"It’s one moment in hard rock history that we can all be proud of."

November 24, 2023 10:05 AM

Hear 'n Aid (previously) was a 1986 hard rock/heavy metal charity album that raised $3 million for famine relief in Africa.

Lead single 'Stars' (video) has six guitar solos, eight lead vocalists, and is ten minutes long.

Wendy Dio (widow of Ronnie James) says a reissue is coming soon.

posted by box (8 comments total)

The Wikipedia article has a clearer and more comprehensive list of personnel on the record. (I note that Michael McKean and Harry Shearer are on it as their Spinal Tap characters.) It's also interesting that they tried to avoid some of the mistakes of Band-Aid and USA For Africa.
posted by Halloween Jack at 10:39 AM on November 24, 2023 [1 favorite]

That's interesting. I have never heard of this album, while "We are the World" was something you couldn't avoid.
posted by zardoz at 1:32 PM on November 24, 2023 [3 favorites]

If you tried, induced coma aside.
posted by y2karl at 2:08 PM on November 24, 2023 [1 favorite]

"That's interesting. I have never heard of this album, while "We are the World" was something you couldn't avoid."

That's likely because (speaking as a guy who was a huge metal fan growing up in 80s) the song isn't very good. It's sort of Heavy Metal as found at Dollar General. Boring chorus, uninspired verses, and no solo really stands out.
posted by milnak at 5:04 PM on November 24, 2023

That's interesting. I have never heard of this album, while "We are the World" was something you couldn't avoid.

I recall hearing of it in the spate of mid-eighties megaband charity singles ‘n’ concerts, but I am certain I never actually heard the song.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 5:56 PM on November 24, 2023

As a charity effort inspired by Band Aid in the UK it's admirable. As a metal song it's kind of paint by numbers but I guess they had to play to the non metal public's idea of what metal is.
posted by GallonOfAlan at 12:58 AM on November 25, 2023

Hear 'n Aid was good, but I prefer Ramones Aid, which also features a number of familiar faces. "Won't you please lend a hand?"
posted by spilon at 11:42 AM on November 25, 2023 [3 favorites]

(I note that Michael McKean and Harry Shearer are on it as their Spinal Tap characters.)

Notable in the extras videos release at the time were the in-character interviews with David St. Hubbins where he said he appreciated how Yngwie Malmsteen used his middle initial, J, when he promoted himself at the time, "so you don't confuse him with all of the other Yngwie Malmsteens in the business." Malmsteen loved it so much he included it in the opening section of his autobiography.
posted by spoobnooble 3D: the spoobening at 3:20 AM on November 26, 2023 [3 favorites]