Rock Aid Armenia

Rock Aid Armenia was a joint humanitarian effort by an elite group of contemporary hard rock and heavy metal musicians who gathered at the historic Metropolis Studios in Chiswick, London on July 8, 1989 for a project to raise money to help those affected by the Leninakan Earthquake of 1988 that struck Armenia.

Originally the organizers planned for an Armenian earthquake benefit concert in Moscow, but plans fell through and a benefit album was recorded instead. [ [http://www.deep-purple.net/DPASmags/dtb38.htm DPAS Magazine, Issue 38 November 1989] ] The project was created and coordinated by international charity campaigner Jon Dee and Paul Lowell. The recording consisted of original tracks by Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Gary Moore, Black Sabbath, Asia, Mike & the Mechanics, Rush, Deep Purple, Bon Jovi, Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin, Foreigner, Pink Floyd, Queen, Yes, Whitesnake and others. "Rock Aid Armenia: The Earthquake Album" was released in 1990, "Rock Aid Armenia: The Earth Hour Video" was a video compilation released in the same year.

moke on the Water Single

The project is most remembered for a re-recording of one of Deep Purple’s famous hit songs, "Smoke on the Water", with different vocalists singing each verse. The single made it to the British Top 40 [http://www.immergent.com/records/view_artist.php?aid=40] .The rock musicians involved in the recording of the song included Bryan Adams, Geoff Beauchamp, Ritchie Blackmore, Bruce Dickinson, Geoff Downes, Keith Emerson, Ian Gillan, David Gilmour, Tony Iommi, Alex Lifeson, Brian May, Paul Rodgers, Chris Squire and Roger Taylor. John Paul Jones and Jon Lord were credited as "helping" on the track. The rehearsals of the re-recording of Smoke on the Water were filmed and released in the same year on video as "Rock Aid Armenia: Making of Smoke on the Water", along with interviews and a video clip for the single.

The Earthquake Album tracklist

*1. Rock Aid Armenia - "Smoke on the Water '90" (4:07)
*2. Free - "All Right Now" (4:15)
*3. Rush - "The Spirit of Radio" (4:58)
*4. Rainbow - "Since You Been Gone" (3:18)
*5. Black Sabbath - "Headless Cross" (5:03)
*6. Genesis - "Turn It On Again" (3:45)
*7. Yes - "Owner of a Lonely Heart" (4:27)
*8. Emerson, Lake & Palmer - "Fanfare for the Common Man" (2:57)
*9. Whitesnake - "Fool for Your Loving" (4:17)
*10. Asia - "Heat of the Moment" (3:50)
*11. Jefferson Starship - "We Built This City" (4:51)
*12. Foreigner - "Jukebox Hero" (4:05)
*13. Iron Maiden - "Run to the Hills" (3:54)
*14. Deep Purple - "Black Night" (3:27)
*15. Mike and the Mechanics - "Silent Running" (4:09)

The Earthquake Album tracklist (Japanese release)

*1. Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Fanfare for the Common Man
*2. Bon Jovi - Livin' on a Prayer
*3. Gary Moore - After the War
*4. Iron Maiden - Run to the Hills
*5. Black Sabbath - Headless Cross
*6. Led Zeppelin - Dazed 'N' Confused
*7. Asia - Heat of the Moment
*8. Foreigner - Hearts Turn to Stone
*9. Mike And The Mechanics - Silent Running
*10. The Firm - Satisfaction Guaranteed
*11. Deep Purple - Perfect Strangers
*12. Genesis - Mama
*13. Pink Floyd - One Slip
*14. Rush - The Spirit of Radio
*15. Yes - I've Seen All Good People
*16. Rock Aid Armenia - Smoke on the Water '90

References

External links

* [http://members.chello.se/ozzie/gillan/articles/life.html Life Aid Armenia - Armenia, Montreaux and Chiswick(?), Metal Hammer December 1989]
* [http://www.rushisaband.com/video.php?id=70 Video of "Smoke on the Water '90]