Eric Clapton and Van Morrison announce anti-lockdown single ‘Stand and Deliver’

Eric Clapton and Van Morrison announce new anti-lockdown single (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
Eric Clapton and Van Morrison announce new anti-lockdown single (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Classic-rock figureheads Eric Clapton and Van Morrison have announced a brand-new single, “Stand and Deliver”. Written by Morrison and performed by Clapton, the track is in support of Morrison's Save Live Music campaign.

Proceeds will go to Morrison's Lockdown Financial Hardship Fund, which assists musicians facing difficulties as a result of the coronavirus and resulting lockdown measures.

"Stand and Deliver" is the latest song Morrison has worked on that protests the U.K. lockdown, with "Born To Be Free", "As I Walked Out", and "No More Lockdown" arriving in September and October.

“There are many of us who support Van and his endeavors to save live music; he is an inspiration”, Clapton said of the pair’s joint project. “We must stand up and be counted because we need to find a way out of this mess. The alternative is not worth thinking about. Live music might never recover.”

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“Eric’s recording is fantastic and will clearly resonate with the many who share our frustrations”, noted Morrison. “It is heartbreaking to see so many talented musicians lack any meaningful support from the government, but we want to reassure them that we are working hard every day to lobby for the return of live music, and to save our industry.”

“Stand and Deliver” will be available for download and streaming via Apple Music, Amazon Music, and all other platforms on 4 December.