Zak Starkey, son of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, has made a public appeal to Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose regarding a valuable master recording. The statement was shared on Instagram.
The drummer is requesting the return of the master recording for “Children of the Revolution,” a T. Rex tribute track created for teen cancer charity. The recording could potentially generate $2 million at auction.
“Dear Axl Rose, please give me my master of this track (‘Children of the Revolution’) back,” Starkey said. “Me and Sshh (Liguz, Zak’s wife) spent 3 years making this Bolan tribute for teen cancer and without the master of ‘Children of the Revolution,’ which my dad, Sshh, and I arranged to include a modulating section for Slash’s guitar, another for Duff’s bass solo and plenty of room for Elton before you asked Sshh if you could sing it.”
Starkey emphasized the charitable purpose and financial potential of the recording. “It’s a drag that the record is on the shelf as Christie’s have advised it could generate $2M for Teen cancer,” he continued. “C’mon bro.”
The appeal highlights the ongoing dispute over the master recording of what appears to be a collaborative tribute to Marc Bolan’s work. The project involves multiple high-profile musicians for charitable purposes.
This high-profile collaboration represents a significant moment in rock history. It brings together legendary musicians from different generations for a charitable cause. The project’s origins and current status reveal the complex dynamics of modern music industry collaborations.
Louder Sound reported that the track features an all-star lineup including Axl Rose, Slash, Duff McKagan, Elton John, and Ringo Starr. This represents the first new studio material involving Guns N’ Roses since their 2016 reformation. The cover originated during sessions that began when Guns N’ Roses and The Who both appeared at the 2017 Rock In Rio festival in Brazil.
The charitable mission behind the recording adds urgency to Starkey’s appeal. Ultimate Classic Rock revealed that the track was filmed with a music video telling the story of a young cancer victim. The project aims to raise funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust. Starkey has urged the participants to give the green light for the release, warning that time is of the essence for the young people the charity aims to help.
“If we wait much longer, some of these brave young people may not have enough time to hear it,” Starkey stated. He emphasized the critical nature of the delay in releasing the potentially life-saving fundraising track.
The timing of this public appeal comes amid other developments in Starkey’s career. Louder Sound noted that despite Starkey’s recent firing and subsequent rehiring as The Who’s drummer, the “Children of the Revolution” cover has gained more attention online. This reinforces its potential impact both musically and philanthropically. The project’s high-profile nature and charitable purpose make the master recording dispute particularly significant for both the music industry and cancer research funding.
