Helensburgh community to produce charity version of Bowie’s song Heroes - Live Aid style

David Bowie’s iconic 70’s song ‘Heroes’ is due to get a 21st Century makeover thanks to a Helensburgh based charity on the 24th January, in what 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.

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 said: “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 said: “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.”

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.

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Helensburgh Heroes

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