Helensburgh Heroes go for a community ‘Live Aid’ record remix of David Bowie’s Heroes

David Bowie’s iconic 70’s song ‘Heroes’ is getting a 21st Century makeover on 24th January, thanks to the charity, Helensburgh Heroes. This is believed to be the first community attempt at a ‘Live Aid’ style recording.

Helensburgh Heroes has been given permission by Fairwood Music Publishing to record a version of the song in an effort to raise awareness of both the area’s famous sons and daughters and also its efforts to bring some much needed music and arts facilities to the town.

Phil Worms, a director of the Helensburgh Heroes charity, says: ‘Whether this recording reaches number 1 or not is irrelevant. The purpose of the recording is twofold. Firstly, to raise awareness of the many local men and woman who have contributed so greatly to the society in which we now live, particularly in this Homecoming Year. And secondly to get the community involved in a fun and innovative project which will hopefully lead to the establishment of a permanent arts and cultural centre within the area’.

Up to 300 local singers and musicians of all ages and ability will congregate in Helensburgh’s Victoria Hall for an all day recording session under the guiding influence of musical director Alan Craig. The whole event will be professionally filmed, with the footage being used for a video to accompany the track when it is commercially released.

Alan, an accomplished pianist and composer, is currently Head of Music at Langside College, Glasgow. He has extensive experience of directing musical and theatrical productions, having managed over 40 to date; half of these having featured his own music.

He says: ‘I was brought up in Helensburgh and like many others; the area was responsible for providing me with both my musical training and inspiration. I am delighted to be involved with this recording as it will hopefully ignite some creative sparks in other local people and show them how exciting and fun the arts can be. I also believe that the stories of some Helensburgh’s famous sons and daughters deserve wider recognition and that this project will hopefully achieve that’.

The musical arrangement for the track is being produced by Helensburgh born drummer Kenny Hyslop. A veteran of the Scottish popular music scene, Kenny has played and toured with Slik, Skids, Zones and Simple Minds in a career spanning 25 years. He now teaches drums and produces upcoming artists.

Kenny says: ‘I wanted to get involved with the Heroes recording with a view to raising money and providing Helensburgh based facilities to encourage the area’s undoubted talent and to show that it should be possible to achieve your goals locally without the need to move to Glasgow or London. If we can get an arts centre established locally I guarantee that it will be the best centre in the West of Scotland, designed to nurture the talents and dreams of our future Heroes’.

One of the artists lending her considerable vocal talents to the recording is local resident, Kirsten Easdale.  As a professional singer, and recording artist, for over 17 years, Kirsten has sung both as a solo artist, and with bands “Whisky Fingers”, ”The Cutting Edge” and top Celtic band “Calasaig”, performing all over the world, including Scotland’s own ‘Celtic Connections’ and ‘Burns An A That’ festivals.

Kirsten says: ‘When I heard about the “Heroes” recording, I thought that I could contribute in some way, to a worthy, positive, and inclusive project. Art transcends race, gender, social class, disability etc, and there are many groups, and individuals, who would benefit from having arts facilities in the area’.

She adds: ‘I believe that this recording will provide a focus for our larger art community, to come together – to be inspired, to collaborate, to create, to be entertained, and to learn. Who knows, maybe we’ll discover some new ‘Helensburgh Hero’ of the future, right there on the day’.

One of the driving forces behind the Heroes recording is Helensburgh raised Gill Russell, who having spent the past 10 years in live music & studio environments, is currently undertaking an Honours Degree in Commercial Music. Gill says: ‘Having spent time working on the Mothership Initiative, a Glasgow Schools radio production project, I have seen firsthand how much young people flourish and develop creatively when they have access to professional advice and facilities, and I really want to see such a centre of excellence developed in this area’.

She adds: ‘We believe that we will be joined on Saturday by members of the Helensburgh & Lomond Fiddlers, Dorian Choir, Enable, Helensburgh Savoy and Acting Up amongst others. Given the talent that these groups offer, combined with all the other participating musicians efforts, I really believe that we will do this classic Bowie song justice and that people will want to play and buy our version’.

The Heroes recording event is being generously supported by the Scottish Community Foundation. Nick Addington, grants director of the Foundation said, “Our mission is to help strengthen local communities, so we’re pleased when we can support projects that encourage the local community to work together. Helensburgh Heroes have done well to engage so many local people in their recording, and we wish them the greatest success with their single’.

Following post production, the Helensburgh Heroes version of the song will be released commercially in late spring.

Watch this space.