Look To The Stars News: Jimmy Page

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 live auction on the night will include a rare Paul McCartney painting, a signed Blur gig map and album covers signed by Pink Floyd and Jimmy Page.

“My set is quite different from anything I’ve ever done before, as I’ll be performing with Beth and a full choir on stage,” said Plant. “Cancer is a disease that affects so many people and Sound & Vision is a great way to raise money to fight it.”

Find out more by clicking here.

Jimmy Page Given Peace Award By United Nations

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Guitar legend Jimmy Page has been given the first ever Pathways to Peace Award by the United Nations, just minutes after confirming he will play at a special Show of Peace concert in China in April.

“Although this award has my name on it, this is a tribute to the power of music and its positive effect,” he said. “Music has been the most powerful language to reach the hearts of people around the world. During my career, I’ve experienced the connection and harmony that music can bring.”

Page established the ABC Trust – Action for Brazil’s Children Trust – a charity dedicated to helping the most vulnerable children and young people of Brazil.

“We’ve been asked to give awards over the years but never have done so until this day,” said Michael Johnson, a representative of the UN. “We’re doing this because musicians have a global impact on the world, and we also know that people who use their name and fame for peace building need to be honored.”

Rock Stars Sign Guitar Amps For Charity

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page joined a host of rock gods in signing a pair of Monitor Audio loudspeakers to be auctioned for charity.

The pair of Gold GS20’s were also autographed by Iggy Pop, Slash, Anvil, Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), Ronnie Wood, Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath) and Brian May and Paul Rodgers from Queen among many others.

The major players of the rock music industry all gathered together at the Park Lane Hotel in London to celebrate the winners of the Marshall Classic Rock Roll Of Honour Awards 2009. 

The Monitor Audio speakers will now be auctioned to the public via text messaging, with all proceeds being donated to ChildLine – the 24-hour helpline that aids over 500,000 children a year. Bidders simply need to register their lowest unique bid.

Monitor Audio’s Marketing Manager, Michael Johnson, is clearly delighted with the response the project has had from some of rock music’s great personalities, “Once again the event was fantastic and we are especially grateful that some of the evening’s big winners joined with us to help and raise a great deal of money for a very worthwhile charity.”

To take part in the auction, click here.

Rare Led Zeppelin Items Go Under Charity Hammer

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

A selection of rare and exciting memorabilia signed by members of Led Zeppelin is up for auction for charity.

Toronto’s Mount Sinai Hospital is one of Canada’s pre-eminent patient care, research and academic health science centers. Going under the hammer to raise money for the hospital are items such as a hard-cover program from the group’s 2007 reunion concert at London’s O2 Arena, autographed by Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones, as well as signed photos, CDs and much more.

The auction ends on October 8. Click here to take part.

Classic Rockers Join Led Zep Guitarist For Charity

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:30:00 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Some of the biggest names in classic rock have donated items to an auction that benefits a charity supported by one of their contemporaries.

Task Brazil is a UK-based charity established in 1992 that improves the lives and supports the needs of children and pregnant teenage girls living on the streets of Brazil. The charity received a huge boost in 1997 when Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, who witnessed first hand the deprivation of the children and troubles in the favelas whilst playing in Rio de Janeiro, made a massive donation. The money was used to buy a plot of land in Santa Teresa on which ‘Casa Jimmy’ was built to provide a safe and happy home for a lucky few of the abandoned children.

The current auction features loads of Led Zep items signed by Page, as well as guitars signed by Slash and the Eagles' Joe Walsh, and items signed by Phil Collins, Bob Geldof, Iron Maiden and many others.

The auction runs until March 15 and can be accessed here.

Jimmy Page Signs Led Zeppelin Charity Portrait

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:30:00 -0000

Written by Linda Burton

Jimmy Page has autographed a painting of the members of Led Zeppelin, with the proceeds from the sale going towards Page’s Brazilian charity, ABC Trust.

Page asked artist Jon Ellinor , 25, of Burstellars to do the painting of the legendary rock group after Annie Hollinshead of the ABC Trust spotted some of his other artwork. The painting will be featured at a month long exhibition at Knebworth House in Hertfordshire celebrating the band’s 40th anniversary.

Ellinor graduated from Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, and recently opened his studio in Wyton. “Apparently Jimmy Page liked the painting and he is very fussy about what he signs and what he doesn’t”, he stated.

Action for Brazil’s Children (ABC) works with children who suffer from extreme poverty, exposure to violence, drug addiction and with little access to education. They are committed to providing essential shelter, food, education and inspiring change.

