Brian May and The Who are among the artists who contributed their time and talent to a recording of Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water," the proceeds of which will go to the victims of last week's deadly apartment building fire in London.
May took time out from Queen's rehearsal Saturday night in Anaheim, California to cut his guitar parts. He says, "[My] guitar parts were played on the Queen stage where we're rehearsing... Simon Cowell's team are working on the track close to where the Grenfell disaster happened -- and a studio where so much of our old material was recorded...
"This is a great cause -- all credit to Simon for pitching in -- and of course this is my neighborhood too -- so I had to volunteer my services to help the families who are suffering so much. The plan is to release this track on Wednesday -- just a week after the fire...
"I'm very happy to be able to contribute, 5,438 miles from Kensington."
The Who issued a statement on the tragedy, saying, "Our thoughts and prayers are with those who suffered in the disastrous fire which swept through Grenfell Tower in West London."
Pete Townshend reportedly knew four families who lived in the building and bought a new piano for a young girl whose instrument was destroyed in the blaze. Pete donated money to the families and added, "They’re not OK. A mother lost her daughter, two little girls were in comas. So I’ve been right in there helping with those families.”
In addition to May and The Who, the song features Celine Dion, Robbie Williams, James Blunt, Rita Ora and others.