Updates
- 13 January 2013
Natalie Maines is supporting the West Memphis Three with a cover of Pink Floyd‘s "Mother" for West of Memphis: Voices For Justice, a benefit album for Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley Jr. and Jason Baldwin, whose story is told in the 2012 West of Memphis documentary. The longtime Dixie Chicks singer’s performance only hints at her country pedigree, and leaves behind much of the bravado she’s known for. It’s a humble, passionate cover.
Read more at Ultimate Classic Rock.
- 11 January 2013
Those who fought for the West Memphis Three's acquittal – they were finally freed in 2011 but still haven’t been exonerated – included musicians such as Eddie Vedder, Henry Rollins, Marilyn Manson, Patti Smith and Natalie Maines, all of whom contributed to an emotional soundtrack to Amy Berg’s film, West of Memphis.
This album, however, features "music and songs inspired by the film." The actual score was written and performed by the soundtrack-specializing duo of Nick Cave and Warren Ellis (both of the Australian alt-rock band Grinderman and, in Cave’s case, the Bad Seeds).
Pink Floyd’s "Mother," a slow, spacey number about emotional retreat and isolation, is rendered poignantly by the Dixie Chicks’ Maines and, on lap steel, Ben Harper. A highlight is "Joy" by Lucinda Williams, a gritty, jangly blues tune first recorded by the alt-country misery queen in 1998 and re-recorded recently: "You got no right to take my joy; I want it back."
Poet-punkstress Smith closes with a scratchy and haunting live version of "Wing": "I couldn’t go nowhere, no future at all, yet I was free." Freedom isn’t necessarily just another word for nothing left to lose. Sometimes being free, if only in the mind, is all there is.
Read more at The Globe and Mail.
- 11 January 2013
Among the many musicians who fought on behalf of the West Memphis Three -- a trio of Arkansas men convicted as teenagers in 1993 for a series of child murders they did not commit -- was Eddie Vedder. The Pearl Jam frontman was instrumental in raising money and awareness, and thanks in part to his efforts, Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley Jr. and Jason Baldwin were freed in August 2011 after spending more than 18 years in prison.
In an exclusive video at Diffuser.fm, Eddie talks about writing the ukulele ballad ‘Satellite,’ his contribution to the soundtrack for West of Memphis, a new documentary about the case. West of Memphis: Voices for Justice will be available January 15th.
- 11 January 2013
In recent years, many in the music industry have rallied around Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley, more commonly known in the media as the West Memphis Three. Now, their fight to bring the truth to light is the subject of the documentary film ‘West of Memphis.’ The film is bolstered with a star-studded soundtrack filled with music from some of their supporters and Loudwire is exclusively premiering Camp Freddy‘s cover of David Bowie‘s ‘The Jean Genie.’
Jane’s Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro, one of the trio’s longtime supporters, is also a member of the all-star covers band Camp Freddy and the group was more than happy to lend their cover of ‘The Jean Genie’ to the film. Over the years, Navarro became friends with Echols, in particular, and learned that Bowie was one of the inmate’s favorite artists to listen to while serving his time.
The Camp Freddy version of the track features some wailing guitar work from Navarro and Billy Morrison, along with special guest guitarist Steve Stevens, plus a thumping bass line from Chris Chaney. Meanwhile, singer Donovan Leitch Jr. displays a swagger and bravado that Bowie originally brought to the track.
