The Stranglers and Fairport Convention – join forces to release single to help cure Parkinson’s

A brand new music video for the cover of ‘Tobacco Road’ by British music legends The Stranglers and Fairport Convention is out now.

Hugh Cornwell, former frontman and chief songwriter of the legendary punk band The Stranglers, and Richard Thompson OBE, a pioneering figure in British folk music teamed up for a version of the rhythm and blues classic for the compilation album ‘Think Loud 4 Parkinson’s’ back in January. Today, the pair released a brand new video for the track which features performances by both artists

Speaking about their choice of track for the album, Cornwell said.
 “In 1964, I went with Richard to see Chuck Berry at the Astoria Finsbury Park, and on the bill were the Nashville Teens, then The Animals, then Moody Blues, Swinging Blue Jeans, then Chuck B. We heard 3 recent number ones that night: ‘Tobacco Road’, ‘House of the Rising Sun’ & ‘Go Now’. My first ever rock concert, I was impressed”.

The pair have a friendship spanning decades, and even played in a band together during their school years called Emil and the Detectives.

‘Think Loud 4 Parkinson’s’ was put together by esteemed music manager Ian Grant, who helped steer the careers of iconic groups Big Country, The Cult, The Stranglers and many more. Grant was motivated to begin the project, alongside music producer Paul Mitchell, in response to his own experience with Parkinson’s disease.

Pete Townshend and The Who previously showed their support to the project with a generous contribution. Ian Grant, on behalf of Cure Parkinson’s, secured a £20,000 donation from the band’s Double O Charity in support of the Think Loud 4 Parkinson’s album.

Speaking about the cause.
Townshend said “My interest in Parkinson’s arose because my beloved father-in-law Edwin Astley, composer, died in great distress of progressive supranuclear palsy which is loosely related to Parkinson’s. Then, a very close friend, James Morgan, another composer, revealed he has Parkinson’s. Since then. I have tried to help raise awareness around this awful illness, and the really terrible side effects of the large amount of necessary drugs every day, and the incredible pain they ameliorate. Many people don’t realise how much pain Parkinson’s can cause.”

Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath

Funds raised by the project go toward the UK charity Cure Parkinson’s. The project caught the eye of Ozzy Osbourne earlier in the year who subsequently chose Cure Parkinson’s as one of three charity sponsors for Black Sabbath’s farewell show at Villa Park this summer.

Think Loud 4 Parkinson’s is available now on physical and digital formats. Purchase at: https://slinky.to/ThinkLoudforParkinsons