Rock Stars to Release Album Dedicated to Suu Kyi

Popular musicians from around the world will together launch a music album dedicated to freeing Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is currently under house arrest in Rangoon. 

Songs from international acts U2, Pearl Jam, Coldplay, Sting, R.E.M., Travis, Indigo Girls, Paul McCartney and Eric Clapton will be included in the album, entitled For the Lady: Dedicated to Freeing Aung San Suu Kyi and the Courageous People of Burma.

The two-CD album was organized by the Washington-based US Campaign for Burma and will be released by Rhino Records on October 26.    

“Aung San Suu Kyi is truly one of the world’s most important, yet least known, heroes. No matter how much she suffers, she never backs down in her quest for freedom,” said a statement released by British band Coldplay cited in a US Campaign for Burma press release on September 20. “That’s why Coldplay are supporting this effort, and why everyone who believes in human rights should buy this CD.”

I hope this album increases [international] awareness of Burma’s struggle. I think music is a best way to share feelings with one another. —Mun Awng

All the singers are donating their songs to the album, including live recordings by Pearl Jam, R.E.M., Damien Rice and Better Than Ezra that have never been released before, and “Let Freedom Ring,” a studio track by Audioslave guitarist Tom Morello’s solo incarnation, Nightwatchman.

The album features a song banned by the Burmese government, “Walk On”, which U2 dedicated to Aung San Suu Kyi on their last album All That You Can’t Leave Behind. Among the 27 tracks, it also includes a song by popular exiled Burmese singer Mun Awng.

“I felt a bit of nervous to perform with big stars. But I’m really proud of that,” said Mun Awng on Wednesday by telephone from Norway, where he now lives.

His song “Tempest of Blood” was written by prominent Burmese student leader Min Ko Naing, who has been a prison inmate in Burma for the past 15 years for his political activities.