Footballers join musicians to record the new version of the song
Former Liverpool FC footballers and musicians from the city have launched a single to mark the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.
The Fields of Anfield Road features Cast's John Power, James Walsh of Starsailor, ex-manager Kenny Dalglish and former player Bruce Grobbelaar.
A new verse has been added to the terrace anthem by Peter Hooton, previously of the band The Farm.
He said it was a "commemoration to the 96 who lost their lives".
The 96 fans were crushed to death at Sheffield Wednesday's stadium when Liverpool took on Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final on 15 April 1989.
It is considered Britain's worst sporting disaster.
'Always remember'
The idea for a commemorative CD came from Liverpool's Lord Mayor, Councillor Steve Rotheram.
"It's important that 20 years on we try and do something," he said.
John Power and Peter Hooton explain why they recorded the song
"So after talking to some of the people in the industry, they thought this was an appropriate way they can do that."
The CD's lead track, performed by the Liverpool Collective featuring the Kop Choir, features contributions from Nick Kilroe from Echo and the Bunnymen and Rob Taylor of the Troubadours and was recorded by Coldplay producer Ken Nelson.
Dalglish, ex-Liverpool player and the team's manager in April 1989, said he was humbled to be mentioned in the song's lyrics.
He said: "I'm the one who's embarrassed by it in the end, but if the families enjoy it I'd rather it be that way round than me enjoying it and they didn't like it."
Former players talk about the events at Hillsborough
The track includes vocals from Grobbelaar, who was Liverpool's goalkeeper when the tragedy occurred.
"You can't forget what happened at Hillsborough," he said. "We'll always remember it."
Former player John Aldridge, who was also on the pitch at Hillsborough on the day of the disaster, said he wanted to keep memories of the day fresh.
"This hopefully will keep them alive and make people realise we're still there for them," he added.
John Power, who found fame with The La's, said everyone involved with the song had been brought together by the tragedy of April 1989.
"You've got people who lost dearly loved ones, you had people who just went to the game and ended up dead, and you ended up also with the injustice of being blamed for that event," he said.
The single, which will be released on 6 April, has been backed by the Hillsborough Family Support Group.
Thousands of people are expected to attend a memorial ceremony at Anfield on 15 April when the Lord Mayor will present the CD to club officials.
No comments:
Post a Comment