Top artists rally support for Ukraine with “Zelensky: The Man With the Iron Balls”

An important media release with news on a number of artists who have joined forces to support the Ukraine...Robert Kinsler

Top Artists Rally Support For Ukraine With
“Zelensky: The Man With the Iron Balls”
 
Written by Les Claypool of Primus and Eugene Hütz of Gogol Bordello, the track also features Stewart Copeland, Sean Lennon, Billy Strings, and Sergey Ryabtsev
 
Listen to “Zelensky: The Man With the Iron Balls” via Rolling Stone
 
Stream the track on all platforms HERE

On the night of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Les Claypool of Primus and Eugene Hütz of Gogol Bordello began collaborating on a joint release to rally support for the Ukrainian people. Released today via Rolling Stone and irreverently titled “Zelensky: The Man With the Iron Balls,” the track also features Stewart Copeland, Sean Lennon, Billy Strings, and Sergey Ryabtsev. Proceeds from the sale of the single will be donated to Nova Ukraine, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing humanitarian aid to the people of Ukraine.   “As soon as Russian aggression broke out, Les and I connected to address the catastrophe ASAP,” recalls Hütz, a Ukrainian native. “We jumped on creating affirmative music that calls for unity and pays respect to the real doers in Ukrainian defense - such as President Zelensky, who demonstrated previously unheard-of stamina and heroism.”   “The night of the invasion, I was dining with close friends of mine from Poland who were hosting their family visiting the US from their town, which is 50 kilometers from the Ukraine border,” Claypool adds. “Needless to say, they were stressed and concerned about what was happening in their homeland. After a few vodka shots of solidarity, I started texting with my buddy Eugene from Gogol Bordello to get his perspective and insight. In that vodka-laced dialogue, we started mutually praising Zelensky for his surprisingly epic display of courage. ‘Zelensky has balls of steel!’ we agreed. It was then that we decided that some freaky, ‘East meets West’ art needed to be thrown that way.”   “After a couple weeks of file trading with Sean Lennon, Stewart Copeland, Eugene Hütz, and Sergey Ryabtsev, a visit to my studio by my buddy Billy Strings, as well as some enthusiastic rhythmic claps from local supporters of Ukraine, we now have a recording to help rally support for a bullied country and a David vs. Goliath-type man who stood up for their liberty, freedom and homeland.”   Hütz points out: “The reoccurring chant in the song, ‘Revolution of Dignity,’ honors the 2014 Maidan Revolution, which resulted in the removal of Ukraine’s pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych and lead to Russia’s military intervention against the people of Ukraine, the annexation of Crimea and the start of the Donbas War - part of the broader Russo-Ukrainian War. It is our way to show that heavyweights like Les, Stewart, Billy and Sean stand with people of Ukraine and the country’s sovereignty from the very start of Russian-led terror.”   “This is not intended to be a song of condemnation,” Claypool says. “This is a song of unity and anti-bully mentality, giving praise to a man who stepped up for his people beyond anything I've seen in my tenure on this planet. This unlikely fellow has grabbed the reins of leadership and held fast in such a way that the world is now galvanized in support. His legendary quote ‘We need ammunition, not a ride’ – Patrick Henry couldn't have said it better himself. Zelensky is truly ‘The Man With the Iron Balls.’”

“Zelensky: The Man With the Iron Balls”

To further raise donations for Nova Ukraine, the team behind “Zelensky: The Man With The Iron Balls” has partnered with Fandiem, a digital fundraising platform that inspires the music community to give back. Starting this Friday, 4/22, fans who donate at www.fandiem.com/ironballs will be automatically entered to win an all-expense-paid trip to attend the South Park 25th Anniversary Concert at the iconic Red Rock Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO on August 10, featuring Primus and Ween. One winner and guest will receive travel and hotel, two VIP tickets to the show, upgraded seats, and a special prize from the artists.   The creative team is also inviting listeners to show their support for the people of Ukraine by submitting clips of themselves, their friends, colleagues, children, pets, or anyone else they deem appropriate clapping along to the song. Video clips can be sent to ironballs@primusville.com and additional details can be found in the video notes here.   “Zelensky: The Man With the Iron Balls” Les Claypool - bass and vocals Stewart Copeland - percussion Eugene Hütz - vocals Sean Lennon - guitar and vocals Sergey Ryabtsev - violin Billy Strings - guitar

Music News Roundup: Pink Floyd, Buddy Guy, John Lennon, a-ha, The Animals, Mike Campbell, more!

