For over a decade we have toured the UK, performing in many of the venues currently at risk of closure. What can WE do to help grassroots music at this time of crisis?
The idea to collaborate on this track was born a few weeks ago. When Jay (UK Foo Fighters) posted on Kev's (Pearl Jam UK) live stream saying, "play some Foo Fighters Kev!?". Kev obliged playing a few bars of 'Times Like These' and we both watched his feed fill with dozens of requests saying, "you guys should do a duet!". Well here it is folks! And for a pretty damn good cause too we think?
Foo Fighters and Pearl Jam both have very special relationships with the UK music scene. I know for one, Dave Grohl credits the UK and its music fans massively for his bands' international success.
Fitting that today also marks 25 years of Foo Fighters. #FF25
UK Music - Let The Music Play
"UK live music has been one of the UK’s biggest social, cultural, and economic successes of the past decade. But, with no end to social distancing in sight or financial support from government yet agreed, the future for venues, concerts and festivals and the hundreds of thousands of people who work in them looks bleak. Like other countries such as Germany and Australia, we need the Government to help the music industry, which contributes £5.2 billion to the economy annually and sustains almost 200,000 jobs to ensure it remains world-leading following the damage caused by this pandemic. Until these businesses can operate again, which is likely to be 2021 at the earliest, government support will be crucial to prevent mass insolvencies and the end of this world-leading industry. On July 2nd 2020, UK Music and members of the UK Live Music Group, alongside a coalition of live music businesses including artists, venues, concerts, festivals, production companies and industry figures launched a campaign, Let The Music Play, to highlight the importance of the sector to the UK’s economy."
Read more to find out what UK Music & Music Venue Trust are asking for, why it is needed, what they are doing and what you can do. Read more:-
UK Music
https://www.ukmusic.org/policy/let-the-music-play
Music Venue Trust
https://saveourvenues.co.uk
Pearl Jam UK
https://pearljamuk.com