Rock greats sing to save UK music

Eric Clapton and Van Morrison are sick of what Britain’s coronavirus lockdown is doing to their fellow musicians — and they’re fighting back.

The rockers, both 75, have recorded a single to raise money for the Lockdown Financial Hardship Fund, which Morrison launched in March when the UK locked down the first time.

Clapton performs the track, titled “Stand and Deliver,” set for release Friday; Morrison is the songwriter.

“It is heartbreaking to see so many talented musicians lack any meaningful support from the government,” Morrison told Variety, “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.”

The “Brown Eyed Girl” singer has been a critic of the restrictions from the beginning, tweeting almost daily about the pandemic. This fall, he dropped three anti-lockdown anthems: “Born To Be Free,” “As I Walked Out” and “No More Lockdown.”

Clapton is fully behind Morrison’s campaign, Variety reported.

“There are many of us who support Van and his endeavors to save live music; he is an inspiration,” Clapton 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.”

Brits came out of a monthlong lockdown Wednesday, only to go back to a tiered system of restrictions. So far, the UK death toll stands at more than 57,000.