Check out TJR and Robert Kinsler discuss the major music news headlines of the last week on their new episode available HERE. 

The range of newsmakers includes Pink Floyd, John Lennon, The Animals, a-ha, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Buddy Guy, Mike Campbell & the Dirty Knobs and more!

Christone "Kingfish" Ingram / Photo: Bob Steshetz

Mike Campbell & the Dirty Knobs / Photo courtesy of the artist

Julian Lennon performs 'Imagine' for first time in support of the Ukraine

Julian Lennon / Photo: Robert Ascroft

For the first time ever, Julian Lennon has recorded his late father's 1971 single "Imagine." On April 8, 2022, Julian sang the classic song as part of Global Citizen's Stand Up For Ukraine fundraiser. Lennon, who celebrated his 59th birthday that same day, was accompanied on the affecting video performance by guitarist Nuno Bettencourt. 

Watch the performance HERE.

On his official Twitter account, Lennon wrote: "The War on Ukraine is an unimaginable tragedy...As a human, and as an artist, I felt compelled to respond in the most significant way I could.

"So today, for the first time ever, I publicly performed by Dad's song, IMAGINE. Why now, after all these years? I had always said, that the only time I would ever consider singing 'IMAGINE' would be if it was the 'End of the World'...

"But also because the lyrics  reflect our collective desire for peace worldwide. Because within this song, we're transported to a space, where love and togetherness become our reality, if but for a moment in time..."

"The song reflects the light at the end of the tunnel, that we are all hoping for..."

Additionally, Lennon released the first two must-hear songs from his upcoming album Jude scheduled to be released sometime later this year.

Listen to the original song "Freedom" HERE.

Listen to the original song "Every Little Moment" HERE.

For more information on Lennon, visit his official website HERE.

New Wave Icons DEVO To Donate Licensing Revenue to Benefit Ukraine

Media release: For Immediate Release

DEVO ANNOUNCE THEY WILL DONATE LICENSING REVENUE FROM THEIR SONG CATALOG TO ORGANIZATIONS HELPING SUPPORT UKRAINIAN PEOPLE AND REFUGEES

THE INITIATIVE STRIVES TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY TO FOLLOW SUIT

LOS ANGELES – (March 21, 2022) In response to the ongoing war in Ukraine and atrocities levied against the Ukrainian people, New Wave pioneers and platinum-selling music icons, DEVO, announced today that in addition to making their own personal monetary contributions, they will be donating their licensing revenue from their song catalog for the entire month of April 2022. The money will go directly to Music Saves UA and World Central Kitchen, two organizations on the ground helping to directly support the Ukrainian people and refugees. The group is encouraging others to join them in this effort.

“Vladimir Putin’s rape of a sovereign nation, Ukraine, whose citizens are committed to democratic rule of law should not and cannot stand in the 21st Century,” shared Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale of DEVO. “To help the victims of Putin’s unprovoked war, DEVO will be donating these revenues from the licenses of our song catalog throughout the month of April. We invite our rights holder partners in masters and publishing matters to join us in doing the same. Further we encourage all successful recording artists to do something similar to help make this gesture reach critical mass.”

Music Saves UA is a non-profit fundraising project created to provide immediate humanitarian help, including medical, food, water and hygiene, to those who need it most right now in Ukraine. Learn more at musicsavesua.com

"The whole team at Music Saves UA is incredibly grateful for all the donations and constant help and support from the world of music and culture,” says Music Save UA representative Vlad Yaremchuk. “Our incredible team and dozens of volunteers who joined our cause are working 24/7 to provide supplies and aid via our humanitarian HQ in Kyiv. Every penny that reaches us is put to good use immediately, especially as we work to establish new centres on the Moldovian and Romanian borders for those fleeing. Every act of support is invaluable for us and we deeply appreciate it.”

