Look To The Stars News: The Police

David Lynch Launches Music That Changes The World

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:00:00 +0000

David Lynch has gathered a huge number of artists to contribute to a digital album that will raise money for the David Lynch Foundation.

“Download For Good: Music That Changes The World” includes 33 tracks from artists such as Moby, Maroon 5, Daryl Hannah, Peter Gabriel, Iggy Pop, Band From TV, Heather Nova, Dave Stewart, Tom Waits, Ben Folds, Alanis Morissette, Nancy Sinatra, Julio Iglesias Jr., The Police guitarist Andy Summers and many more.

“The artists who have shared their music are spreading happiness,” says David Lynch. “With their music alone they’re supporting programs that take away suffering and bring bliss to many people.”

Sting To Perform At Charity Concert For Injured Boy

Fri, 01 May 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Christopher Rodriguez is a 10-year-old boy who was left paralyzed from the waist down after being hit by a stray bullet while attending a piano lesson in Oakland California on January 10th, 2008. Chris and his family face a difficult road ahead, but thanks to some big hearts, Christopher is about to benefit from an amazing event.

On May 25th, 2009, the Narada Michael Walden Foundation will produce a concert at the Louise M Davies Symphony Hall to benefit Christopher.

The concert, which is sure to be a sell out, will feature a performance by Sting. Joining the ex-Police front-man will be Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis of 5th Dimension Fame, Mary Wilson of The Supremes, Earl Klugh, David Grisman, Bob Weir (Grateful Dead), Gerald Alston of The Manhattans, Lisa Fischer, Tevin Campbell, Shanice Wilson, Jeanie Tracy, Ralphe Armstrong, Dale “Satchmo” Powers, the Narada Band, AND an orchestra of students from The San Francisco Conservatory of Music conducted by Michael Morgan of the Oakland East Bay Symphony, along with many other surprise performers.

Phil Collins Joins Drummers For Charity Auction

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:00:00 +0000

If you are a fan of drummers, why not have a bash at the fabulous new charity auction being held right now at www.buyoncegivetwice.co.uk.

A selection of drums signed by bands and drummers are currently going under the hammer (or should that be drumstick?) to benefit the Teenage Cancer Trust. Snares, cymbals, toms and bass drums autographed by Phil Collins, Sting and The Police, Elton John, Iron Maiden, Kasabian, Chad Smith from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and members of backing bands for Pink and Paul Weller are all on offer for a very limited time.

“I’m delighted to be supporting Teenage Cancer Trust’s Drummer Night auction and hope it will raise as much cash as possible for the charity,” said Mark Schulman, backing drummer for Pink. “I am a cancer survivor myself, as is my ex-wife, Kelly. I understand the challenges that patients go through, and I want to use my credibility as a drummer to raise awareness about such issues. I hope the auction can help raise enough money so that teenagers and young people going through cancer have access to specialized treatment centres, like those provided by Teenage Cancer Trust.”

U2 Believe In Father Christmas For Africa

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

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.

Bono's RED(Wire) To Launch Next Week

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

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.

The Police Auction Signed Instruments

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 12:30:00 +0000

There is still a chance for you to get your hands on instruments signed by Sting and The Police in the Public Television Rocks auction.

The soon-to-be-disbanded Police play their final concert ever on August 7 at Madison Square Garden and – to prove there is still a sting in their tail – the band has donated a complete set of autographed instruments to be auctioned online through eBay.

The auction has been running for the last few weeks, and the band has already raised over $50,000 for Public Television Rocks! from the sale of VIP ticket packages to the final show.

Sting And The Police Offer Jean Therapy At Charity Auction

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:30:00 +0000

They once sung about “walking on the moon”, but The Police probably didn’t wear the jeans that were auctioned off for US$19,800 in Sydney on Wednesday whilst gallivanting around in outer space.

The denim trousers were part of the 2008 Celebrity Jeans For Genes auction, an annual event to raise funds for the Children’s Medical Research Institute. Every year a host of international celebrities donate a pair of their personally signed jeans to the cause, which are then transformed into unique and valuable pieces of artwork by talented artists who volunteer their time.

This year’s event – which celebrated 50 years of the Children’s Medical Research Institute – was held at the Hilton Hotel in Sydney, and raised a total of $250,000 for the charity. It also raised awareness of the Jeans for Genes Day on August 1, which aims to encourage people to wear jeans to work and donate money to the institute.

VIP Tickets For The Police's Final Concert Up For Grabs

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:30:00 +0000

The Police will play their final concert ever on August 7, and they want YOU to be there. To celebrate, the band has released a limited number of once-in-a-lifetime concert experiences and memorabilia to be auctioned online through eBay Giving Works.

The band is auctioning off four very special VIP packages to the Madison Square Garden show that will include intimate meet and greets, personal photos with the band, front row seats, access to the final sound check, special pre-concert dinner and cocktail reception invitations, and limited edition concert souvenirs. And if that is not enough, the boys are also putting a complete set of their autographed instruments up for grabs, including Sting’s Signature Bass, Sennheiser Microphone and Stand (used during the 2007/2008 world Police tour); Andy Summers’ Signature Fender Telecaster; and Stewart Copeland’s Tama Star Drum Set ( which he played at the 2007 GRAMMY Awards).

And not to be left out, support band The B52’s have also put a special VIP concert package up for auction, featuring a private meet and greet, access to their sound check, four front row seats, and four one-of-a-kind signed memorabilia gift sets.

