Look To The Stars News: Kaiser Chiefs

Oxfam Ready For The Glastonbury Mud

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 12:30:00 +0000

It’s described as the scourge of British summer music festivals but new research by festival veteran Oxfam, a Glastonbury charity partner for 18 years, suggests that festival mud is very much embraced by music lovers and is even regarded as iconic.

This is good news for the charity which is asking festival-goers to ‘get your hands dirty’ as part of its new Grow campaign that aims to fix the broken food system that leaves billions hungry every day. The iconic music festival takes place this weekend, with performers this year including U2, Coldplay, Beyoncé Knowles, Morrissey, the Kaiser Chiefs, KT Tunstall and many more.

According to Oxfam, nearly three quarters of festival-goers (71%) aren’t put off by the muddy prospect of bad weather. When asked to pick the top three things they most associate with British music festivals, over a third of adults across Britain (36%) regard mud as an iconic element of British music festivals. Northern festival goers were the keenest of all on a muddy festival with almost a quarter (22%) of them embracing mud as ‘all part of the experience’, compared to only 11 per cent of Southern and just 7 per cent of London festival-goers.

Damien Hirst Puts The Squeeze On Charity

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 13:00:00 +0000

An exclusive set of instruments customized by Damien Hirst and created especially for British band Squeeze, will take centre stage when the band perform at Concerts for Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall on 22 March 2011.

Squeeze will be joined by a 30 piece orchestra and long-time friends and collaborators The Feeling, on the second night of Teenage Cancer Trust’s 2011 series of fundraising concerts at the iconic venue. 

 The Damien Hirst collection features two ‘Spot Guitars’, a Fender Telecaster and a Fender Stratocaster, as well as a Yamaha ‘Spot Drum Kit’. All the instruments are hand painted by Hirst with his iconic spot design and signed by the artist himself.

Film Scores To Be Performed At Celebrity Charity Concert For Care

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 15:30:00 +0000

A huge number of British stars – including Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood, the Kaiser Chiefs’ Ricky Wilson, Little Britain’s Matt Lucas, Jimmy Carr, Paloma Faith and Imogen Heap – will hit the stage in London on October 18 for the Concert For Care.

The concert will raise money for CARE International, and will feature the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra playing some great film scores conducted by the composers themselves. The event is being organized by composer David Arnold.

CARE tackles the underlying causes of poverty so that people can become self-sufficient. Recognizing that women and children suffer disproportionately from poverty, CARE places special emphasis on working with women to create permanent social change. CARE also delivers emergency aid to survivors of war and natural disasters, and helps people rebuild their lives.

Robert Plant To Sing At Abbey Road For Charity

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:30:00 +0000

Led Zeppelin legend Robert Plant will meet and greet fans at a special gig to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

On 25th February Cancer Research UK’s Sound & Vision event will take place at the iconic Abbey Road Studios, celebrating rock, pop, the people who make it and the images it inspires. 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.

Plant will take to the stage with American singer-songwriter Beth Nielsen Chapman and the London Oriana Choir. David Gray and other artists will also perform, and an internet auction has been launched featuring instruments signed by bands such as the Kaiser Chiefs, items signed by Eric Clapton, lyrics signed by Tori Amos and much more. The auction can be accessed here.

The Cribs Cover Kaiser Chiefs For Neglected Children

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:30:00 +0000

British band The Cribs have covered a Kaiser Chiefs song for charity.

Modern Way was recorded in 2005 and is available from iTunes now, with proceeds going to the Cash For Kids Action On Neglect Appeal, an initiative that aids neglected children in the Leeds and West Yorkshire area.

To find out more about the appeal and download the song, click here.

Kaiser Chiefs Join Concert For CARE

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:30:00 +0000

British band the Kaiser Chiefs have been added to the bill for this year’s Concert For CARE.

The Kaiser Chiefs have had a whirlwind past five years; three Top 5 albums, numerous hit singles, and 2009 saw them sign off with a hometown showing at this years Leeds Festival. Since that performance, the band have decided to take some time away from the spotlight, slowly beginning work on album four. Having worked with David Arnold in the recent past, the Kaiser Chiefs are delighted to make an exception to their time off the road and lend a musical hand to ‘Concert For CARE’.

Music and Comedy giants – such as Gary Barlow, Rob Brydon, Damien Rice, David Walliams and more – will join together in a one off event for aid agency CARE International. This one-off live event will take place at London’s Brixton Academy on November 2.

Celebrities Do Whatever It Takes For Charity

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

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.

Pete Doherty Loves Music, Hates Racism

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:00:00 +0000

British rocker Pete Doherty played at the Love Music Hate Racism festival in Stoke in the UK last week.

Love Music Hate Racism uses the energy of the music scene to celebrate diversity and involve people in anti-racist and anti-fascist activity. Every year they hold concerts in the UK to encourage young people to fight racism, with gigs by the Kaiser Chiefs and many more.

