A Ballad for Drew

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Irish Voice Entertainment

A Ballad for Drew

January 23, 2008

By Mike Farragher

ACCORDING to Hot Press magazine in Ireland, U2, Simon Carmody and Kila have led a collaboration on a special tribute to The Dubliners’ legend Ronnie Drew, which was recently recorded in Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin.

Sinead O’Connor, Christy Moore, Andrea Corr, Shane McGowan, Bob Geldof, Damien Dempsey, Gavin Friday, Jerry Fish, Paul Brady, Paddy Casey, Mundy, Chris de Burgh, Ronan Keating, Mary Black and the Chieftains were among the acts that streamed through the studio, according to spies at the magazine, which added that Frames singer Glen Hansard recorded his vocals on a telephone from the Czech Republic.

The song, entitled “The Ballad of Ronnie Drew,” is a collaboration, written by the Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter, with Bono, the Edge and the former Golden Horde singer and songwriter Simon Carmody.

Drew is currently battling with cancer, which was the inspiration for the project. “When you’re fighting cancer you mood is critical,” Bono says “We want Ronnie to know how much he is respected and loved.”

The song has Bono, Shane MacGowan, Christy Moore and Damien Dempsey all taking verses, with Sinead, Andrea Corr and Moya Brennan adding to the chorus.

“It was a real privilege to be part of it,” Brennan said. “The atmosphere in the room was amazing.”

Corr was equally enthusiastic. “I don’t want to go home,” she said. “It is such an amazingly beautiful song and such a wonderful idea. It is the kind of occasion that you’ll remember all your life. It is lovely to have been part of it.” Stay tuned for a release date!

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