Rock legends David Byrne, Bryan Ferry to hold separate benefit concerts for Yolanda victims

David Byrne. (Reuters)

As the world’s most famous entertainers have taken to social media to manifest their concern for the victims of killer typhoon Yolanda, known as Haiyan to the rest of the world, two rock legends have taken their sympathies to the next level.

David Byrne, best known as leader of the quirky new wave band Talking Heads, will stage a one-night concert version of “Here Lies Love”, the musical about the life of former First Lady and now Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos that he created with Fatboy Slim back in 2010.

As reported by several websites including Spin.com, Byrne and the show’s cast will hold a concert at New York City’s Terminal 5 on November 25. All proceeds will go to Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres as part of their relief efforts for the typhoon victims.

The poster for the 'Here Lies Love' concert.

In a statement published in the same report, Byrne said, “The show is about the resiliency of the Philippine people — it couldn’t be more timely. Upon hearing about this tragedy the cast contacted me about doing a show to raise money for relief efforts. Most of our cast is Filipino, and all of us feel the same way. It’s personal for all of us.”

Byrne stressed that the show is actually a concert version of the musical. “This won’t be the same immersive, interactive experience as the theatrical version,” he said in a message posted in an off-topic forum at MacResource.com.

“But we’ll do EVERY song, in order, with the original cast and costumes—plus I’ll be helping out and singing as well. The show is wall-to-wall songs. If you didn’t see or hear the production, now is your chance to hear it and at the same time to do something for the survivors in the Philippines,” he added.

The 61-year-old singer-songwriter was actually in Manila back in 2005 to do his research on the project. While here, he met with several personalities, including InterAksyon columnist Jessica Zafra, actor Joel Torre, filmmaker Butch Perez and many others. His personal chronicle of his Philippine trip remains posted on his blog.

The Talking Heads reached the apex of their popularity during the late ’70s and early ’80s and are best known for such classic songs as “Psycho Killer”, “Once in a Lifetime” and “Burning Down The House”.

Bryan Ferry. (Photo from BryanFerry.com)

On the other side of the globe, Bryan Ferry, a contemporary of Byrne who had a long and successful career both as frontman of the art-rock band Roxy Music and as a solo act, has decided that an additional show of his recent sold-out UK tour will be for the benefit of the typhoon victims.

This was announced by Ferry himself in his official website. The concert, described as a very special End of Tour show, will take place at Shepherds Bush Empire on Saturday, November 30, in aid of the Disasters Emergency Committee Philippines Typhoon Appeal.

“We were all shocked by the devastating Typhoon Haiyan that hit the Philippines during the tour. When the opportunity arose for us to add another London date we decided to do a show for the benefit of the Philippines,” Ferry said in a statement that accompanied the news announcement of the one-off concert.

Now 68, Ferry is best known as the voice behind Roxy Music’s greatest hits such as “Love Is The Drug” and “More Than This” as well as for solo hits like “Slave To Love” and “Don’t Stop The Dance”.

Like the Talking Heads, Roxy Music also enjoyed their biggest recording success during the ’70s and ’80s.

Rock legends David Byrne, Bryan Ferry to hold separate benefit concerts for Yolanda victims

Source: InterAksyon.com (November 21, 2013 at 09:55AM)

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