Latest news with #WarChild
BBC News
12-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
The Cure: Designer Andy Vella on creating art for the goth rockers
Designer Andy Vella has been creating album covers for more than 40 years, with his work to be found in millions of homes around the world. "The weird thing I get is whenever I design a new album or a new logo for The Cure someone sends me a tattoo that they've just had done of it," he explains."I've seen pictures of Robert Smith's silhouette from Boys Don't Cry on people's backs, on their arses, on their legs, on their arms."I met [comedian] Greg Davies and he said, 'Did you do Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me?' and he got on his knees and bowed to me. I was so embarrassed and he just said: 'Oh my God, I grew up with that on my wall.'"For his latest record sleeve, Vella has used his much-lauded design skills for a project run by the charity War Child, as part of its fundraising efforts to help children caught up in conflict zones. Vella's career in design has seen him work with various musicians and authors over the years, from Jeff Buckley to Margaret Atwood, but it is his work with acclaimed goth rockers The Cure, often in collaboration with lead singer Robert Smith, for which he is best is also where his career began, soon after the band formed in Crawley in the still studying at art school, Vella was approached by on-off Cure guitarist Porl Thompson who wanted him to photograph another group he was playing in."He said, 'You've got a reputation at the college that you're really good at photography'... and by chance he showed Robert my work and then suddenly at the age of 18 I was being asked to design a record sleeve [for The Cure]," he record was the band's doom-laden third album Faith. Vella would later return to create the covers for some of The Cure's most iconic records, including the 1989's Disintegration, The Head on the Door from 1985 and last year's chart-topping Songs of a Lost World. Whenever he's working on a new design, Vella says he looks for "something that just makes you tap into what they're doing and you just riff on that"."With Robert, his lyrics are so inspiring... All you have to do is read one line quite often and suddenly you've got the start of something really great."It was this and the expansive brooding sound of Songs of a Lost World which saw Vella and Smith hit upon the design for the record, which features a stone statue head lying on its side."The Cure sounded just as brilliant and massive as they did back in the 80s... so the album had to have something large, something incredibly poignant and solid to represent that," Vella says. Even so, he admits the final look of a record can come about from something unexpected, as happened with the cover for 1987's Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss the band were on tour in Brazil, Vella was asked to fly out to Rio de Janeiro to get his design for the new album approved - despite the fact he was still working on the photo of a pair of heavily painted lips decided upon and the handwritten lettering printed on a separate sheet of clear plastic, he was experimenting with the layout in a taxi on the way to the airport when "we went over this sleeping policeman [speed bump] and the acetate just jumped to the middle of the sleeve"."Now I would always say don't put type in the middle of the sleeve, and especially the top, but it just stuck in place so I stuck it down with Sellotape thinking, 'well it's an option'," he says."I showed it to Robert when I got to Rio and he said: 'I love that, that's brilliant! I love the way you've placed the type.'"You can be really arty-farty about things but I think sometimes it's quite nice to let the universe take over," Vella adds with a laugh. For his latest record sleeve, Vella has created a cover for War Child's Secret 7" sees 700 creatives, such as designer Sir Paul Smith, sculptor Antony Gormley and Radiohead artist Stanley Donwood, all forming one-of-a-kind untitled record sleeves for a song by one of seven different artists - this year including Sophie Ellis-Bextor, The Cure, Gregory Porter and Scissor 700 records are then put on display at London's NOW Gallery, in Greenwich Peninsula until the start of June when they are auctioned off, with all the proceeds going to is only when the sale is over that buyers discover the song that they've purchased and which designer was behind the cover. It is not the first time Vella has taken part in Secret 7" having previously created record sleeves for the likes of The Rolling Stones, St Vincent and The Chemical it still left him a little stressed."There's just too much pressure! One year I was in there and I was next to [father of British pop art] Peter Blake," he says."It's a really amazing cause and you want to create something brilliant so that you raise a load of money for War Child."The charity started up in response to the Bosnian genocide. The Help Album, which it released in 1995, featured artists including Oasis, Radiohead, Suede and Portishead. War Child now works in more than a dozen countries helping children living in warzones. Describing the process of putting together his creation, Vella says it involved "going through the painstaking thing of creating about 20 iterations, all crap", before "suddenly you have that amazing Eureka moment".That Eureka moment led to a cover he considers to be "quite deep" and "very meaningful" - although of course he won't reveal which song he created it says the project is something he's proud to be part of."It's such an amazing, powerful cause, helping children in war-torn countries. It just shows you as well how music and art can bring people together." Secret 7" is on display at NOW Gallery, Greenwich Peninsula until 1 June with the 700 record sleeves then being sold in a global online auction on the project website in aid of War Child.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Culture Agenda: The best things to do, hear, see or watch in Europe this week
