UNITED KINGDOM: THIRTEEN ROCK STARS RECORD REMAKE OF "SMOKE ON THE WATER" FOR "ROCK AID ARMENIA" CHARITY.

Record ID: 861977

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: THIRTEEN ROCK STARS RECORD REMAKE OF "SMOKE ON THE WATER" FOR "ROCK AID ARMENIA" CHARITY.
  • Date: 16th November 1989
  • Summary: ORGANISER JOHN DEE SPEAKING (ENGLISH SOT) (2 SHOTS)
  • Embargoed: 1st December 1989 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom
  • City:
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Arts,General
  • Reuters ID: LVA8KV9DQQ7X5ZU0846X7KF6T1D8
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  • Story Text: LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM AND FILE ARMENIA Thirteen of rock music's big names gathered in London on Wednesday to record a charity remake of the Deep Purple classic "Smoke on the Water." The money raised will go to the victims of the earthquake which killed more than 25,000 and left 500,000 homeless in the Soviet republic of Armenia last December.
    The line-up of the group, Rock Aid Armenia, which was the brainchild of organiser John Dee, includes: Ian Gillan and Ritchie Blackmore (formerly of Deep Purple) Dave Gilmour (Pink Floyd), Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden), Keith Emerson (Emerson Lake & Palmer), Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath), and Brian May and Roger Taylor (Queen). Gillan said "Smoke on the Water" is ideal for a remake. "It's a song that was born out of disaster and ended up being a triumph," he said. The original was inspired by a lakeside fire in Switzerland, where Deep Purple was recording at the time, he added.
    The group hopes to raise 1.6 million United States (US) dollars from the single, and from an album and video. They say they already have secured advance sales of about 250,000 US dollars.
    <strong>Source: REUTERS - JIMMY MATHEWS, DAVE COPELAND, JEFF CHILTON</strong>
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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