After several decades, British rock band Pink Floyd has come together for a solidarity song in light of the war in Ukraine, with the track "Hey Hey Rise Up" set to be released on Friday, April 8.
According to the band, it is the first time in almost 30 years that the musicians have met to record a new song. It features vocals by Ukrainian singer Andrij Chlywnjuk from the band Boombox, who is reportedly currently recovering from a shrapnel injury in Kiev. His lines come from a widely viewed Instagram video from the end of February, in which Khlyvnyuk sings a Ukrainian protest song in a square in Kiev.
Previously, the Pink Floyd musicians last recorded music together for their 1994 album "The Division Bell". In addition to singer and guitarist David Gilmour, Pink Floyd bassist Guy Pratt and keyboardist Nitin Sawhney were also involved in the new song, which was recorded last Wednesday.
Gilmour, who has Ukrainian relatives, was in contact with Khlyvnyuk during the production. He said in a statement: "I played him a bit of the song on the phone and he gave me his blessing. We both hope to do something together in the flesh at some point in the future."