POP people who recorded the Hillsborough Justice Collective 2012 Christmas No1 – He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother - will gather in Mathew Street today to unveil a bronze disc on the city’s World Capital of Pop Wall of Fame.
It does not say who, exactly, but the Collective featured musicians such as Sir Paul McCartney, Robbie Williams, Paloma Faith, Holly Johnson, Mel C, Mick Jones, Beverley Knight, Paul Heaton, John Power and Rebecca Ferguson backed by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra as well as stars from the world of sport and comedy including Kenny Dalglish, Alan Hansen, Peter Reid, John Bishop and Neil Fitzmaurice.
Wall Of Fame Mathew Street
The reworking of The Hollies classic was only recorded in November after Everton Football Club memorably played the song in the first premier league match after the report by the Hillsborough Independent Panel. It laid bare the facts of a monumental cover up by the authorities to blame fans for the disaster in April 1989 which claimed the lives of 96 Liverpool FC fans.
The song, produced by Guy Chambers, beat the X-Factor James Arthur effort to the coveted Christmas No1 spot. It has sold 400,000 copies to date, earning it a gold disc, with the proceeds going to a fund to assist the families.
After the unveiling, a party will be held inside The Cavern with music by Liverpool band The Hummingbirds and... a Beatles tribute band.
Doggy
Mick Jones, of The Clash and B.A.D,said: "After Playing The Justice Tonight shows at the end of 2011 and throughout 2012 it was only natural that many of the people involved would want to take part on the record to raise money for the 96! I'm extremely proud and honoured to have played on such a beautiful and moving piece of music. The underlying spirit is pure Merseybeat."
Liverpool’s World Capital of Pop Wall of Fame was opened in 2001 by Lita Roza, the first Liverpudlian to have a No1 record in 1953 with How Much is that Doggy in the Window.
Liverpool has the most No1 songs per head of population than any city in the world, as recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records.
The last was a cover of The Tide Is High, by Atomic Kitten, over a decade ago....
