Here’s another special request; HEAR ‘n AID “Stars“, the ’80s metal all-star benefit album. Unbelievable, but the record never has been reissued / remastered nor even released world-wide on CD yet.The only existing official CD press of HEAR ‘n AID is this Japanese release from 1994, of course out of print and with used copies fetching over U$D 250 at eBay.
On May 20 / 21, 1985, forty artists from the Hard Rock / Metal music community gathered at A&M Records Studios to participate in the making of a record called “Stars” as part of a very special project known as Hear ‘n Aid.
The “Stars” single, coupled with the album, a video documentary on the making of the record, and other ancillary products will release money for famine relief efforts in Africa and around the world.
40 artists and hundreds of volunteers donated their time and talent over four months to make Hear ‘n Aid a reality.
While attending a 48-hour charity Radiothon, Dio members Jimmy Bain and Vivian Campbell noticed that representation from hard rock or heavy metal stars was low.
In light of the success of Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” and USA for Africa’s “We Are the World”, they forwarded an idea to Ronnie James Dio, also attending the Radiothon, and together decided to create a similar project exclusively built around artists from the hard rock / metal scene.
Together the three co-wrote the song “Stars.”
The roll call of hard rock and metal stars eager to lend their talents to those sessions was nothing short of astonishing.
In common with those pop music efforts, “Stars” witnessed a string of leather-lunged singers trading lead vocals lines — namely Dio, Judas Priest’s Rob Halford, Blue Oyster Cult’s Eric Bloom, Quiet Riot’s Kevin DuBrow, Queensryche’s Geoff Tate, Y&T’s Dave Meniketti, Rough Cutt’s Paul Shortino and Dokken’s Don Dokken, as well as dozens more providing backup, including members of Motley Crue, Twisted Sister and W.A.S.P.
Distinct among all these musical charities of the time, “Stars” did its metal heritage proud by boasting an extended jaw-dropping guitar solo that collated fireworks of shredders like Yngwie Malmsteen, Dokken’s George Lynch, Craig Goldy, B.O.C.’s Buck Dharma Roeser, Twisted Sister’s Eddie Ojeda, Journey’s Neal Schon, Quiet Riot’s Carlos Cavazo, Night Ranger’s Brad Gillis and co-songwriter Campbell, who also contributed rhythm guitar parts, along with Iron Maiden’s Dave Murray and Adrian Smith, who flew in from their band’s massive World Slavery Tour to do their part with harmony parts.
Unfortunately, obtaining legal clearance for so many artists signed to so many different record labels proved a daunting task that would delay the music’s release for months.
The Hear ’n Aid compilation LP finally arrived in stores in January 1986, packing recordings donated by major names such as Kiss, Rush, Motorhead, Accept, Y&T, Scorpions, the Jimi Hendrix estate, and Dio.
By then, “Stars” had also been made available as both 7” and 12” singles (peaking at No. 26 in the U.K., No. 39 in the U.S.), and the entire historic event was eventually celebrated by a 48-minute documentary filled with interviews, outtakes and behind-the-scenes clips.
And while some of those involved feared that the legal delays had diminished Hear ’n Aid’s impact, one could likewise argue that they also extended awareness for famine relief for a few more months, well into 1986.
In any case, the nearly $1 million raised by Hear ’n Aid speak for themselves, and the still-unmatched collection of hard rock / metal star power that came together during those two days in the name of a good cause.
As said, incredibly, HEAR ‘n AID / “Stars” still remain unreleased on CD worldwide, except for this 1994 Japanese release.
In 2011, Dio’s widow Wendy announced that the song / album would be finally re-released, but legal issues continue to this day.
01 - Hear'n Aid - Stars
02 - Accept - Up To The Limit (live)
03 - Motorhead - On The Road (live)
04 - Rush - Distant Early Warning (live)
05 - Kiss - Heaven's On Fire (live)
06 - Jimi Hendrix - Can You See Me
07 - Dio - Hungry For Heaven (live)
08 - Y & T- Go For The Throat
09 - Scorpions - The Zoo (live)
Lead Vocals:
Don Dokken (Dokken)
Kevin DuBrow (Quiet Riot)
Eric Bloom (Blue Öyster Cult)
Ronnie James Dio (Dio)
Rob Halford (Judas Priest)
Dave Meniketti (Y&T)
Paul Shortino (Rough Cutt)
Geoff Tate (Queensrÿche)
Lead Guitar Solos:
Vivian Campbell (Dio)
Carlos Cavazo (Quiet Riot)
Buck Dharma (Blue Öyster Cult)
Brad Gillis (Night Ranger)
Craig Goldy (Giuffria)
George Lynch (Dokken)
Yngwie Malmsteen
Eddie Ojeda (Twisted Sister)
Neal Schon (Journey)
Dave Murray (Iron Maiden)
Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden)
Jimmy Bain (Dio) - Bass
Vinny Appice (Dio), Frankie Banali (Quiet Riot) - Drums
Claude Schnell (Dio) - Keyboards
Backing Vocals:
Blackie Lawless (W.A.S.P.)
Vince Neil (Mötley Crüe)
Tommy Aldridge (Ozzy Osbourne)
Dave Alford (Rough Cutt)
Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge/King Kobra)
Vinny Appice (Dio)
Jimmy Bain (Dio)
Frankie Banali (Quiet Riot)
Mick Brown (Dokken)
Vivian Campbell (Dio)
Carlos Cavazo (Quiet Riot)
Amir Derakh (Rough Cutt)
Buck Dharma (Blue Öyster Cult)
Brad Gillis (Night Ranger)
Craig Goldy (Giuffria)
Chris Hager (Rough Cutt)
Chris Holmes (W.A.S.P.)
George Lynch (Dokken)
Yngwie Malmsteen
Mick Mars (Mötley Crüe)
Michael McKean (Spinal Tap)
Ted Nugent
Eddie Ojeda (Twisted Sister)
Jeff Pilson (Dokken)
Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot)
Claude Schnell (Dio)
Neal Schon (Journey)
Harry Shearer (Spinal Tap)
Mark Stein (Vanilla Fudge)
Matt Thorr (Rough Cutt)
HEAR ‘n AID – Stars [Japan Only CD pressing] Out Of Print 1985
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