Members of The Cure, Depeche Mode, The Smiths remake ‘Tower of Strength’ for COVID relief

Wayne Hussey has enlisted current and former members of The Cure, Depeche Mode, The Cult, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Bauhaus and The Smiths for an all-star remake of The Mission’s 1988 anthem “Tower of Strength” to benefit “key workers dealing with COVID-19 globally.”

Dubbed “TOS2020” by ReMission International, the single is available for pre-order and will be released digitally Aug. 28 and on physical media — gold-colored 12-inch vinyl and CD — on Oct. 2.

You can hear a 30-second teaser of the song below.

Contributors include The Cure co-founder Lol Tolhurst, Depeche Mode’s Martin Gore, Gary Numan, Andy Rourke of The Smiths, All About Eve’s Julianne Regan, Midge Ure, Budgie of Siouxsie and the Banshees and The Creatures, The Cult’s Billy Duffy, Kevin Haskins of Bauhaus, Tones on Tail and Love and Rockets, Slowdive’s Rachel Goswell, Richard Fortus and Robin Finck of Guns N’ Roses, The Wonder Stuff’s Miles Hunt and more — plus a reunion of Gene Loves Jezebel’s Jay and Michael Aston.

In a note on The Mission’s website, Hussey explains the remake’s genesis:

“When COVID-19 hit I started receiving messages asking ‘why don’t you re-issue Tower Of Strength for the front line workers?’ The song had apparently been adopted as an anthem by some NHS workers, and it got me thinking that I would like to contribute something to the greater cause at this unprecedented time and the only thing I could really contribute is music. So in conjunction with my good friend Michael Ciravolo, I came up with the idea of recording a new version of Tower Of Strength for charity by enlisting the help of musician friends and acquaintances. Tower Of Strength was first released by The Mission as single in 1988 and then again in 1994. It charted twice in the UK top 40 and has proved to be probably our biggest song and the one we generally close our shows with. It is anthemic. I wondered if recording a more well known song might have a greater reach but neither Michael or I could come up with any suggestions that seemed to fit lyrically without getting too corny. So Tower Of Strength it was.”

Hussey writes that he then consulted his bandmates who co-wrote the song — Craig Adams, Mick Brown and Simon Hinkler — and they all agreed to give up any income from the re-recording to COVID charities. The proceeds will be split among COVID-related charities chosen by each of the participants.

“Whilst all the versions will be available to listen to on all streaming platforms I’m gonna ask you to help the cause by buying at least the digital package which is priced at only £2.99,” Hussey writes. “It’s not much, is it? For the price of a coffee you’ll receive all five versions. Come on, help us to help others.”

Below, you’ll find a preview of the track, the tracklisting of the various single releases, the full list of participants and the list of charities to benefit from the single’s proceeds.

ReMission International, “TOS2020”

Vinyl edition
Side A
1. “TOS2020” (Beholden To The Front Line Workers Of The World mix)
2. “TOS2020” (single)
Side B
1. “TOS2020” (Trentemøller Remix)
2. “TOS2020” (Albie Mischenzingerzen Remix)

CD edition
1. TOS2020″ (Beholden To The Front Line Workers Of The World mix)
2. TOS2020″ (Trentemøller Remix)
3. TOS2020″ (Albie Mischenzingerzen Remix)
4. TOS2020″ (single)

Digital Bundle
1. TOS2020″ (single)
2. TOS2020″ (Beholden To The Front Line Workers Of The World mix)
3. TOS2020″ (Trentemøller Remix)
4. TOS2020″ (Albie Mischenzingerzen Remix)
5. The Mission’s “Tower Of Strength” (original newly remastered)

ReMission International participants:

Andy Rourke
Billy Duffy
Budgie
Evi Vine
Gary Numan
James Alexander Graham
Jay Aston
Julianne Regan
Kevin Haskins
Kirk Brandon
Lol Tolhurst
Martin Gore
Michael Aston
Michael Ciravolo
Midge Ure
Miles Hunt
Rachel Goswell
Richard Fortus
Robin Finck
Steve Clarke
Tim Palmer
Trentemøller

ReMission International charities:

NHS Charities UK
St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Memphis
Music Venue Trust UK
Covenant House, New Orleans
Disasters Emergency Committee
MusiCares
Plan International
Direct Relief
Alzheimer’s Scotland
Liberty Hill Foundation
The Shrewsbury Ark
Memorial Sloan Kettering Center, NYC
Prostate Cancer UK
The Teddy Bear Clinic
Red Rover
Help Musicians UK
Crew Nation
Venice Family Clinic
The Anthony Walker Foundation
Projeto Cáo Communitário
The City Of San Francisco COVID-19 Fund

PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS

• The Mission to release ‘For Ever More’ box set chronicling 2008 full-album concerts
• Stream: The Mission’s Wayne Hussey covers George Michael smash ‘Careless Whisper’
• The Mission’s Wayne Hussey preps new solo album, releases single ‘Wither on the Vine’
• The Mission to release new 5-song ‘Different Colours’ EP — plus new best-of
• The Mission to release ‘The Brightest Light’ following U.S. tour this September