News

The Killers Go Ape To Fight Climate Change

• 21st Oct 2009

The Killers
And Rhythms Del Mundo
‘Hotel California’
Taken from the album ‘Rhythms Del Mundo Classics’
Artists Project Earth (APE) / launched 30 Nov 2009

KILLERS GO APE TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE

THIS IS THE EXCLUSIVE NEW TRACK FROM THE KILLERS, RELEASED TO SUPPORT THE INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED CLIMATE CHANGE AND NATURAL DISASTER SUPPORT CHARITY ARTISTS PROJECT EARTH (APE).

The Killers recorded this cover version of the classic Eagles hit as part of their contribution to raise awareness and funds for the APE charity which, in the last month alone, has made awards of $100,000 to support both the natural disasters in Asia Pacific and the UK-based climate change group The Transition Network. Recorded with the APE house band, Rhythms Del Mundo, ‘Hotel California’ has been given an Afro-Cuban treatment and is already a smash radio hit all over Europe.

The song will be heavily promoted in the run up to COP15 – the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, December 7-18, where it will be the soundtrack to the conference (there’s even talk of a performance – but more on that in due course). Killers fans will love the unexpected foray into Cuban-style-west-coast-LA-rock from Brandon and the boys; and anyone else interested in Climate Change will be sure to pay attention and purchase!

APE & Rhythms Del Mundo

Artists Project Earth (APE) is the vision of a Music Industry Legend: Kenny Young may not be a familiar name to most, but few would not immediately recognise his biggest song, the 1964 classic ‘Under The Boardwalk’. It’s one of the most played and covered songs in pop history, made famous by The Rolling Stones, The Drifters, Sam and Dave, The Beach Boys and many other artists. Young, who wrote the Grammy Award winning song ‘Ai No Corrida’ for Quincy Jones, had spent 30 years penning hits for the biggest stars, including ‘Crew Love’ by Jay-Z and ‘Spirit of the Forest’ performed by Joni Mitchell, Iggy Pop, Debbie Harry and others.

However, the last 10 years has seen Kenny channel his energy towards the battle against Global Climate Change. His mission has been to specifically engage with the artistic community, developing musical projects that raise money and awareness. Young’s song-writing profile has enabled him to pull together the biggest artists, including U-2, Paul McCartney, Sting, Pink Floyd, Elton John, Paul Simon, REM, Peter Gabriel, Queen, Seal and others for ELF's Rainforests conservation projects. His first project, 1991’s ‘Earthrise’ was a No.1 hit album in the UK and globally. For APE he produced ‘Rhythms Del Mundo Cuba feat. musicians from the Buena Vista Social Club’ in a collaboration with Coldplay, Arctic Monkeys, Jack Johnson, Sting, U-2, Franz Ferdinand, Kaiser Chiefs, and Radiohead.

The APE charity now extends across the world, with a board of internationally recognised directors and advisors. Kenny himself has been a recipient of the United Nations Global 500 Award for outstanding practical achievements in the protection and improvement of the environment for his work as co-founder of the Earth Love Fund which supported and initiated over 200 community based projects in Brazil, Africa, Asia and Australia.

The Killers ‘Hotel California’ is also available on the album ‘Rhythms Del Mundo ‘Classics’ which features cover versions from many international stars including The Rolling Stones, Amy Winehouse, Keane, Editors, The Zutons, Fall Out Boy and others. All are united in raising money to support APE and its climate change initiatives. Together, ‘Rhythms Del Mundo ‘Classics’ and ‘Cuba’ albums have sold over 1 million albums worldwide, raising millions of dollars for charitable causes. Every year APE makes an award of $100,000 to one or more climate change initiatives from the proceeds of the album sales. To date APE has supported over 170 different climate change tackling causes and natural disaster relief.

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