Pop stars unite for wave victims

Some of the biggest music stars in the world are to unite for a charity single to help raise funds for victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami.

They hope the song will raise more than £2m for a relief fund.

Sir Cliff Richard, Boy George and opera star Russell Watson will sing on the song, entitled Grief Never Grows Old.

Former Boyzone singer Ronan Keating may also take part, if a studio can be found close to where he is holidaying in Switzerland.

Other music stars who are being approached include the surviving members of the Bee Gees, jazz sensation Jamie Cullum, Chris Rea and Olivia Newton-John.

‘Sad song’

Radio DJ Mike Read had written the song before the tragedy on Boxing Day, but thought it was too gloomy to release.

But now he plans to have it recorded by a collective of pop stars under the name One World Project.

“It’s a natural home for it because people kept saying to me, ‘it’s such a good song’, but it’s such a sad song,” Read said.

He said the song was a slow ballad and would work with around 10 singers, rather than a “singalong” like the Band Aid 20 single raising money for famine relief in Africa.

The backing track has already been recorded, and organisers hope it can be finished within the next week to get it into record stores as quickly as possible.

Read went to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), which is co-ordinating the British relief effort, with the idea the day after Boxing Day.

“I was totally shocked at the enormity and suddenness of the disaster and in tears on seeing the orphaned children wandering aimlessly in search of their parents,” he said.

Sir Cliff Richard had recorded his vocal part in Barbados, while Boy George had recorded his in New York.

Read said all the funds raised by the record would go to the DEC.

“I’d only be pleased in terms of what it meant for sales if it got to number one,” he added.

©BBC