Cardiff City are hot news. This week the beat Leeds 4-0 and have recently signed one of the most famous players in the country, their home-town son Craig Bellamy, and are playing to full houses week in week out.
Their fans sing the oldest football song in the world; I’ll be There was sung by Welsh Miners during the famous General Strike of 1926.
The song has now been recorded for the first time by The Stand to raise money for a statue at the ground for the legendary Cardiff Captain Fred Keenor. Keenor was an extraordinary man: Twice injured in the Battle of the Somme he was told he’d never play again. Not only did he overcome his injuries, but he captained his home town club to the FA Cup in 1927.
“Fred Keenor was the most important Welsh Sportsman of the 20th Century. At a time when Britain was shattered by war and depression he gave us the greatest of all things…hope” – Dr Steffan Morgan.
The club have already made it their official anthem and the Bluebirds now run out to the song at their new stadium.
Combining the attitude of The Sex Pistols and the Celtic folk punk of The Pogues, The Stand are made up of four legendary musicians and actors all brought together by a great cause. The song was arranged into a three-minute explosion of energy by Owen Powell and Jonny Owen. Owen Powell was the guitarist and songwriter of Catatonia one of the best- loved bands of the 90’s. Jonny was in the mod indie band The Pocket Devils but left to pursue a successful acting career that has seen him appear in some of televisions best-known shows (Shameless) and the hit film ‘A Bit Of Tom Jones’.
Joining them on bass is Guto Pryce from the uber-cool Super Furry Animals one of the most influential and innovative bands of the last two decades. On drums they have Ryan Richards from million selling band Funeral For A Friend. Ryan is currently on a sell-out European tour and took time out to record the song with The Stand. Due to an extraordinary demand the band intend to do some select gigs this Christmas in London and their native Cardiff.
“Everyone involved in this project would like to dedicate it to the memory of Stuart Cable who was instrumental in the recording of ‘I’ll be there’ and will be remembered forever as a dear friend and fellow Bluebird“.
You can buy the single at http://itunes.apple.com/uk/album/ill-be-there-ep/id391887420
