War Child Announce First Single from Heroes Benefit Album
February 17, 2009
The Kooks cover of The Kinks’ ‘Victoria’ to hit radio on February 17th
TORONTO, February 17th - The Kooks’ cover of The Kinks’ ‘Victoria’ will be the first single taken from the forthcoming Heroes benefit album for War Child. The single will be distributed to radio stations across Canada on February 17th in anticipation of the album’s release in Canada on March 3rd, 2009.
The original Kinks’ song was the opening track on the band’s 1969 album, Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire). In a single song, Ray Davies seemed to distil the excitement of the period.
Ray Davies: “’Victoria’ was an important track to me and The Kinks, because I needed something with a bit of pomp but that yet still rocked. Simple yet with a big idea. Something to evoke another era and yet seemed modern. Innocence before the corruption. And now, The Kooks seem to have all those elements I looked for in ‘Victoria.’ Anything that can benefit such a worthy cause is worth while.”
The Kooks version of the song was recorded at Konk Studios, owned by Ray Davies.
Heroes is a peerless collection of some of the best songs ever written and performed, covered by today’s greatest artists and bands, working with a concept that mirrors one of the intrinsic aims of War Child’s efforts in war zones across the world – to place faith in the next generation. Each legend was asked to pick one of their classic songs and nominate a new artist or band to reinterpret it. The result is a collection of exclusive and inspired collaborations.
Proceeds from sales of the album will go to War Child, an award winning organization that works with children whose lives have been devastated by war. By concentrating on protecting children’s rights, providing an education and helping them develop life skills for the future, War Child empowers children to retake control of their lives. War Child works in some of the world’s worst conflict areas including Afghanistan, Darfur, the Congo and northern Uganda.
For more information, please visit warchildheroes.com