Monday, monday - always a bit of a slog. The good news is, April is bringing sunshine and eclectic events to help hurry us out of hibernation. Alongside this week's suggestions, we also recommend checking out the Mauritshuis museum's showcase of 60 charismatic takes on Vermeer's 'Girl with a Pearl Earring', and Centre Pompidou's celebration of Black artists in Paris. Following the sad news of Val Kilmer's passing, there's never been a better time to watch (or re-watch) some of his classics - put Kiss Kiss Bang Bang at the top spot. Speaking of cinema, keep in mind that this Thursday is the announcement of this year's Cannes Film Festival line-up... And it's already looking mighty promising. Keep your eyes peeled for our full coverage. Until next time, have a great week. José María Velasco: A View of Mexico Where: National Gallery (London, UK) When: Until 17 August 2025 To see a José María Velasco painting is to fall in love with Mexico, every brushstroke an encapsulation of the country's natural beauty and evolving state. The 19th-century polymath was renowned for his landscape works, combining fascinations in geology, archaeology and botany (to name a few) alongside commentary on creeping industrialisation. What resulted were deeply personal, intellectually textured and elegantly detailed studies of a place few had truly ever seen before, caught in periods of both gentle and dramatic transformation. Coinciding with the 200th anniversary of Mexico and the UK establishing diplomatic relations, this is also the first exhibition to be dedicated to a historical Latin American artist at the National Gallery. Inner child Where: Opera Gallery (London, UK) When: Until 5 May 2025 Openness on social media alongside a gradual shattering of stigmas around mental health have led to increased discourse on the concept of the inner child, a way for people to reconnect with and process early experiences and their ripple effect. It was an idea born from Swiss psychiatrist and psychotherapist Carl Jung's 'child archetype', who would have been 150 this year. The subject is explored in-depth at Opera Gallery's latest exhibition by two artists: Yayoi Kusama and the late Niki de Saint Phalle. A total of 41 artworks depict the playful, eclectic whimsy of childhood while sometimes subverting it, capturing the ways in which returning to our childlike selves opens up a renewed worldview that's both liberating and conflicting, tangled fragments resurfacing. A merging of creativity and psychology, it's a vibrant visual reminder of how art can help us to find and heal ourselves. War Child's Secret 7" 2025 exhibition Where: NOW Gallery (London, UK) When: 11 April – 1 June 2025 For their 2025 exhibition, the charity organisation War Child will display 700 specially designed record sleeves to be auctioned on 1 June 2025. Contributors include The Cure, Gregory Porter, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Jessie Ware, in collaboration with artists Yinka Ilori, Sir Paul Smith and Antony Gormley. It's the ultimate record sale for those looking to add something completely one-off to their collection while donating to a good cause. There's also an element of surprise: buyers only find out which artist designed their album cover after the auction ends. For those simply looking to admire, the exhibition includes a dedicated listening space where visitors can tune in to all seven records included, as well as the entire Secret 7" archive. Milan Design Week View this post on Instagram A post shared by milan design week 2025 (@ Where: Milan, Italy When: 7 - 13 April 2025 The world's biggest design festival somehow feels even bigger this year, featuring everything from striking modular lights by designer Michael Anastassiades, an installation by filmmaker Paolo Sorrentino, and a collection of exquisite urns by acclaimed architects and designers like David Chipperfield and Audrey Large. While the main event is focused around the Salone del Mobile furniture fair, there are a plethora of diverse events happening all around the city, including plays, talks, and even an exhibition where visitors can live and sleep in the gallery - good to know, we'll undoubtedly need a nap after exploring everything here. Barcelona Beer Festival Where: Barcelona, Spain When: 11 April - 13 April 2025 Beautiful Barcelona and bountiful beer? Need we convince you more?! An idea brewed up by four friends in 2012, the BBF has become the largest craft beer event in Spain. More than 100 breweries from all over the world take part in this yeasty haze of tastings, workshops, talks and good old fashioned communal spirit fuelled by a shared love of sipping something refreshing in the heady glow of Spring. Did we mention that there are also over 600 craft beers on tap (including limited-edition brews)? Cheers to that - and drink responsibly, of course! Drop Where: European cinemas When: 11 April 2025 Ever been sitting on a train when someone airdrops you a meme of a cat wearing sunglasses, leaving you feeling deeply unsettled but also ever so slightly amused? Just us? Ok. Well, imagine that scenario BUT you're on a first date and the airdrops become increasingly sinister, asking you to murder the man you're with else they'll kill your son and sister. Ain't nothing amusing about that. This is the basis for Christopher Landon's latest horror film, Drop. It stars Meghann Fahy as Violet, a widow enjoying a fancy date with Henry (Brandon Sklenar) when the mysterious and nerve shredding events mentioned above start to unfold. A good reminder to switch off your phone when watching - and avoid dating? Death of a Unicorn Where: European cinemas When: Out now Don't mess with unicorns - especially ones with girthsome horns. This latest release from A24 stars Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega as a father and daughter trying to repair their rocky relationship when they accidentally crash into and kill a unicorn. This leads to the revelation that it has mystical abilities to cure cancer - something Rudd's boss (Richard E. Grant in full Saltburn mode) is excited to exploit, leading to gruesome consequences when the creatures retaliate. Out critic David Mouriquand wrote: "From the premise alone, there's plenty to love about Death Of A Unicorn. Caricatures of pharma arseholes getting bloodily impaled while a fractured father-daughter dynamic gets healed in the process. It sounds like something Roger Corman would have saluted." Then he liked it less... Read the full review here. The Last of Us Where: HBO When: 13 April 2025 After two long years, the wait is finally over baby girls. We last saw Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) during that explosive finale that had the rebel Fireflies militia dropping like, well, (fire)flies. Based on the seminal post-apocalyptic franchise by Naughty Dog, it takes place in a world ravaged by a mutated fungus called Cordyceps that transforms people into rabid zombies, with Ellie's character harbouring a rare immunity. Four years on from the events of season 1, we're now following Ellie on a revenge mission alongside her girlfriend Dina (Shannon Woodward). Expect more high tension, heartbreak and screaming 'holy shiitake' at the screen (we hope the book of puns returns too). Bon Iver: SABLE, fABLE When: 11 April 2025 Bon Iver has always captured transitions; the pause between thoughts, between moments, between who we were and who we're becoming. It feels like perfect timing, then, that we get this new album at the advent of spring, as softer realisations blossom from the chilly ruminations of winter. Recorded in Justin Vernon's hometown of Wisconsin at the tail end of the COVID pandemic, 'SABLE, fABLE' completes last year's EP release, which we called 'an achingly lovely confrontation of anxiety and change.' Through his trademark repetitions, reverberations and layered harmonies, Vernon soothed the restless emotions of a generation - and from the album's already released tracks, like 'If Only I Could Wait', it's clear we're about to be collectively healed once again.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Traitors sweater that is Claudia Winkleman's ‘favourite' to be auctioned
Claudia Winkleman's 'favourite sweater', which features the logo from hit TV show The Traitors, is among a number of items being auctioned for charity. More than 80 celebrities have donated pieces to War Child's Spring Clean, which is giving the public the chance to own pieces including a Twisters: The Album vinyl, signed by actress Daisy Edgar Jones, and a handwritten recipe by US film star Stanley Tucci. Winkleman, 53, said: 'It's an honour to support War Child and I will always help in any small way that I can. 'This is my favourite sweater of all time. A brilliant woman made it for me and I actually skipped about when I opened it.' The TV presenter hosts BBC reality series The Traitors and is known for wearing stylish outfits on the show, often featuring sweeping coats, turtleneck jumpers, fingerless gloves and heavy eye makeup. Winkleman's donated item is an oversized red sweat vest, featuring The Traitors logo, which she wore to the press launch of series three. While most celebrities have donated items, The X-Files actress and War Child ambassador Gillian Anderson will have an in-person cup of tea with three members of the public. 'I'm so proud to be supporting Spring Clean for its second year', she said. 'This time around, I'm donating a cosy tea and chat with me and two of your friends at a favourite tea spot in London. Of course, all of this is for an incredibly urgent cause.' Among the other items being auctioned is a poster signed by Ed Sheeran, a guitar signed by James Bay, two tickets for Aurora's upcoming OVO Arena Wembley show, and a crocheted jacket from music star Sam Ryder. Charlotte Nimmo, fundraising engagement director at War Child UK, said: 'We are delighted to announce the second year of Spring Clean, made possible through the hugely generous support of the creative industries and remarkable individuals who have decided to donate this year.' The specialist charity for children affected by conflict will run its Spring Clean auction from April 3 to 24.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mumford & Sons release new album, announce show at Xcel Energy Center
Mumford and Sons are back with a new album and an expansive tour. The band released their fifth studio album, Rushmere, earlier this week, a release that was accompanied by the unveiling of a tour that will bring them to the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul on Oct. 9. The Twin Cities sit near the end of that long tour, which will kick off in Oregon on June 5. They'll also make stops in other Upper Midwest cities, including Chicago (Oct. 8), Milwaukee (Oct. 11), and Detroit (Oct. 20). Throughout that last leg of the tour, the foot-stomping indie-folk group will have Michael Kiwanuka opening. Tickets are on sale to the public at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 4. A dollar from every ticket will be donated to War Child, which works to protect, educate, and "stand up for the rights of children affected by war."
