All-star cast reinvents The Mission 1988 hit for COVID relief.
Imagine The Cure, Depeche Mode, The Smiths, Ultravox, Bauhaus, The Mission and others joining forces. Well, Wayne Hussey gathered the best of British 80s indie music for a special version of The Missions anthem to benefit key workers dealing with COVID-19 globally.
Dubbed “TOS2020” by ReMission International, the single is available digitally download, gold-colored 12-inch vinyl and CD. According to Hussey “whilst all the versions will be available to listen to on all streaming platforms, I’m gonna ask you to help the cause by buying at least the digital package which is priced at only £2.99. It’s not much, is it? For the price of a coffee, you’ll receive all five versions. Come on, help us to help others.”
Collaborators include Andy Rourke (The Smiths), Billy Duffy (The Cult), Budgie (Siouxsie and the Banshees), Evi Vine, Gary Numan, James Alexander Graham (The Twilight Sad), Jay and Michael Aston (Gene Loves Jezebel), Julianne Regan (All About Eve), Kevin Haskins (Bauhaus / Love and Rockets), Kirk Brandon (Spear of Destiny), Lol Tolhurst (The Cure), Martin Gore (Depeche Mode), Michael Ciravolo (Gene Loves Jezebel), Midge Ure (Ultravox), Miles Hunt (The Wonder Stuff), Rachel Goswell (Slowdive), Richard Fortus and Robin Finck (Guns N’ Roses), Steve Clarke, Tim Palmer (Producer) and Trentemøller.
Explaining the motivation behind the project, Hussey says: “When COVID-19 hit I started receiving messages asking ‘why don’t you re-issue Tower Of Strength for the front line workers?’ The song had apparently been adopted as an anthem by some NHS workers, and it got me thinking that I would like to contribute something to the greater cause at this unprecedented time and the only thing I could really contribute is music. So in conjunction with my good friend Michael Ciravolo, I came up with the idea of recording a new version of Tower Of Strength for charity by enlisting the help of musician friends and acquaintances. Tower Of Strength was first released by The Mission as a single in 1988 and then again in 1994. It charted twice in the UK top 40 and has proved to be probably our biggest song and the one we generally close our shows with. It is anthemic. I wondered if recording a more well-known song might have a greater reach but neither Michael or I could come up with any suggestions that seemed to fit lyrically without getting too corny. So Tower Of Strength it was.”
ReMission International, “TOS2020”
Vinyl edition
Side A
1. “TOS2020” (Beholden To The Front Line Workers Of The World mix)
2. “TOS2020” (single)
Side B
1. “TOS2020” (Trentemøller Remix)
2. “TOS2020” (Albie Mischenzingerzen Remix)
CD edition
1. TOS2020″ (Beholden To The Front Line Workers Of The World mix)
2. TOS2020″ (Trentemøller Remix)
3. TOS2020″ (Albie Mischenzingerzen Remix)
4. TOS2020″ (single)
Digital Bundle
1. TOS2020″ (single)
2. TOS2020″ (Beholden To The Front Line Workers Of The World mix)
3. TOS2020″ (Trentemøller Remix)
4. TOS2020″ (Albie Mischenzingerzen Remix)
5. The Mission’s “Tower Of Strength” (original newly remastered)
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