To see Jon Ellinor’s artwork, visit him at www.aktiv-portraits.co.uk. You can also enter a contest to win the painting by visiting the website www.memoriesinmusic.com.

Shakira Sheds Threads For Charity

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 11:11:47 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Although the Northern Hemisphere is still gripped with winter chills, it has not stopped some celebrities from shedding their clothes… for a good cause, of course.

Latin American pop princess Shakira leads the pack by donating more than 40 items of clothing from her 2007 Oral Fixation Tour to a massive internet auction.

There is an impressive list of garments from the hip-shaking performer’s wardrobe, including a lavender skirt with turqoise and coral beading and a blue tank top emblazoned with the words “For Those Who Love To Rock”. And the demand has been overwhelming, with one dress attracting bids of $10,000, and a custom-made bra reaching $1,126.

“We have bids from all over the world,” said Eric Ganzin, president of Auction Cause. “It’s very exciting.”

Proceeds from the auction will go to the singer’s Pies Descalzos Foundation, and the money will be used for the construction of a school for impoverished children in North Colombia.

But bidders had better be quick – the eBay auction ends in just a few hours.

Former Buffy The Vampire Slayer star Sarah Michelle Gellar has pushed the envelope a little further by allowing naked photos of herself to be auctioned on eBay.

But before you get too excited, they are not all that they appear: the 30-year-old actress originally posed for the photos in a little black dress that was later removed digitally.

The proceeds from the photos will go to the Coalition of Skin Diseases.

And even Donald Trump is getting in on the act… although thankfully he is keeping his clothes on.

A tie signed by Trump is currently up for auction on eBay, with proceeds going to the Spirit Fund, a fund established by radio station Warm 101.3 to help children in the Rochester area.

The story behind the tie is twisty and, you could say, knotty: When a Kodak executive arrived on set for a recent taping of The Celebrity Apprentice, Trump objected to his tie. He ordered the executive to replace it with one belonging to one of the security guards.

There are only a few hours left in the auction, and bids have already reached $759.

But the biggest celebrity auction on the Net right now is the 50th Grammy Awards Charity Auction on eBay. Over 100 items from some of music’s hottest stars is up for grabs, with all proceeds going to MusiCares.

The auction, which runs until February 21, features exciting and priceless items such as the chance to visit the set of LL Cool J's next video, a guitar lesson with Joe Satriani, VIP tickets to concerts by Linkin Park, John Legend, and Rihanna, guitars signed by Richie Sambora, Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, and Neil Diamond, a microphone signed by Joss Stone, posters and photos signed by Rod Stewart ($167), John Mayer ($170), and Sting ($482), as well as items from Avril Lavigne, Slash, Reba McEntire, Quincy Jones, Beyoncé Knowles, and Snoop Dogg.

The internet auction follows a live auction held on February 8 at Aretha Franklin's MusiCare’s Person Of The Year Award ceremony. Items that were up for sale on that night included a private painting lesson with Tony Bennett, a saxophone signed by Bill Clinton, sheet music to Stairway To Heaven signed by Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, as well as clothing and instruments donated by Elton John, Slash, Madonna, and Bruce Springsteen.

MusiCares is the charitable arm of the Recording Academy, the group that gives out the Grammys, and focuses the resources and attention of the music industry on human service issues that directly impact the health and welfare of the music community.

Eric Clapton - Standing At The Crossroads Of Addiction

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 12:00:16 -0000

Written by Tim Saunders

Although regarded by many as one of the best rock and blues guitarists to ever live, Eric Clapton is a man who has suffered for his art. But the succession of addictions and the tragic personal dramas have not stopped the legend from becoming one of the most successful performers in the world today, and have fueled his desire to help those who face the same problems in their daily struggle to survive.

Clapton was born in 1945, in Surrey, England. He was raised by his grandmother and grew up believing his mother was actually his older sister – she was only 16 when he was born. He eventually found out the truth when he was 9 years old, and he took it hard. He became shy and lonely, and took solace in the only thing he could find stability in – blues music.

A proficiency with the guitar led the young teenager to join a band called The Yardbirds in 1963, and the group started to attract a large cult following when they took over the Rolling Stones’ residency at the Crawdaddy Club in Richmond. Clapton played on The Yardbirds first hit record, “For Your Love”, before leaving the band in 1965 due to their pop-orientated musical direction.

Before he left, however, Clapton started his long association with benefit concerts by joining Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page for a series of 12 gigs in support of Action For Research Into Multiple Sclerosis, a cause he has continued to support over the years.

