After several decades, British rock band Pink Floyd have come together for a song of solidarity in the face of the war in Ukraine. According to the band, it is the first time in almost 30 years that the musicians have met to record a new song. The track “Hey Hey Rise Up” should be released on Friday (April 8th).
It includes the singing of the Ukrainian singer Andriy Khlyvnyuk of the band Boombox, who is said to be recovering from a shrapnel injury in Kyiv. His lines come from a widely viewed Instagram video from late February, in which Khlyvnyuk sings a Ukrainian protest song in a square in Kyiv.
Last joint recording fans held in 1994
The Pink Floyd musicians previously recorded music together for their 1994 album The Division Bell. The new song, which was recorded last Wednesday, featured singer and guitarist David Gilmour, Pink Floyd bassist Guy Pratt and keyboardist Nitin Sawhney.
Gilmour, who has Ukrainian relatives, was in touch with Khlyvnyuk during production. He said in a statement, “I played him a bit of the song over the phone and he gave me his blessing. We both hope to do something in person together sometime in the future.”
