Three-fifths of Pink Floyd have reunited to release a protest song against the Russian invasion of Ukraine, their first new track in 28 years.
Entitled Hey Hey, Rise Up! David Gilmour described the track as a show of “anger at a superpower invading a peaceful nation,” and features a Ukrainian musician singing the chorus refrain.
David Gilmour is joined by drummer Nick Mason, long-time bassist Guy Pratt, and a new entry as Nitin Sahwney joins up with keyboard.
Work began on the song seven weeks ago, after Gilmour saw Ukrainian singer Andriy Khlyvnyuk of the band Boombox standing in Kyiv’s Sofia Square armed and dressed for battle against the Russian army. In an Instagram video Khlyvnyk was singing The Red Viburnum In The Meadow, a song from the First World War.
“It just struck me that, as it is a capella, one could turn this into a beautiful song,” Gilmour told BBC 6 Music’s Matt Everitt.
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In a strange coincidence, Gilmour had shared a stage many acts removed with Boombox when they played a London benefit gig for the Belarus Free Theatre. The great guitarist wanted to sample his singing in Hey Hey, Rise Up!
“I spoke to him, actually, from his hospital bed, where he had a pretty minor injury from a mortar,” the star said. “So he’s right there on the front line. I played him a little bit of the song down the phone line and he gave me his blessing.”
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Protest is all well and good, but the band hopes it will also be a morale booster to the people of Ukraine, and a call to peace.
(LISTEN to the New Pink Floyd song below.)
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