Burbank, CA – Making their presence known town by town and through a barrage of sold-out shows on the Taste Of Chaos tour, The Used and My Chemical Romance have decided to release a studio version of the Queen/David Bowie classic “Under Pressure” that the bands had been performing together every night.
The track (recorded by Howard Benson and mixed by John Feldman) will go on sale through all digital retailers on Tuesday, April 12.
“Under Pressure” had been the highlight of Taste Of Chaos, closing each date, and the reaction to the performances was overwhelmingly positive. “It was very exciting to be able to play this song every night,” says Bert McCracken of The Used, “so we decided to release a studio version of the song we had recorded before the tour started.
We want to get our fans involved in rebuilding a devastated region, so we decided that all proceeds will go to Music For Relief.”
Bert added, “This song kicks f**king ass and I love it!”
Music For Relief was started by concerned musicians in order to address immediate financial needs in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami disaster in South Asia last December.
Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance says, “My Chemical Romance couldn’t wait to release the studio version because we feel it’s important to contribute to a worthwhile cause, and some people may overlook tsunami relief now that 3 months have passed. It’s an unbelievable song for our fans to hear, and for them to know that by downloading it, they are helping other people is a great feeling. Both bands have such a concern for the victims and want to do whatever is in our power to help them to get back on their feet. A little will go a long way with this effort and we hope to donate more than a little.”
The bands also performed “Under Pressure” on MTV2’s $2 Bill Concert, which ran throughout the month of March. Fan response to that performance was extremely positive, with comments flying through the online world while the video (Directed by Alex Coletti) soared up the charts on MTV2.com, not stopping until it reached #1, where it currently resides. This reinforced the bands’ instinct to release the track for Charity.
To ensure that funds donated through Music For Relief continue to help with the rebuilding of South Asia, Music For Relief has become partners with UNICEF and Habitat for Humanity International. These two charities will equally split the proceeds raised by the event. Both foundations are continuing relief efforts in the areas hardest hit by the tsunami. UNICEF, which has had a longstanding presence in South Asia, will assist in the recovery and rebuilding process by focusing on providing food and water, medical supplies, and education facilities to children. Habitat for Humanity is helping families by constructing both short-term and long-term shelter for many of the five million people currently displaced from their homes. The Music For Relief organization has already contributed over 1 million dollars to the American Red Cross for its efforts since its inception.
