A MUSICIAN from South Derbyshire is bidding to get his band’s song used during commemorations to mark the 100th anniversary of World War One.
Prog rock duo Freedom To Glide, comprised of Hartshorne graphic designer Pete Riley and Warwickshire-based plumber Andy Nixon, draw on themes of war and conflict for their work, which will form the basis of their debut album, to be released next year.
Earlier this year, the band released their debut Rain EP, and have asked organisers to consider the title track from that release for use during the 2014 commemorations.
Riley said the subject matter of the song would make it particularly fitting to be used during the commemoration, and has contacted MP Andrew Murrison, who is co-ordinating the events, and Poppy Appeal organisers.
He told the Mail: “We have been making sensitive inroads about the possibility of our song being used. It’s a massive long shot but we do believe in the power of the song, which has a message relevant today.
“The song was partly influenced by my grandfather’s experiences in the Battle of the Somme and the lyrics talk about how the soldiers fell like rain as they were gunned down when going over the top.
“We are not glorifying war, we are just trying to put across the message of how futile it is.”
The war theme continues on the band’s new six-track mini album, The Wait A Soldier’s Story, which will be released on Remembrance Sunday, November 11.
Riley said: “The mini album includes two tracks which will feature on the main album and four tracks which didn’t make it.
“It’s talking about an unknown soldier talking about his experiences during the First World War. It’s based around the theme of 100 years of conflict.
“It is a concept album, something which is sometimes frowned upon, but we’re not scared about that — it’s something we want to write about.”
The Wait - A Soldier’s Story will be available on Sunday, November 11 as a download and physical release via the Freedom To Glide Bandcamp page at http://freedomtoglide.bandca mp.com
More information is available at www.freedomtoglide.com or on the band’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FreedomToGlide
