Former Radio 1 DJ Mike Read is busy recruiting pop stars to appear on a charity single to help raise funds for victims of last month's horrific Indian Ocean tsunami. Cliff Richard and
Boy George have already recorded vocals for the track - to be called 'Grief Never Grows Old' - with Ronan Keating, Jamie Cullum,
Chris Rea, Olivia Newton John and Robin and Barry Gibb all reportedly tipped to be getting involved.
The song is a melancholy ballad penned by Read before the Boxing
Day earthquake, but which the former DJ reckons is suitable to recognise such a traumatic natural disaster. Read: "It's a natural home for it because people kept saying to me, 'it's such a good song', but it's such a sad song'".
About ten artists are likely to be involved in the project - and, unlike Band Aid-style charity records, each artist will record their vocals individually. Richard recorded his while holidaying in Barbados, Boy George was in New York. Keating will contribute his lines if a suitable recording studio can be found in Switzerland, where he is currently on vacation.
All proceeds from the single will go to the **Disasters Emergency
Committee** (DEC), which is co-ordinating the British relief effort.
Read hopes to get the record completed asap so his contribution to the fundraising effort can begin: "I was totally shocked at the enormity and suddenness of the disaster and in tears on seeing the orphaned children wandering aimlessly in search of their parents".
No word yet on if any record labels are currently involved with the new charity single.