Paul McCartney, Bob Geldof & Brian May back Rock Against Cancer gig in tiny village pub

CONCERT AT THE KINGS
28 February 2014 by Viarti Vern

Three of Britain’s biggest rock stars – Sir Paul McCartney, Brian May and Sir Bob Geldof – are backing a ‘Rock Against Cancer’ concert at a pub in a tiny Wiltshire village. Opposite: Sir Paul McCartney supports Rock Against Cancer The legends are helping to promote the concert at The Kings Arms in the hideaway hamlet of All Cannings, near Devizes, on Saturday May 31st. Sir Paul and Queen guitarist Brian May are leading a social media campaign to raise awareness of the cancer charity event. Live Aid leader Sir Bob is fronting the reformed Boomtown Rats to headline the ‘Concert At The Kings’ show in the village that has a population of only 630. ‘Rock Against Cancer’ was an idea thought up by three residents of All Cannings who have each fought with cancer – pub landlord Richard Baulu, sound engineer John ‘Grubby’ Callis and the village’s own local hero, Andy Scott, guitarist with Seventies chart-toppers The Sweet.

They launched the annual event two years ago. Artists including Jeff Beck, Brian May, Roger Taylor, Mike & The Mechanics, Midge Ure and Tom Robinson have performed and help raise more than £35,000 for cancer charities.

This year the organisers are aiming to raise the profile of the little-known gig by asking stars to help a social media campaign by posing in ‘Rock Against Cancer’ T-shirts – and first to respond were Sir Paul, Brian May and actress-singer Kerry Ellis, star of The Queen musical ‘We Will Rock You’.

‘We’re hugely grateful for this fantastic support to put the concert on the map,’ said Richard Baulu. ‘It’s a great boost for the cause to have such rock giants in our campaign T-shirts.’

Five bands playing hits covering 30 years of rock will perform at this year’s event, staged in a field adjoining the Kings Arms beer garden – The Boomtown Rats, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, The Troggs, Paul Young’s Los Pacaminos and Dire Straits spin-off The Straits. Money raised from the gig will go to Macmillan Cancer Support and the Bristol hospital oncology support charity Above and Beyond. ‘

We’re hoping to take our total raised to over £50,000 this year,’ said John Callis, ‘We all know friends and family who have been affected by cancer and we realise the huge need for investment in research and support. With all of this help, we will beat this!’ Brian May and Kerry Ellis spread the message [L-R] Concert At The Kings organisers Richard Baulu, John ‘Grubby’ Callis, Andy Scott.