Music legend Eric Clapton is joining Van Morrison‘s efforts to reopen the live music industry amid the coronavirus pandemic by releasing a new anti-lockdown song called, “Stand and Deliver.”
The song, which was written by Mr. Morrison and performed by Mr. Clapton, will debut Dec. 4 and the proceeds will go toward Mr. Morrison‘s Lockdown Financial Hardship Fund, which supports U.K. musicians who are facing financial hardship because of widespread government restrictions on live music.
“There are many of us who support Van and his endeavors to save live music; he is an inspiration,” Mr. Clapton told Variety. “We must stand up and be counted because we need to find a way out of this mess. The alternative is not worth thinking about. Live music might never recover.”
“Eric’s recording is fantastic and will clearly resonate with the many who share our frustrations,” Mr. Morrison told the outlet. “It is heartbreaking to see so many talented musicians lack any meaningful support from the government, but we want to reassure them that we are working hard every day to lobby for the return of live music, and to save our industry.”
Mr. Morrison launched his Save Live Music campaign in August and begged fellow musicians to “fight the pseudo-science” and join him. The “Brown Eyed Girl” singer recently released three songs protesting the U.K. lockdowns, titled “Born To Be Free,” “As I Walked Out” and “No More Lockdown.”
“I’m not telling people what to do or think, the government is doing a great job of that already,” Mr. Morrison said at the time. “It’s about freedom of choice, I believe people should have the right to think for themselves.”
?STAND AND DELIVER? BRAND NEW TRACK written by Van Morrison and performed by @EricClapton
Download the exclusive track on DECEMBER 4th to #SaveLiveMusic
Available on @AppleMusic @AmazonMusicUK @Deezer @Spotify https://t.co/xwSM1idIpl
— Van Morrison (@vanmorrison) November 27, 2020
