Coldplay and REM unite for Hurricane Katrina
Story by Jack Foley
COLDPLAY’S Chris Martin has united with REM’s Michael Stipe for a charity to single in aid of the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
The lead singers of both super-groups will duet on the track, In The Sun, a song penned by Joseph Arthur.
It will make its premiere on US television on Sunday, February 5 (2006) after the Super Bowl and during the drama, Grey’s Anatomy.
It will then be available to purchase the following day exclusively from iTunes, with all proceeds going towards the Mercy Corps working with victims of last year’s hurricane.
Commenting on the collaboration, Michael Stipe said in an official statement: “”The news cycle has moved on and I don’t want the public to forget about those who were affected by Katrina or to believe that everything is fine now.
“It’s a unique place, not only to this country but to the world. I had to do something as a Southerner. I had to do something as a public figure. The one thing I can do is sing, and it’s probably the best way to get people to pay attention.”
The all-star line-up on the track doesn’t stop with the singers, for the song also features Fountains Of Wayne’s Adam Schlesinger on piano and production by Stipe with ex-Smashing Pumpkins guitarist, James Iha.
The single will also be available in several formats on iTunes, including a live version recorded by Coldplay and Stipe at the Texas music festival Austin City Limits earlier this year.
There will even be a remix by Justin Timberlake and Black Eyed Peas star, will.i.am.
In The Sun will also be featured in a documentary of the same name, which is due to air on cable channel, Sundance, later this year.
The various formats for the single are as follows…