Van Morrison to donate profits of anti- lockdown songs to help musicians
SIR VAN Morrison will donate profits from his new collection of anti- lockdown songs to musicians impacted by measures he says do “more harm than good”.
The 75- year- old Belfast- born singer has faced criticism for announcing a trio of protest songs calling for an end to rules aimed at stopping the spread of coronavirus.
Money from downloads of Born To Be Free, As I Walked Out and No More Lockdown will be distributed by his arts charity. A written statement issued alongside the announcement said: “Lockdown is taking away people’s jobs and freedoms across all sectors of society.
“Live music is essential, and I worry that without positive action it will not survive. Without live music the world would be a much poorer place.”
Sir Van is performing the tracks during three consecutive and socially distant shows at the London Palladium this week.
But Belfast councillor has Emmet McDonough- Brown called on the local authority to revoke his freedom of the city, which he was given in 2013 in recognition of his career.