A brief stint in “John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers” was followed by Clapton’s first shot at the big time – he formed “Cream” with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker. A string of hits – such as “Sunshine of Your Love”, “White Room”, and “Crossroads” – was unleashed on a music scene where the likes of Jimi Hendrix and The Who were creating a psychedelic stir. Drugs fueled the industry, and Clapton started to feel their attractive lure. It was a relationship that was destined for disaster.

Cream disbanded in 1968, and Clapton spent his time in bands such as “Blind Faith” and “Derek And The Dominos”. He also found a solid friendship with George Harrison, guitarist for The Beatles.

By the time Clapton kicked off his solo career in 1970, he was drinking heavily and was addicted to heroin. His personality became erratic and his live shows suffered as a result. He became reclusive, only leaving his house to secure more drugs and to perform at the occasional benefit concert – during George Harrison’s Concert For Bangladesh in 1972, Clapton passed out on stage.

If something was not done quickly, Clapton’s friends could see that he would go the same way as Hendrix and many other stars caught up in the drug culture. Pete Townshend, guitarist for The Who, organized a comeback for Clapton to help him beat his addictions in 1973. Although Clapton returned to his art for the rest of the decade, releasing some of his greatest hits, he would not truly kick his alcohol and drug habits until the mid-1980s. He contemplated taking his own life on several occasions, but was only stopped by the realization that if he were dead, he would not be able to drink anymore.

“I thought there was something otherworldly about the whole culture of drinking, that being drunk made me a member of some strange, mysterious club,” Clapton told The Today Show recently. “The stuff that happened to me as a child made me totally insular — I thought I could do all of this on my own. It wasn’t until I was quite a bit older that I finally did ask for help.”

Help came through the continuing support of friends such as Phil Collins, who reestablished a love of music and a sense of self-worth in the artist. In 1989, after two decades of struggling to take control of his inner demons, Clapton declared himself sober and released “Journeyman”, a critically acclaimed album that proved he was back at the top of his game.

Throughout the 1990s, Clapton worked quietly to help others who had fallen into the dark world of addiction. In 1998, he opened the doors to the Crossroads Centre, a facility located on the beautiful Caribbean island of Antigua, dedicated to helping those who suffer from chemical abuse.

“My vision was to create a centre of the highest caliber to treat people of the Caribbean and throughout the world,” he said. "The centre would be staffed with experienced and internationally recognized professionals. The cost of treatment would be held to the lowest possible level, ensuring affordability and accessibility. And most importantly, this non-profit centre would provide treatment scholarships for people of the Caribbean region and around the world.

“Crossroads is like no other treatment centre. It is the perfect place to begin the road of recovery and utilizes a combination of effective therapies to address addiction and recovery, while capturing the spiritual serenity that many have found unique to Antigua. Within the serene, healing atmosphere individuals participate in a structured 29-day residential 12 step based program that allows clients to experience a whole person wellness approach to recovery.”

Since the Crossroads Centre was opened, Clapton has held two sales of his own guitars to raise money for the non-profit venture – which generated a total of $12 million – and he has also organized two Crossroads Guitar Festivals, featuring stars such as Sheryl Crow and Vince Gill. To kick off 2008, Clapton joined Pete Townshend, Ringo Starr, and Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh at a gig held in a bar in Surrey, to raise money for various Alcoholics Anonymous groups.

As a human being, Clapton will never forget the struggle to beat his addictions, but he believes the only way to get through it all is to keep moving forward.

“In the last couple of years there’s been more action in my life, and drama, than I would have wished for. But I think I’ve learned something from it all. I can’t say tangibly what it is, except that I’m happy to be me and to have survived.”

For more information on how to help those who suffer from addictions, visit www.crossroadsantigua.org.

Led Zeppelin's Charity Return

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 07:59:22 -0000

Written by Theresa Mills

Rock legends Led Zeppelin made a long-anticipated comeback on December 10 with a sold-out charity concert at London’s O2 arena that left fans, young and old, screaming for more.

Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham, son of late drummer John Bonham, rocked the 20,000 seat arena with more than a dozen classic songs including “Dazed and Confused,” “Black Dog” and “Stairway to Heaven.”

The one-off charity event raised money for the Ahmet Ertegun Education Fund, which provides students with annual scholarships to universities in the U.S, U.K. and Turkey. The organization was established by the late Ahmed Ertegun, co-founder of Atlantic Records.

“During the Zeppelin years, Ahmed Ertegun was a major foundation of solidarity and accord,” said Plant, now 59. “This performance stands alone as our tribute to the work and the life of our long-standing friend.”

