HEAR'N'AID

Hear'n'Aid was a one-time collaboration of a lot of hard'n'heavy artists in 1985 to raise money for famine relief in Africa. The project raised $1 million within a year.

After the success of Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" and USA for Africa's "We Are the World", Ronnie James Dio and his band decided to create a project exclusively made with musicians only from the hard'n'heavy scene.

Dio, Jimmy Bain and Vivian Campbell co-wrote the song "Stars."

The song was recorded on May 20 and 21, 1985 at the A&M Records Studio in Hollywood, California.

The project included stars as Ted Nugent, Yngwie Malmsteen, Tommy Aldridge and members of Dio, JudasPriest, IronMaiden, QuietRiot, Dokken, MötleyCrüe, TwistedSister, Queensrÿche, Blue Öyster Cult, Vanilla Fudge, Y&T, Rough Cutt, Giuffria, Journey, W.A.S.P. and Night Ranger as well as the parody band Spinal Tap.

Lead vocals were shared between Ronnie James Dio, Rob Halford, Kevin DuBrow, Eric Bloom, Geoff Tate, Dave Meniketti, Don Dokken and Paul Shortino.

Vivian Campbell, Carlos Cavazo, Buck Dharma, Brad Gillis, Craig Goldy, George Lynch, Yngwie Malmsteen, Eddie Ojeda, and Neal Schon added guitar solos.

A documentary was shot of the recording process and released simultaneously. "Stars" was released in both 7" and 12" single versions. A video documentary, Hear 'n Aid - The Sessions, was also released in VHS/VIDEO8.

The project also released a compilation headed by "Stars", and including live tracks by Kiss, Motörhead, Dio, Accept, Rush and Scorpions, as well as studio recordings by Y&T and Jimi Hendrix. Dio wanted the song and album to be released shortly after recording, but contractual issues delayed the release until January 1, 1986.

♨Track list of Stars compilation♨

1."Stars" Dio, V. Campbell, Bain Hear 'n Aid

2."Up to the Limit (live)" Hoffmann, Kaufmann, Baltes, Fischer, Dirkschneider, Deaffy Accept

3."On the Road (live)" Burston, Kilmister, P. Campbell, Gill Motörhead

4."Distant Early Warning (live)" Lifeson, Lee, Peart Rush

5."Heaven's on Fire (live)" Stanley, Child Kiss

6."Can You See Me" HendrixThe Jimi Hendrix Experience

7."Hungry for Heaven (live)" Dio, Bain Dio

8."Go for the Throat" Meniketti, Alves, Kennemore, Haze Y&T

9."The Zoo (live)" Schenker, Meine Scorpions

♨Vocals♨ Eric Bloom (Blue Öyster Cult)

Ronnie James Dio (Dio)

Don Dokken (Dokken)

Kevin DuBrow (Quiet Riot)

Rob Halford (Judas Priest)

Dave Meniketti (Y&T)

Paul Shortino (Rough Cutt)

Geoff Tate (Queensrÿche)

♨Backing Vocals♨ 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.)

Blackie Lawless (W.A.S.P.)

George Lynch (Dokken)

Yngwie Malmsteen

Mick Mars (Mötley Crüe)

Michael McKean (in character, and credited as David St. Hubbins of Spinal Tap)

Vince Neil (Mötley Crüe)

Ted NugentEddie Ojeda (Twisted Sister)

Jeff Pilson (Dokken)

Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot)

Claude Schnell (Dio)

Neal Schon (Journey)

(Public Pics caught on FB)

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