Magic In The Night
While Band Aid took over the world to raise awareness and much needed aid for Ethiopia, our very own heavy metal forefathers were holed up in a recording studio giving it some welly and embarking on a legendary Rock ‘N Roll contribution to support the same cause. At that time, Ethiopia was stricken by hunger and famine, the harrowing images still haunt me today. As with any charitable cause people came together to help, and musicians did what they do best. It was a global effort, to combat a situation that we have at times taken for granted. Under the watchful eye of our very own maestro, Ronnie James Dio ( RIP) an ensemble cast of fertile and fervent imaginations gathered together and their response was a ten -minute spectacular called ‘Stars’. A stellar cross-section of the metal fraternity, we have an exquisite range of vocal talent, my favourite being Dave Meniketti (Y &T) and Paul Shortino ( Rough Cutt) who has the honour or singing the iconic line ‘and we all want to touch a rainbow’ and with six, strum like you mean it guitar solos, I can’t cope. A robust and emotive piece of work that sounds every bit the classic that it is, sending shivers up and down your spine, and as for the army of metallers involved, they deserve high praise.
I honestly hope that this is re-recorded using the bumper crop of artists that are available to us. For now, my heavy metal brethren, let us rejoice and stick this on loud and proud.
For those about to rock – we salute you!
Hear ‘N Aid – Stars – 35th anniversary 2020