Police To Bail On Career After Final Charity Gig

Thu, 08 May 2008 09:29:57 +0000

The Police plan to finish up where they began, with their final performance of their reunion tour taking place in New York this summer. The group said in a statement: “We kicked off our very first American tour at CBGB’s in 1978, and this summer, 30 years later, our journey will come full circle as we play our final show here in New York City.”

Proceeds of the concert will benefit public television, and the band also plans to give more, donating $1 million to a city program that aims to plant 1 million trees by 2017.

Sting said, “We have a long history here. We wanted to leave a gift with our last performance that would keep on giving year after year, decade after decade — the gift of trees does do that.”

Sting’s 20th Year Saving Rainforests

Mon, 05 May 2008 11:44:38 +0000

Sting and his wife, Trudie Styler, will celebrate their 15th annual Rainforest Foundation Fund benefit concert, Some Kinda Legacy, at Carnegie Hall May 8.

The Rainforest Foundation Fund (RFF) came out of Sting and Styler’s Rainforest Foundation International (RFI), created in 1989 to raise awareness about the need to conserve tropical forests, support indigenous peoples, their land, their rights and to develop resource management. RFI began its focus on Brazil and then spread throughout Latin America, Africa and Asia. RFF has continued funding the programs and creating new ones to this end since 1999.

To help raise awareness of both the rainforest and the Fund’s mission, the Mayor’s office has declared May “Rainforest Awareness Month” and the Empire State Building will be lit in green Thursday evening during the event.

Charity Folks Help Charity Drives

Mon, 05 May 2008 11:42:02 +0000

Charity Folks takes on the daunting task of organising online auctions for celebrity-driven fund raisers for charity.

Winning bidders acquire celebrity memorabilia or attend various types of events, such as television show tapings, concerts, trips abroad or the opening game, donated by celebrities, musicians, sport stars and high-profile personalities, all to support non-profit organisations.

Right now you can bid on meeting hip-hop icon Ludacris at his restaurant opening and dine with 11 of your friends on a special chef’s menu, your donation benefiting the Magic Johnson Foundation. Or you could bid on meeting Magic Johnson himself. Or two tickets to the new Sex And The City movie to support ACLU of Southern California, front row tickets to a Police concert to benefit Unitus, or tickets to the Broadway production of South Pacific and a backstage tour for Only Make Believe.

Baldwin Brothers Behind Breast Cancer Auction

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 09:23:15 +0000

A private falconry lesson with Robert Kennedy Jr is just one of the more unusual items up for grabs in a new online auction this month, with the proceeds going to a charity set up by a brave woman who wants to benefit others affected by a deadly disease.

Actor William Baldwin is behind the auction, which is being held on the Charity Folks website until the end of October. Twenty unique and once in a lifetime items are on auction to raise funds for the Carol M. Baldwin Cancer Research Fund, a charity set up by Baldwin’s mother after she underwent a double mastectomy in 1996. The 70 year old turned her tragedy into courage to assist other women who are affected by breast cancer, and the Fund, which has raised over $2.6 million since its inception, donates money to researchers investigating the causes, prevention, and treatment of the disease. Both William Baldwin and his brother, Alec Baldwin, sit on the board of the Fund.

“I was very lucky to get a significant number of people on board and committed,” said Baldwin, who approached many of his friends to donate items to the auction. “I think that sort of created somewhat of an aura, where people were like, ‘You know, I want to be in on this’.”

Richard Branson Attends Virgin Festival in Baltimore

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 12:55:09 +0000

Soaring temperatures of over 100°F did not stop 80,000 music lovers from attending a massive two-day charity concert held at the Pimlico Raceway in Baltimore on August 4 and 5. The Baltimore Virgin Festival was part of a series of concerts being held this year, partly organized by Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin brand.

Concert goers were treated to performances by 40 groups and artists, including Sting and The Police, Ben Harper, The Beastie Boys, Iggy Pop, and The Smashing Pumpkins. $1.50 from every ticket sold was donated directly to Virgin Unite, the charitable arm of the Virgin Group, dedicated to “tackling some of the tougher social challenges by uniting people and Virgin’s global resources.”

The concert also featured a huge tent village which housed a mall of philanthropy booths, where concert attendees could find out more about non-profit organizations such as Oxfam, The Living Classrooms Foundation (which uses maritime settings to train at-risk youth), StandUp For Kids (which helps homeless children), and Youth Noise (a website where teens can talk about significant issues and raise money for their chosen causes).

Live Earth Rocks the Planet

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 13:16:25 +0000

They came, they rocked, they conquered. 07/07/07 saw the Live Earth concerts take place on 7 continents, and the event will go down in history and in people’s hearts as one of the greatest spectacles ever staged.

The nine concerts held around the globe attracted hundreds of thousands of music lovers, and another 9 million internet streams – a world record internet audience. Many more are expected to watch replays over the next few weeks.
Concert-goers partied for a total of 22 hours at the events organized by Al Gore to raise awareness of climate change and environmental issues.

eBay Busy With Charity Auctions

Fri, 06 Jul 2007 09:27:49 +0000

Ebay Giving Works, the program set up by the internet giant dedicated to charity auctions, is busy this month with an influx of musicians selling items for good causes.

Country singers Faith Hill and Tim McGraw lead the charge by offering a brand new 2007 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon on the eBay site. All proceeds from the auction will go towards their Neighbor’s Keeper Foundation, the non-profit organization they founded in 2005 to provide funding for community based charities.

The winner of the auction will also receive a trip for two to Las Vegas, two tickets to Hill and McGraw’s Soul2Soul concert on August 4, backstage passes with an opportunity to meet the singers, and autographed photos.