The legendary guitarist Mark Knopfler has re-recorded his classic theme song with nearly 60 Guitar Heroes, Rock Stars and Country Legends to raise money for teen cancer charities.
Mark Knopfler’s musical masterpiece for a good cause
Mark Knopfler, the former leader of Dire Straits, is releasing a new version of his 1983 hit “Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero“. The song is the main theme of the movie “Local Hero”, a comedy-drama about a Scottish village and an American oil company. Knopfler composed and performed the entire soundtrack of the film, which was his first solo project.
The new version of the song is a collaboration with nearly 60 guitar heroes, rock stars, and country legends, including Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton, Pete Townshend, Sting, Joan Jett, Ronnie Wood, and many more. The song is nine minutes long and features the final recording by Jeff Beck, the influential rock guitarist who died last year.
The song is a fundraiser for Teenage Cancer Trust and Teen Cancer America, two organizations that support young people with cancer. Knopfler said in a statement on his YouTube channel that cancer is different when you are younger and that these charities help them get better diagnosis, treatment, and access to clinical trials.
A stunning cover by a pop icon
The song will be released on March 15 as a digital single and a 12-inch vinyl record. The vinyl record is already sold out, as well as the BluRay disc that contains a documentary about the making of the song. The single can be pre-ordered online for 99 cents.
The cover of the record is designed by Sir Peter Blake, a famous pop artist who is known for his work on The Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album cover, as well as the cover for Band-Aid’s “Do They Know its Christmas” and the Live Aid concert poster. The cover shows all the artists who participated in the song in a colorful collage.
Guitar makers also donated eight guitars to be signed by the artists, and one of them will be auctioned on March 1 in a live event featuring Mark Knopfler’.
Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes – Going Home (Theme From Local Hero)
The song is billed as Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes, and it showcases the talent and diversity of the musicians who joined him. The song features masters from various genres, such as singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading, country star Keith Urban, blues legend Buddy Guy, and Queen’s Brian May.
The full list of artists who performed on the song is: Richard Bennett, Joe Bonamassa, Joe Brown, James Burton, Jonathan Cain, Paul Carrack, Ry Cooder, Jim Cox, Steve Cropper, Sheryl Crow, Danny Cummings, Duane Eddy, Sam Fender, Peter Frampton, Audley Freed, Vince Gill, David Gilmour, Keiji Haino, John Jorgenson, Sonny Landreth, Albert Lee, Greg Leisz, Alex Lifeson, Steve Lukather, Phil Manzanera, Dave Mason, Hank Marvin, Robbie McIntosh, John McLaughlin, Tom Morello, Rick Neilsen, Orianthi, Brad Paisley, Nile Rogers, Mike Rutherford, Joe Satriani, John Sebastian, Connor Selby, Slash, Andy Taylor, Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks, Ian Thomas, Steve Vai, Waddy Wachtel, Joe Louis Walker, Joe Walsh, Glenn Worf and Zucchero.
The song was produced by Guy Fletcher, a former keyboardist of Dire Straits, and it also features Ringo Starr and his son Zack Starkey on drums and Roger Daltrey on harmonica. Sting plays bass.
Mark Knopfler thanked all the artists for their “sterling response” and said he had no idea that so many people would join him. He said he and Fletcher had to extend the song to fit all the contributions. He also praised the first artists who came to his studio to record their parts: Townshend, Clapton, and Albert Lee. He said their performances were “fantastic”, “great”, and “spellbinding”. He said the whole project was “an embarrassment of riches” and “a high point”.
A tribute to the local Hero Movie
The song is a tribute to the movie “Local Hero”, which is a cult classic and a favorite of many fans and critics. The movie tells the story of a young American executive who is sent to Scotland to buy a small village for his oil company. He falls in love with the place and the people, and faces a dilemma between his job and his conscience. The movie is a comedy with a touch of magic and a message of environmentalism.
The movie was directed by Bill Forsyth and starred Peter Riegert, Burt Lancaster, Denis Lawson, and Fulton Mackay. The movie was filmed in several locations in Scotland, such as Pennan, Arisaig, and Morar. The movie was nominated for two Oscars, one for Best Screenplay and one for Best Original Score.
The song “Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero” is the main theme of the movie, and it plays during the opening and closing credits. The song is a melodic and nostalgic tune that captures the mood and the beauty of the movie. The song was Mark Knopfler’s first solo single, and it reached number 51 on the UK Singles Chart. The song has become a signature song for Mark Knopfler, and he often plays it at the end of his concerts.
The new version of the song is a homage to the movie and its message, as well as a celebration of the power and the diversity of music. The song is also a way to raise awareness and money for a noble cause: helping young people with cancer. The song is a testament to the talent and the generosity of Mark Knopfler and his guitar heroes, who have created a musical masterpiece for a good cause.