“Stairway to Heaven” Guitar to Benefit MusiCares

Sat, 28 Jul 2007 14:10:37 -0000

Written by Myrlia Purcell

A rare reproduction of Jimmy Page's signature EDS-1275 double-neck guitar – the type that made “Stairway to Heaven” famous – is up for auction on eBay’s Giving Works.

The Limited Edition Gibson guitar is number 11 of only 26 replicated after the one Page played during the 1971 Led Zeppelin IV tour, and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity personally signed by Jimmy. All 26 were played and signed by Page, and he kept the first for himself. This guitar has his signature on the back of one headstock with his handwritten number (#11) on the other headstock.

The instrument is not just a pristine, soul-less replica; it has been made identical to the original, including the scrapes, scratches, dents and dings administered by Jimmy through years of heavy tour use, with the only fingerprints being from Jimmy Page himself.

Opening bid for the lot is set at $50,000, and the winner will receive the guitar in a specially-designed Gibson Custom Shop deluxe hard shell case with red lining. The guitar and case will be shipped in the original Gibson box. Also included are cable, picks, polishing cloth, and straplocks from Gibson Custom Shop.

A unique tri-fold leather collector’s portfolio embossed with Jimmy’s signature on the cover and housed in a taffeta-covered slipcase also embossed with Page’s signature is part of the set. Contents of the portfolio include the signed and numbered certificate of authenticity personally signed by Jimmy Page, ownership decal (sticker) of Jimmy Page’s signature, a CD containing the full interview with Jimmy Page talking about his original and new signature double neck, a two-disc Led Zeppelin box DVD set, and a personally signed congratulatory letter from Gibson Custom Shop Management.

The auction runs until August 2nd, and 10% of the proceeds are going to MusiCares, which provides musicians with critical assistance in times of need.

eBay Busy With Charity Auctions

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

Written by Tim Saunders

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.

The Neighbor’s Keeper Foundation has already raised over $1 million for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, and the jeep is expected to raise at least another $35,000. The auction runs from July 4 to July 14, and can be found at www.ebay.com/jeepsoul2soul.

Other musicians with items for sale this month include rock group Incubus, who have made 25 VIP packages available for their up-coming sell-out tour in America. Proceeds from the online auction will go towards the band’s Make Yourself Foundation, which funds various causes and charities around the world.

Some fans are already bidding over $400 for the packages, which include tickets to their shows, the chance to meet the band backstage, and autographed photos.The auction runs from June 11 to July 16, and is found at www.ebay.com/incubus.

Rockers Linkin Park are offering 1 VIP package to each show in their upcoming Projekt Revolution tour – 28 dates in all. Each package includes two premium tickets to the venue of your choice, a backstage meet and greet with the band, and an autographed poster.

The auction will support Music for Relief, an organization set up by the band to help victims recover and rebuild after natural disasters. It was established in 2005 to provide aid for those affected by the tragic tsunami in South Asia, and has also raised over $2 million for Hurricane Katrina and Rita victims. The auction runs from July 5 to August 9, and can be viewed at www.ebay.com/musicforrelief.

VIP packages continue to be the theme with Beyoncé Knowles' auction at www.ebay.com/beyonce.tour. Two winning bidders will have the opportunity to watch her up-coming New York and Los Angeles shows from front row seats, meet Beyonce backstage, and receive autographed photos. All proceeds from the auction will benefit the Survivor Foundation, an organization the singer started with her family in 2005 to assist Hurricane Katrina victims. The auction runs from June 8 to July 24.

Not to be outdone by the younger generation, several classic rock acts are also running online auctions at eBay this month.
Sting and The Police are offering a series of ticket packages, which include meet and greets and autographed memorabilia. All proceeds from the auction benefit MusiCares, the charitable arm of the Recording Academy.

MusiCares focuses the resources and attention of the music industry on human service issues, especially those that have a direct impact on the health and welfare of the music community.
One of the VIP packages to meet the band has already sold for over $1500, and bidding for the others closes on July 6. The auction can be viewed at www.ebay.com/grammys.

Finally this month, former Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page is auctioning the double neck Gibson guitar he used on the 1971 Led Zeppelin IV tour. This is the guitar he played “Stairway To Heaven” on for every night of the tour, and 10% of the proceeds will go to MusiCares. The auction runs from July 23 to August 2 on eBay.

Ebay also expects to offer a large selection of signed Live Earth products after the Live Earth concerts on July 7.

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