Brother’s memory inspired song which will raise funds for Hospice

A musician hopes that his band’s first new song in 15 years will raise funds for the local Hospice which helped to care for his brother.

“We Can’t Stop What’s Coming”, THE THE’s first new song in 15 years, remembers Andrew ‘Andy Dog’ Johnson, who was cared for by St Nicholas Hospice Care before his death in January 2016 and who was the brother of front man Matt Johnson.

Matt said: “Andrew inspired this record. The words are about him, the song is for him, it’s all dedicated to him. After his death, as a consolation, I would spend time by myself just playing a small piano melody over and over again. That melody then grew into this song.

“Andrew had a great love for nature and animals, especially owls and crows, and when he was at the hospice they moved his bed close to the window so he was able to enjoy the garden and that made a big difference to him. It is a beautiful place.

“The Hospice provided care and support not just to Andrew but to us as a family, we knew when we left him after each visit that he would be well looked after, which was a great comfort.”

A talented artist Andrew designed much of band’s artwork over the years — including the “We Can’t Stop What’s Coming” sleeve itself, which features etchings from his sketchbooks.

Initially limited to 2,500 copies and released on Record Store Day at the end of April as a one-sided 7” the song also features Matt’s former band mates Zeke Manyika on percussion and James Eller on bass, plus long-time friend and collaborator Johnny Marr on guitar.

Also featured on the track are Meja Kullersten on backing vocals, Chris Whitten on drums and Iain Berryman on keyboards.

With the record selling out quickly Matt decided to release another 3,000 copies, 2,000 of which will be sold on his website (www.thethe.com ) with half the profits from the sale of these copies going to the Hospice.

To differentiate from the initial black vinyl release this version is pressed in Old English white vinyl.

Matt said: “Zeke, Johnny and James all knew and liked Andrew and were very keen to be part of the song, they wanted to do it for him as well.

“When it went on sale during Record Store Day there was a lot of interest from fans and it sold out within hours but the next day copies were selling on eBay for £200!

“The song is for Andrew and I didn’t want anything to detract from that which is why, when I decided to press up extra copies, I want to refocus the attention back to him by helping raise funds for the Hospice.”

Copies of the record are on sale now http://www.thethe.com/shop/vinyl-boxset/we-can-t-stop-what-s-coming.html