Van Morrison and Eric Clapton’s new single, Stand and Deliver, will be available for download on Friday.
Morrison’s blues-inflected song is being released in support of his Save Live Music campaign. The Belfast musician released three songs protesting about the UK lockdown in September and October, namely Born To Be Free, As I Walked Out and No More Lockdown.
Profits from Stand and Deliver will go to Morrison’s Lockdown Financial Hardship Fund, which is intended to make life easier for musicians facing financial stress as a result of coronavirus.
Clapton says the virtual disappearance of live events due to social restrictions to be "deeply upsetting."
"There are many of us who support Van and his endeavours to save live music, he is an inspiration," the guitarist said.
"We must stand up and be counted because we need to find a way out of this mess. The alternative is not worth thinking about. Live music might never recover."
"Eric’s recording is fantastic and will clearly resonate with the many who share our frustrations," said Morrison.
"It is heart-breaking to see so many talented musicians lack any meaningful support from the government, but we want to reassure them that we are working hard every day to lobby for the return of live music, and to save our industry."
Clapton and Morrison performed together at London’s O2 Arena in March, providing The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity with much-needed funds from ticket sales. This event occurred shortly before the first UK lockdown was imposed.
Stand and Deliver will be available for download and streaming from iTunes, Amazon Music, Deezer and all other outlets from Friday December 4.
