09 November 2014
Newsdesk
On the 100th anniversary of the Christmas Day Truce, during World War One, which inspired The Farm’s 1990 hit All Together Now, many of the UK’s biggest music stars have united as The Peace Collective, to re-record the song.
The new track features a backing choir of schoolboy footballers from the Premier League and German Bundesliga. All profits from the release, out December 15th, will go to the British Red Cross and the Shorncliffe Trust.
Peter Hooton, lead singer of The Farm, says: “I wrote All Together Now about the extraordinary events on Christmas Day 1914 when British and German troops took part in an unofficial truce, singing Christmas carols, exchanging gifts and even playing football. It was a spontaneous act of humanity that transcended the horrors and barbarity of World War One and is a story which still resonates 100 years on. It is a story of hope and peace which should be told over and over again. I'm so very proud that so many artistes from all styles of music and the football authorities have come together to promote peace and reconciliation this Christmas and raise funds for the brilliant work carried out by the British Red Cross and Shorncliffe Trust.”
The new recording is being produced by Simon Britton, and executively produced by Suggs (Madness) – who produced The Farm’s original version – and Mick Jones (The Clash).
Stars confirmed to appear on the new recording include Alexandra Burke, Guy Chambers, Gorgon City, Gabrielle, The Proclaimers, Engelbert Humperdinck, Holly Johnson, John Power (Cast), Jah Wobble (PiL), Jane McDonald, I Am Kloot, Shara Nelson (Massive Attack), Amelle Berrabah (The Sugababes), the winner of The Voice 2014 Jermain Jackman, and The Farm themselves, with many more to be confirmed. Strings and brass on the track are provided by the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA).
The Christmas Truce was a series of widespread, unofficial ceasefires which took place along the Western Front over Christmas 1914.
British and German troops ventured into ‘no man’s land’, exchanging food and souvenirs, singing carols, and, most famously, playing football.
A hundred years on, British and German children have united to provide the backing choir for The Peace Collective, which comprises of sixty U12 footballers, 38 from Premier League Clubs and 22 from German (mainly Bundesliga) clubs. The children came to Liverpool for a weekend and recorded the song together at Parr Street Studios in a great spirit of togetherness. The boys sing in both English and German and appear in the video in their football club shirts.
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