Doherty told the organization about his hate of racism in a video, and how his first experience of it was at a football game as a child, when former Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Carlton Palmer – a black player – was abused in his debut game.

Stars Duet With Cuban Musicians For Climate Change

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

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.

Kaiser Chiefs Walk In An Oxfam Winter Wonderland

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 14:00:00 +0000

The Kaiser Chiefs headlined the first of the annual Winter Wonderland live shows at London’s Brixton Academy on Tuesday night.

Hosted by alternative radio station Xfm, the shows are part-fun and part-fundraiser. Music fans are treated to an array of performances from up-and-coming bands as well as the more recognized fixtures; past years have featured The Kooks and The Editors amongst others.

Martha Stewart Gets Celeb Friends To Sign Decorations

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 13:00:00 +0000

An eclectic array of stars, including Dido, The Wiggles, James Taylor, Patti LaBelle, Pink, and Joss Stone, have signed Christmas ornaments for Martha Stewart’s new charity auction.

Stewart’s Sirius Radio show launched the auction this week to benefit the Taste of the NFL, an organization that raises money and awareness for hunger organizations.

Other stars to join in the fun include Howard Stern, David Archuleta, the Kaiser Chiefs, Jane Krakowski, Nigella Lawson, Quincy Jones, Elle Macpherson, Tom Arnold, Jacqueline Bisset, David Cook, Nickelback, Jamie Oliver, Lee Ann Womack, and many more.

Whatever It Takes For Christmas

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 12:00:00 +0000

Whatever It Takes – the charity that offers artworks and clothing designed by celebrities – have some great gift ideas for the coming holiday season.

The charity – which raises money for all sorts of charities, such as 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 and many more – is offering T-shirts designed by the Kaiser Chiefs and Bloc Party; rings designed by Robbie Williams, Ozzy Osbourne and Snoop Dogg; mouse pads from George Clooney, Nicole Kidman, and Coldplay; bed linen from Joss Stone; and a huge selection of plates and mugs designed by Bob Geldof, Paul McCartney, Ewan McGregor and many others.

To get your hands on one of these unique items – which would make the perfect gift – or to see the entire range, visit the Whatever It Takes website.

Kaiser Chiefs To Play Anti-Racism Concert

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:30:00 +0000

British rockers The Kaiser Chiefs have been confirmed to headline the Love Music Hate Racism show in England next month.

The show is set to take place in Rotherham on September 6, and has been organized by Love Music Hate Racism and Reverend and the Makers frontman John McClure. Other bands confirmed to play include Roll Deep, The Courteeners and Richard H Kirk of Cabaret Voltaire, along with a line-up of top DJs (still to be announced). Over 4,000 are expected to attend the event. Tickets have been sold only to residents of South Yorkshire – the final batch of 500 went on sale last weekend in Rotherham and Sheffield.

Love Music Hate Racism is an organization that uses the music scene to celebrate diversity and involve people in anti-racist and anti-fascist activity. Set up in 2002, the organization has held over 400 events, from large outdoor festivals to local gigs and club nights to help their aim of creating a national movement against racism and fascism through music.

Celebrities' Big Wardrobes Emptied For Charity

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 06:52:58 +0000

Shoppers will have the chance to rummage through the wardrobes of some of Britain’s biggest celebrities next month when a new online auction hits the web.

Stars such as the Kaiser Chiefs, Peaches Geldof, Paul Weller, Jodie Kidd, Jo Whiley, Jodie Marsh, and Russell Brand are cleaning out their wardrobes in the name of charity, giving visitors of www.bigwardrobe.com the chance to own some celebrity threads. The big-hearted celebrities have chosen a range of charities that the proceeds of the auction, which launches on May 1, will go to – including Refuge, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and Marie Curie Cancer Care to name just a few.

Online shoppers can browse through dresses, jeans, and tops donated by Peaches Geldof, and the pink top worn by Jodie Marsh on her eviction from Celebrity Big Brother. The Kaiser Chiefs have donated a funky brown vintage suit and black bowler hat, as well as a signed Kaiser Chiefs shirt and a couple of signed football shirts, while Russell Brand has donated a signed pair of his famous skinny jeans.

Celebrities Lend Their Hands To Charity

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 09:58:29 +0000

Over 40 celebrities from around the world are featured in a special new book to be released in time for Christmas.

“Celebrity Handprints”, set to be published on December 1, is the culmination of two years work for author James Preston. Since November 2005, Preston has scoured the globe in search of famous names who were willing to dip their hands in ink and leave a lasting mark on paper. And his peculiar pursuit opened doors to some of entertainment’s biggest stars, including Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Matt Damon, and Keira Knightley.

Over the course of his travels, Preston collected more than 100 handprints and accompanying photos of some of the brightest stars in film, television, music and sports, 42 of which are to be included in the new book. All of the proceeds from the publication will go to benefit two British children’s charities – Children in Need and the Great Ormond Street Hospital.

