Mark Knopfler has done something truly extraordinary. The guitarist has recruited a star-studded lineup of fellow guitarists for a charity single benefitting Teenage Cancer Trust and Teen Cancer America.
The charity single is a new recording of “Going Home.” The track is an instrumental featured on the 1983 score for the film Local Hero, which also served as the film’s theme. Knopfler wrote the entire score of the film, which is considered his debut solo album and debut soundtrack album.
So, who’s on this track? Knopfler’s website has the full list of contributors, and it’s simply incredible. The contributors include the following (in alphabetical order):
Joan Armatrading, Jeff Beck, Richard Bennett, Joe Bonamassa, Joe Brown, James Burton, Jonathan Cain, Paul Carrack, Eric Clapton, Ry Cooder, Jim Cox, Steve Cropper, Sheryl Crow, Danny Cummings, Roger Daltrey, Duane Eddy, Sam Fender, Guy Fletcher, Peter Frampton, Audley Freed, Vince Gill, David Gilmour, Buddy Guy, Keiji Haino, Tony Iommi, Joan Jett, John Jorgenson, Mark Knopfler, Sonny Landreth, Albert Lee, Greg Leisz, Alex Lifeson, Steve Lukather, Phil Manzanera, Dave Mason, Hank Marvin, Brian May, Robbie McIntosh, John McLaughlin, Tom Morello, Rick Nielsen, Orianthi, Brad Paisley, Nile Rodgers, Mike Rutherford, Joe Satriani, John Sebastian, Connor Selby, Slash, Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr and Zak Starkey, Sting, Andy Taylor, Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks, Ian Thomas, Pete Townshend, Keith Urban, Steve Vai, Waddy Wachtel, Joe Louis Walker, Joe Walsh, Ronnie Wood, Glenn Worf, Zucchero.
Fans can pre-order the track via MarkKnopflersGuitarHeroes.com. A preview of the track is below.
A Farewell to Jeff Beck
The re-recording of “Going Home” is billed as being by Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes. Among those heroes was Jeff Beck, who died suddenly in January 2023 at age 78 from bacterial meningitis. According to a press release, Beck’s contribution to the track is also the guitar icon’s final recording.
Knopfler said, in part, of Beck, ” … Jeff Beck’s contribution arrived and that was spellbinding. I think what we’ve had is an embarrassment of riches, really.”
Producer Guy Fletcher added of Beck’s contribution, “It was absolutely meant to be, and what he did with it, it just brings you to tears.”