The Independent
26-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Behind the scenes of Brits Week for War Child's live shows
The 2025 Brits Week for War Child performances are underway, with stars including Rachel Chinouriri, Joy Crookes, Cat Burns, Frank Turner and Kasabian performing intimate, sold-out shows ahead of the Brit Awards on Saturday 1 March. Proceeds from the 11 shows are going towards War Child's efforts to help provide protection, education and mental health support by children affected by war. The organisation began putting on performances ahead of the annual ceremony around 2009, with their record-breaking double headline show of Coldplay and The Killers taking place at Shepherd's Bush Empire in London. War Child then officially teamed up with the Brit Awards in 2019, in partnership with AEG Presents, to deliver what is now known as Brits Week. The Independent spoke with Clare Sanders-Wright, Live Music Lead at War Child UK, to learn more about the work that goes into the shows each year. How has the Brit Awards partnership evolved over the years and how has it helped raise awareness for War Child? The relationship between War Child and the BRIT Awards has flourished since we began working together, and evolved into our annual BRITs Week shows. The biggest names in music have lent their support over the years, and BRITs Week has become a staple in the music industry's calendar, ultimately raising awareness of our work as well as millions of pounds, that have truly changed the lives of children caught in wars they didn't start around the world. Since the inception of BRITs Week for War Child, the awareness raised by the BRIT Awards as well as the amazing artists and their teams who have donated their time and talents has seen music fans help raise over £7m to support the children we work with. Our local teams are in communities and refugee camps around the world, creating safe spaces for children to play, learn and access mental health support, as well as delivering immediate emergency aid in crisis situations, and this money has been integral to facilitating our continued work. Why is War Child still relevant today — could you detail some of the work the organisation has been involved in in the past year? War Child is more relevant today than ever before. It's never been more deadly to be a child, with an estimated one in five children living in or fleeing from conflict globally. Together with our partners, War Child delivers vital work in 14 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, all with our ultimate mission in mind – ensuring a safe future for every child affected by war. In the past year, a huge focus for the time has been on the children affected by the conflict in Gaza. While a ceasefire has been announced, this is only the first step, and children will need specialist support to process the trauma they've experienced. War Child and our partners have stepped in to provide life-saving assistance, having reached more than 180,000 individuals, including upwards of 118,000 children – over 1 in 10 children in Gaza. This includes mental health and psychosocial support activities, and emergency provisions such as food, clean water, hygiene kits, warm clothing, and blankets. War Child is also working to help address the needs of the estimated 17,000 unaccompanied and separated children in Gaza, many of whom have had their immediate family members killed. So far, over 580 of these children have been directly supported by War Child, with efforts ongoing to connect them with essential services and caregivers. Our work has continued to span the globe, however. For example, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, 120,000 children have been displaced in 2025 alone, on top of the hundreds of thousands already displaced. Our teams have reached more than 227,000 people in the region so far with our emergency response, and supported more than 1,500 children with catch up classes through 2024. What is the organisation's hopes for this year's Brits Week shows? Awareness of our work. We've seen time and again that the artists we invite to play BRITs Week have fan bases that really care about the issues we work on. The goal is to give music lovers information about these crises around the world, what exactly it is that we do to support children caught in the middle of them, and ultimately, encourage them to engage and support us at and through these shows. I think artists love to see how engaged their fans are, and how much they care just as much as we do. So, while we obviously want to raise as much desperately needed funds as possible to support our work, we hope more people become aware of who we are, what we do, and are empowered to get involved however they can. We're also really happy this year to be taking our shows outside of London and hope to see this expand year on year. You can find more information on Brits Week for War Child 25 and the ongoing shows here. The 2025 Brit Awards take place on Saturday 1 March at the O2 Arena in London.