KT Tunstall - Globally Cool

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 09:25:00 +0000

She is Scottish, she is a rock star, she has sold millions of albums all around the world, and yet she does not own a car or even a television. Her new recording studio has been built using 100% reclaimed wood, sheep’s wool insulation, and solar panels, and her house is the same. When it comes to being environmentally friendly, singer/songwriter KT Tunstall is almost as revolutionary as her music.

September saw the release of Tunstall’s third album, Drastic Fantastic, which quickly climbed to the top of the charts in many countries. It has already outsold her 2006 release, “Acoustic Extravaganza”, and is set to reach the lofty levels of 2005’s “Eye To The Telescope”.

But music is only one of Tunstall’s passions, the other being the state of the environment. When not performing or recording, Tunstall is usually found hard at work supporting ecological causes. In 2005, she planted 6000 trees in Scotland to offset the environmental cost of her first CD. And July 2007 saw her perform an extremely energetic set at the Live Earth concert held at Giant’s Stadium in New Jersey.

London and Austin host GuitarTown for charity

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 07:12:00 +0000

Sir Paul McCartney is among a group of celebrities who have donated giant guitars to exhibitions in both America and England, to be auctioned off over the next few months.

The exhibitions are part of the Gibson GuitarTown Galas And Auctions being held in London and Austin, and feature both 10-foot-high and regular-sized guitars designed and signed by artists and musicians. The sculptures have been on show in the cities for 10 weeks, and will soon be removed in preparation for the auctions, which will benefit a variety of local charities.

“I just fancied playing a big guitar!” joked Sir Paul, who signed a sculpture designed by cartoonist Rosie Brooks entitled And The Crowd Goes Wild. “I think this one will hopefully catch the imagination of the public and whoever is going to buy it at the auction, and raise money for The Prince’s Trust, the Teenage Cancer Trust, and Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy – which are all great charities.”

Stars Rock the Oxfam Shop

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 16:52:03 +0000

A specially-converted Oxfam shop in London is to be the venue for a series of concerts in October, as part of the second annual Oxjam Music Festival.

Performers Jamelia, Fatboy Slim, and The Kooks will jam for Oxfam during the first week of the month, the exact location of the gigs being a secret until the night. The shop that hosts the event will also sell a wide range of unique music memorabilia, including items donated by Elton John, Corinne Bailey Rae, and Goldfrapp. Special badges designed by Jarvis Cocker, the Chemical Brothers, and the Kaiser Chiefs will also be available.

“I have always donated my unwanted records to my local Oxfam shop,” said British Big Beat musician, Fatboy Slim. “But performing in one will be a first for me, so I’m really looking forward to it.”

Stars Design Plates For Charity

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 17:51:22 +0000

For those who want to have dinner with the stars, this could be the next best thing. A selection of dinner plates designed by celebrities are for sale, with proceeds going to charity.

The plates feature designs by David Bowie, George Clooney, Giorgio Armani, Coldplay, Minnie Driver, and Sir Michael Caine, and are part of a fundraising initiative from 21st Century Leaders, a non-profit organization that plans to raise $3 million over three years through its “Whatever It Takes” celebrity-designed merchandise. So far, the organization has raised almost $1.5 million to fund “charitable projects in developing countries, and contribute to the protection of the environment and other causes”.

21st Century Leaders was founded by Charlotte di Vita, MBE, a goodwill ambassador for the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund. The 39 year old founded her first charity, Trade plus Aid, in 1992, which has raised over $5 million and helped communities in 21 developing countries to become self-supporting. A desire to do more led di Vita to start Whatever It Takes, a unique charity art project where celebrities donate their own artwork, which is then transferred onto “merchandise with a meaning”.

Coldplay and Beastie Boys Give, Listen, Help.

Sat, 01 Sep 2007 18:59:47 +0000

The Beastie Boys and Coldplay are among the musicians who are supporting the joint efforts of Urban Outfitters and Filter Magazine in raising money for charity.

The fourth installment of the “Give. Listen. Help.” compilation is raising funds for The Art of Elysium, with $12.88 of every $14 CD purchase going to help hospitalized children through art. Past beneficiaries include Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the American Red Cross’s hurricane relief efforts.

The two CD set is as follows:

Noel Gallagher & The Who Perform For Cancer Charity

Sat, 03 Mar 2007 15:37:16 +0000

A six-day series of concerts for the Teenage Cancer Trust at London’s Royal Albert Hall will begin on March 26th, boasting Noel Gallagher and The Who among its line-up of stars.

The Who frontman Roger Daltrey has been a long-time patron of the annual event, but his group is appearing this year for the first time since the first event in 2000.

Daltrey announced the roster of performers on the charity’s website, saying, “Over the years these shows have really made a massive difference to the money available to build TCT units in NHS hospitals. They also give our teenagers the moral support to help fight this terrible disease.”