AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

PRESS RELEASE

AI Index: ACT 30/021/2005 (Public)

News Service No: 324 /05

1 December 2005

Top musicians support Amnesty International in ground-breaking global venture

The Black Eyed Peas, Avril Lavigne, and The Cure are joining Amnesty International in a ground-breaking musical venture using the works of John Lennon. Make Some Noise, launching on 10 December -- International Human Rights Day -- aims to inspire a new generation to celebrate and stand up for human rights.

The global launch of Make Some Noise will see the release of the Black Eyed Peas’ rousing version of Power to the People, The Cure’s interpretation of Love, Snow Patrol’s recording of Isolation, and Grow Old With Me performed by The Postal Service. All four exclusive singles will be available as online downloads via www.amnesty.org/noise.

These will be followed in early 2006 by an array of iconic John Lennon tracks from further top artists, including Avril Lavigne.

Amnesty International wants Make Some Noise to encourage a new audience to celebrate and take action for human rights and attract one million new supporters worldwide.

All of the contemporary recordings will feature as either single downloads, over the course of the year, or as part of a download compilation album. Due for release in 2006, the compilation will mark one of the greatest music projects of the decade.

All profits from music sales will be used to support Amnesty International – the world’s largest human rights organisation – in its global human rights work.

Make Some Noise follows Yoko Ono’s generous donation of the rights to John Lennon’s solo songbook to Amnesty International in 2003.

“It’s wonderful that, through this campaign, music which is so familiar to many people of my era will now be embraced by a whole new generation,” says Yoko Ono. “John’s music set out to inspire change, just as Make Some Noise does. In standing up for human rights, we really can make the world a better place.”

Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas, says “Power to the People is the ultimate anthem! We had an incredible time recording the track for Make Some Noise, and hope the single will motivate people to truly stand up and be counted.”

Irene Khan, Secretary General at Amnesty International, says "We're thrilled to be using John Lennon's songs in our human rights work. We hope this music will bring an awareness of human rights to a new generation. After all, human rights are what make music possible -- we wouldn't be able to create music, listen to it or dance to it without freedom of speech, expression, and association."

Notes to editors

International Human Rights Day marks the anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.

Amnesty International has a rich musical heritage. The 1988 Human Rights Now! worldwide tour saw hundreds of thousands of people fill stadiums across the globe, with musicians including Bruce Springsteen, Sting and Tracy Chapman joining together to spread the human rights word.

Single downloads will be available at US$ 0.99 per single and at equivalent prices in other currencies from www.amnesty.org/noise

All monies will go towards Amnesty International’s human rights work

For further information on the campaign please log on to www.amnesty.org/noise

For further information including photography and access to spokespeople, please contact Saria Rees-Roberts at +44 (0)20 7513 5810 or SReesRob@amnesty.org

Public Document

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Amnesty International, 1 Easton St., London WC1X 0DW. web: http://www.amnesty.org

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