aims of War Child’s worldwide efforts in war zones across the world – to place faith in the next generation.

The concert will take place at the newly renamed O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London on February 18 in front of 2,000 fans. Tickets to the event are £50 and will be available via a lottery system. To enter the lottery, you will need to register your details and registration will commence at 9am on Friday 30th January.

“In our eyes, War Child is one of the world’s most important charities, and The Killers are one of our favorite bands, so playing this concert is an absolute pleasure for us,” Coldplay singer Chris Martin said in a statement.

Ticket registrations will be available at the War Child website.

Coldplay And Foo Fighters Join Neil Diamond For Charity Gig

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 16:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Neil Diamond has announced plans for a star-studded charity concert to be held next month.

The veteran singer – who was named the 2009 MusiCares Person of the Year – will be joined by performers such as Tim McGraw, the Foo Fighters, Coldplay, Jennifer Hudson, John Mayer, Josh Groban, Adele and Raul Malo for the gig on February 6 at the Los Angeles’ Convention Centre.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the MusiCares program, which provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need by supplying services and resources that cover a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies. The evening will also feature a fantastic silent auction.

Diamond is being honored by the charity for his charity work, which includes donating 100 percent of merchandise sales from his October concerts in Houston, Dallas and Oklahoma City to the hurricane relief efforts in Texas for areas ravaged by Hurricane Ike.

Tickets for the event are available here.

Bono's Edun Creates I/denti/tees For Africa

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

EDUN LIVE – the socially-conscious fashion brand launched by Bono and his wife Ali Hewson in 2005 – are partners in a new product being launched in time for Christmas – i/denti/tees.

I/denti/tees are T-shirts that feature lyrics from some of modern music’s most recognizable songs, such as Joan Jett’s I Love Rock & Roll, U2’s I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, and Gloria Gaynor’s I Will Survive.

EDUN LIVE works to improve the skills of the workers where their clothing is made, including India, Tunisia, Kenya and Madagascar, and aims to foster trade in Africa by ensuring all of its products are 100% African, from “grower to sewer”. Because the products are completely made in Africa, the benefit of each goes back to the people working on the product in sub-Saharan Africa.

The tees are packaged in classic album vinyl sleeves and come with a 10 song digital download iTunes card – each purchase of an i/denti/tees music tee will be eligible for 10 free iTunes tracks of your choice. Retail price is $35, and the tees will be available at www.identitee.com and select Hard Rock locations.

Other i/denti/tees available include Coldplay’s I Used To Rule The World, Jay-Z’s I’m A Hustler Baby, Whitney Houston’s I Wanna Dance With Somebody, and Melissa Etheridge’s I’m Not The Only One.

U2 Believe In Father Christmas For Africa

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:30:00 -0000

Written by Delinda Lombardo

December 1st was World AIDS Day, and it also marked the launch of (RED)WIRE, an innovative new music service from (RED) that’s been set up to raise funds for HIV/AIDS charities in Africa.

Many artists have already lined up to premiere exclusive songs to help mark the event. Of course, Bono and his boys in U2 were one of the first to record an exclusive track for the new digital music magazine. Their cover of Greg Lake’s ‘I Believe in Father Christmas’ is only available on (RED)WIRE.

Those who purchase (RED)WIRE memberships- which are only $5 a month- will receive a weekly digital music offering including an exclusive song from a major artist, a song from an up-and-coming artist, and bonus content such as a digital short film or a reading from an artist or actor, as well information about the impact (RED) dollars have in Africa. Half of the $5 monthly fee goes directly to the Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa.

Members who join before Wednesday, December 10, will become “Founding Members” of (RED)WIRE and receive the premier issue on December 10 as well as a special bonus song from Jay-Z.

Also, throughout the week, visit red.msn.com to see performances from U2, Jay-Z, Coldplay, John Legend, Dixie Chicks, The Killers & Elton John, The Police & Elvis Costello, Death Cab for Cutie and Sheryl Crow.

Bono's RED(Wire) To Launch Next Week

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:00:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A new digital music service offered by Bono’s (RED) campaign is set to launch on Monday, December 1 – the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day.

The singer announced the new system in July, saying: “We are working on [a way that] will help change the way music is received, as well as change the lives of Africans who will die without the AIDS drug that (RED) can provide.”

RED (Wire) will be a subscription-based service that will deliver weekly magazine style installments. For $5/month, subscribers will receive an exclusive song from one of the world’s top artists, a song by an emerging artist, a piece of non-music content called a “Crackerjack surprise,” and stories of how (RED) funds are being used to combat the deadly disease.

MSN will host Monday’s launch, with new songs and videos from U2, Coldplay, Death Cab for Cutie, Dixie Chicks, Jay-Z, John Legend and Sheryl Crow to be available at red.msn.com. Bob Dylan, REM, and The Police will also have videos available exclusively on RED (Wire), and there will also be a special Christmas duet between The Killers and Elton John.

“I like that it stands alone as a creative and fun thing to both receive and participate in,” said Michael Stipe. “And it would be that with or without the charity aspect.”

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