- Charity supergroup
-
To raise funds or awareness for charities or causes which they support, musicians may sometimes form groups often known as charity supergroups. While all-star membership in these groups may suggest that they are supergroups, they are usually together only for a single album, show, or single. Also, the primary objective of these groups are not record sales or profit for the musicians, but a more humanitarian goal such as supporting a non-profit organization. Some of the most notable charity supergroups include 1984's Band Aid, featuring Bono, Phil Collins and Sting, which recorded "Do They Know Its Christmas?" to support famine relief in Ethiopia, and 1985's USA for Africa, which featured such stars as Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, which recorded "We are the World". However, the concept dates back to at least 1971 when George Harrison and Ravi Shankar organized The Concert for Bangladesh, and a subsequent album and film, to support UNICEF relief efforts in that country.
Contents
List of Notable Charity Supergroups
Founded Band/project name Project co-ordinator(s) Notes 1971 The Concert for Bangladesh concert to raise awareness of refugee problems in Bangladesh, raised funds to benefit UNICEF relief fund, released a film of the concert and an album, The Concert for Bangla Desh
1979 Rockestra recorded "Let It Be", "Lucille", "Rockestra Theme", and "So Glad to See You Here" at the Concerts for the People of Kampuchea, to benefit people of Cambodia suffering from Pol Pot's regime; released as a promotional EP and film
1983 ARMS Charity Concert concert at Royal Albert Hall to support multiple sclerosis research
1984 Band Aid recorded "Do They Know It's Christmas?" charity single for famine relief in Ethiopia 1985 Deep End - Pete Townshend (The Who)
- David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
- Jody Linscott (Elton John, Eric Clapton)
- John 'Rabbit' Bundrick (The Who)
- Billy Nicholls
- Simon Phillips (Toto, The Who)
- Chucho Merchan
- Cleveland Watkiss
- Chyna
- Emma Townshend
recorded "Deep End Live!" 1985 Northern Lights recorded the charity single "Tears Are Not Enough" for famine relief in Ethiopia 1985 USA for Africa recorded "We Are the World" charity single for famine relief in Ethiopia 1985 YU Rock Misija (Yugoslav Rock Mission) - Vlatko Stefanovski
- Željko Bebek
- Marina Perazić
- Momčilo Bajagić
- Aki Rahimovski
- Slađana Milošević
- Dado Topić
- Massimo Savić
recorded "Za Milion Godina (For Million Years)" contribution of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to the famous Bob Geldof's Band Aid famine relief campaign 1985 Hear 'n Aid recorded the charity single and album "Stars" for famine relief in Africa 1985 Artists United Against Apartheid recorded the song and album "Sun City" to protest apartheid in South Africa 1985/1986 Dionne and Friends Recorded the song "That's What Friends Are For" as a charity single for the United Kingdom in 1985 and the United States in 1986 for American Foundation for AIDS Research. 1987 Ferry Aid Recorded the song "Let it Be" as a charity single following the Zeebrugge disaster 1989 Band Aid II re-recording of "Do They Know It's Christmas?" charity single, also for famine relief in Ethiopia 1991 Voices That Care recording of "Voices That Care" charity single, also for U.S. troops involved in Operation Desert Storm, as well as supporting the International Red Cross organization 2001 Artists Against Aids Worldwide recorded several cover versions of "What's Going On" to benefit AIDS programs in Africa and other impoverished regions, with a portion of the proceeds going to the American Red Cross' September 11 fund 2004 Band Aid 20 re-recording of "Do They Know It's Christmas?" 20th anniversary charity single, for famine relief in Ethiopia 2005 The North American Hallowe'en Prevention Initiative (NAHPI) an all star cast of rock artists recorded a satire of the song "Do They Know It's Christmas" named Do They Know It's Hallowe'en?, all proceeds being donated to UNICEF. 2005 One World Project recorded the charity single "Grief Never Grows Old" to benefit 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami relief 2008 SU2C Stand Up 2 Cancer telethon recorded the charity single "Just Stand Up" to benefit the Stand Up To Cancer telethon. 2010 Artists for Haiti Recorded "We Are the World 25 for Haiti", a remake of the original "We Are the World", to benefit the people of Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. 2010 Young Artists for Haiti Canadian singers and musicians who recorded K'naan's song "Wavin' Flag" to benefit the people of Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. 2011 WhoCares Raising funds to support the rebuilding of a music school in Gyumri, Armenia.[1][2] 2011 BackBone - Meat Loaf
- John Rich (Big & Rich)
- Lil Jon (lil Jon & The East Side Boyz)
- Mark McGrath (Sugar Ray)
Singers and Musicians on The Celebrity Apprentice 4, all proceeds from their songs go to their respective charities that they chose on the show.[3] In popular culture
In the Simpsons episode "Radio Bart," a charity supergroup, including Krusty the Clown and guest star Sting, perform "We're Sending Our Love Down the Well."
An episode of Futurama had Bender playing with Beck in a mock concert named "Bend-Aid".
See also
References
Categories:- Benefit concerts
- Musical group stubs
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