World Central Kitchen, founded in 2010 by Chef José Andrés, is a non-profit organization that provides fresh meals in response to crises while working to build resilient food systems with locally led solutions. In response to the Ukraine invasion, WCK has activated in Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Moldova, and Hungary, where they are providing meals for as many people as possible at border crossings, shelters, and other locations along the journey by working with local restaurants, caterers, and food trucks, and their own field kitchens. Learn more at wck.org

DEVO has a longstanding dedication to political and social activism. Known for hits like “Whip It,” “Beautiful World” and “That’s Good,” as well as for a career that spans across more than four decades and touches everything from music, art, television, movies and more, the group and its members are credited not only for pioneering the music video but also for using music and performance art as commentary on conformity, emotional repression and dehumanization.

Petition for Paul McCartney to release his 2008 Ukraine 'Independence Concert'

Last week saw the timely beginning of an effort to get Paul McCartney to commercially release his Saturday, June 14, 2008 concert staged in Kyiv, Ukraine as a fundraising effort for the people of the beleaguered European nation. I am hopeful that McCartney and Universal Music Group will issue this concert as a DVD/Blu-ray/audio title quickly so I am sharing the news as well...Robert Kinsler

Paul McCartney tweeted out this image via Twitter on Feb. 28, 2022, with the caption: 
"Remembering playing for our friends in Ukraine in Independence Square in 2008
and thinking of them in these difficult times. We send our love and support. 🇺🇦#StandWithUkraine."

More than 350,000 music fans gathered in the wake of a rain-soaked Saturday on June 14, 2008 to watch as Paul McCartney played the biggest concert in the Ukraine's history. The event was staged in Independence Square in Kyiv, Ukraine at the invitation of the Victor Pinchuk Foundation. The event was aptly-titled the "Independence Concert."

There are plenty of great reasons to release this concert, including how McCartney resurrected the Band on the Run cut "Mrs. Vandebilt," which was a popular radio track on the radio in the region back in the 1970s (the song was released as a single in Continental Europe in January 1974).

The concert was originally broadcast live on Novy TV. In addition to the event being shown all around Kyiv on screens that were specially put up for the show, the performance was also beamed live to six major cities around the county where an additional 195,000 people came to watch the show. Along with the TV broadcast, it is believed that a total of 10 million in the Ukraine saw Sir Paul in concert!

You can see McCartney and his excellent band's performance of a medley of "A Day in the Life/Give Peace a Chance" from that concert HERE.

Learn more about this incredible concert via the Paul McCartney Project website HERE.

Big Stir Records artists rally for United Help Ukraine

An important update in the effort by Big Stir Records to assist United Help Ukraine with its important mission to help the beleaguered nation. There are many fantastic artists involved in this effort and please champion their music while benefitting Ukraine...Robert Kinsler

Thoroughly moved by how quickly so many of Big Stir's artists rallied to this cause... here is the result! Introducing: The BIG STIR UNITED HELP UKRAINE BENEFIT STORE, with 50% of all sales of vinyl and CDs going to UNITED HELP UKRAINE to provide humanitarian and medical aid: 

https://bigstirrecords.com/united-help-ukraine-benefit-store 

What started as a single album from THE ARMOIRES and grew to include our full SORROWS and ARTHUR ALEXANDER catalogs is now a full-blown sub-store featuring over 12 BSR artists generously offering up over 50 titles -- peruse them closely as some have never been available via BSR before! The global roster of participating artists who've now joined up includes THE STAN LAURELS, PLASTICSOUL, THE CORNER LAUGHERS (and friends), KAI DANZBERG, THE LUNAR LAUGH, BLAKE JONES & THE TRIKE SHOP, SHPLANG, DOLPH CHANEY, and MYLITTLEBROTHER... and we have reason to expect more to come. 

Ukrainian-American-owned Big Stir Records most definitely stands with Ukraine... Дякую друзі! (Which is to say, thank you, friends!)