MONDAY Q&A 8/10/20

Q: I have read that Wayne Hussey cites you as a partner in the new TOS2020 project. Being a health care worker myself, I would like to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for the support. I wanted to ask you how the idea of ReMission International came about and how you feel about being part of it?

A: First, I would like to say THANK YOU for the work that you and all Heath Care and Essential Workers have done and continue to do during this pandemic. It is truly the reason all of these artists got together to do this project. As for how it came about, I had the idea about re-recording BIC’s ‘Storm’, as I felt Ashton’s lyrics conveyed hope (“the storm can rage, rage outside but there is always a light”) and I asked if Wayne would be up to sing a verse. He said he was thinking along the same lines, and that maybe a more well know song would get more notice. It seemed that ‘Tower Of Strength’ was getting renewed UK airplay and had become sort of an anthem to the Health Care Workers. He was really reluctant to toss his own song in the ring, as I know he did not want this concept, if we could pull it off to come off as ‘self serving’. We kicked around a few song ideas, but kept coming back to TOS. It just seemed to be lyrically perfect … ‘you raise me up when I’m on the floor ..’ After talking with some others, he finally agreed that this would be the song. He took on way more than the lion’s share of the work load to make this happen. I am sure that most have no idea of the 100’s of hours he spent to pull this all together. Besides writing the amazing lyrics, he convinced most of the artists involved to sign on. If this was the late ‘80s, this might have been near the level of Live Aid. He certainly deserves that same accolades as Bob Geldolf. I know he will absolutely cringe at that statement, as there is not one once of this he made about himself. Hell, besides his signature 12string guitar part he only sang a few words on TOS2020. He gave his time unselfishly for all the right reasons, pouring his heart and soul into this. Some might not remember that Ultravox’s Midge Ure was a co-organizer of 1985’s Live Aid, and he is also part of Remission International. I know this is a totally different world than 1985 … but the sentiment of all involved in this project is no less than those involved in Live Aid. As for me? I am blessed to be a small part of this. To be on a song with members of Depeche Mode, Siouxsie and The Banshees, Bauhaus, The Cult, Ultravox, Slowdive, The Cure and of course The Mission and more is totally surreal.

I must add that I know there is not the same ‘value’ placed on music in today’s ‘streaming world’ … but it is so very important that fans of any and all involved purchase this song on whatever or all of the formats that they listen on. There are several version’s included and all proceeds go to Covid charities. Being a New Orleans native, I selected The Convent House in NOLA as mine. PLEASE PREORDER HERE!

MC X