Cage Against The Machine for Christmas no.1
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On Monday 6th December it finally happened; some of the most gifted and talented artists around today packed themselves into the legendary Dean Street Studios to re-record John Cage’s classic composition 4’ 33”. And, with the aptly re-titled ‘Cage Against The Machine’, the organizers hope to captivate the imagination of a nation and make this year’s Christmas No1 a truly ‘Silent Night’.
Everyone involved in this day felt privileged to be there, the passion and the willingness to be part of something extremely poignant and worthwhile was tangible. This was perfectly encapsulated by one of the organizers Julie Hilliard as she read out a piece written especially for the day’s proceedings by her husband and originator of the campaign Dave Hilliard an excerpt of which read:
“Here today, we are doing something special; we are stopping and appreciating the space between things, the unintentional sounds that make up our world. I now invite you to honour John Cages legacy for our culture, bring your individual meanings to 4’33’’, and enjoy the next 4 minutes and 33 seconds together. Interestingly, 4’33” for Cage, was the epitome of his idea that any sounds constitute, or may constitute, music; it was also a reflection of the influence of Zen Buddhism, which Cage studied."
Cage Against The Machine was started by London-based artist Dave Hilliard in the summer 2010 as a grassroots Facebook campaign to get John Cage's famous "silent" composition 4'33" to number one this Christmas. The idea soon reached tens of thousands of people and attracted media attention from all the national daily newspapers and radio stations around the world including The Sun, Mail, Guardian, MSN, Channel 5’s The Wright Stuff to name a few. The campaign stepped up a gear in October 2010 with the help of Eddy Temple Morris (XFM broadcaster and ambassador for BTA), Joe Hutchinson (Ou Est Le Swimming Pool) and Mark Jones (Wall Of Sound) who joined forces to rally some of the most influential artists, producers and directors around today to make Hilliard’s vision a reality.
The Facebook community at www.facebook.com/cageagainstthemachine has reached over seventy thousand people committed to buying this single and, with a nation of indie/rock/punk communities ready once again to make a stand against bland, vacuous pop music; the clarion call is ‘Cage Against The Machine’ for Christmas Number One! Head over to the Facebook page to buy your copy of the single
All the proceeds from sales will go to five charities. These music-related charities were chosen by the Cage Against The Machine Facebook community's organisers as something they feel John Cage would have whole heartedly approved of. These are not fluffy or ‘sexy’ charities but five charities who are pitifully underfunded and desperate for funds to help research cures and improve awareness: Specifically:
1. The British Tinnitus Association (BTA): When Cage's 4'33" begins, anyone with Tinnitus will just hear their own dreadful ringing. This condition can drive people suicidal and affects musicians more than any other illness. BTA can't even afford to fund a single phone line 24 hours a day to help cope with suicidal calls from sufferers. We can change that.
2. Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM): When Chazz Haddon, singer of Ou Est Le Swimming Pool, tragically ended his own life at Pukkelpop festival in August, a spotlight was put on the fact that the biggest killer (aside from road accidents) of men under the age of 35 in the UK is suicide. Men are 4 times more likely to kill themselves than women. CALM is the only charity to soley focus upon addressing young male suicide.
3. Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy: Nordoff Robbins brings music's transforming power to children and adults in need, through the delivery of music therapy services.
4. Youth Music: Youth Music is the leading UK charity using music to transform the lives of disadvantaged children and young people.
5. Sound And Music: Promotes challenging new music and sound art. "Your support enables us to conceive, experiment and pioneer programmes to engage and inspire audiences of all ages."
