Various Artists - HEAR 'N' AID STARS 12" MAXI-SINGLE VINYL

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Collectors information / Album Description: 

The purpose of the HEAR 'N' AID STARS project was to raise funds for famine relief efforts in Africa. Inspired by the charitable initiatives of Band Aid and USA for Africa, the project aimed to unite the rock and metal community in a collective effort to address the urgent humanitarian crisis caused by famine in Africa. The goal was to leverage the power of music and the influence of the participating artists to raise awareness and funds to alleviate the suffering and provide support to those affected by the famine. Through the sale of the HEAR 'N' AID STARS 12" Maxi-Single Vinyl and associated merchandise, the project sought to make a significant contribution to the global effort to combat famine and provide aid to those in need.

In the world of music history, there have been countless instances where artists came together to create something greater than themselves. One such remarkable endeavor took place in 1986, when a group of renowned rock and metal musicians collaborated on the HEAR 'N' AID STARS 12" Maxi-Single Vinyl. This unique project not only showcased the exceptional talent of its contributors but also served a noble cause, raising funds for famine relief efforts in Africa. This web-page delves into the significance and impact of this iconic vinyl release.

The HEAR 'N' AID project was spearheaded by Ronnie James Dio, an iconic figure in the realm of rock and heavy metal. Inspired by the charitable initiatives of Band Aid and USA for Africa, Dio sought to unite the metal community in a similar endeavor. Thus, HEAR 'N' AID was born—a collective effort to raise funds for the African famine crisis through the power of music.

The HEAR 'N' AID project attracted an impressive array of talent from the rock and metal scene. The 12" Maxi-Single Vinyl featured an all-star lineup including Dio, Rob Halford (Judas Priest), Geoff Tate (Queensrÿche), Don Dokken (Dokken), Kevin DuBrow (Quiet Riot), and many more. These artists, with their distinct voices and musical styles, came together to create something truly special.

The centerpiece of the HEAR 'N' AID 12" Maxi-Single Vinyl was the song "Stars". This epic eight-minute track was a majestic metal anthem, showcasing the raw power and soaring melodies that characterized the genre. The song not only highlighted the individual talents of the artists involved but also exemplified the spirit of unity and solidarity that defined the project. It became an instant classic among fans of rock and metal.

The Maxi-Single Vinyl extended beyond the powerful "Stars" track, featuring additional material that further enriched the listening experience. B-sides included "Up to the Limit" by Accept and "On the Road" by Gary Moore, providing a diverse range of musical styles for fans to enjoy. These extra tracks demonstrated the breadth of talent involved in the project and offered a more comprehensive representation of the metal community.

The HEAR 'N' AID 12" Maxi-Single Vinyl was more than just a compilation of songs. It served as a rallying cry for the metal community and a testament to the transformative power of music. The project successfully raised substantial funds for famine relief in Africa, contributing to the global effort to alleviate suffering. Additionally, the collaboration showcased the compassion and unity within the rock and metal scene, fostering a sense of camaraderie among musicians and fans alike.

These 40 artists, along with hundreds of other volunteers, donated their time and talent over four months to make Hear 'N Aid a reality. "Stars" is a plea for unity in the fight against world hunger."

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Album Production Information:

Record Label & Catalognr:

Media Format:

12" LP Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record

Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram

Year & Country:

Musicians on: HEAR 'N' AID

Lead Vocals:
• Ronnie James Dio (Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Munetaka Higuchi, Heaven And Hell (UK), Elf, The Vegas Kings, Ronnie & The Rumblers, Ronnie and The Red Caps, The Elves, Ronnie Dio amp & The Prophets)
• Dave Meniketti (Y&T)
• Rob Halford (Judas Priest, Two, Fight (US), Lord Lucifer, Hiroshima, Thark, Athens Wood, Black Sabbath)
• Kevin Dubrow (Quiet Riot) (RIP November 25th 2007)
• Eric Bloom (Blue Öyster Cult)
• Paul Shortino (Quiet Riot, Rough Cutt)
• Geoff Tate (Queensrÿche, Myth)
• Don Dokken (Dokken)

  Notes: Don Dokken ( real-name: Donald Maynard Dokken ) is from Los Angeles, California and has been lead-singer in the Rock-bands: Dokken, Don Dokken, War & Peace ( and guest singer on "Hear 'n' Aid" )

Backing Vocals
• Tommy Aldridge (Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy, Patrick Rondat, Vinnie Moore, Yngwie J. Malmsteen, Manic Eden, Sykes, Motörhead, M.A.R.S.)
• David Alford (Rough Cutt)
• Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge, Ozzy Osbourne)
• Mick Brown (Dokken)
• Amir Derakh (Rough Cutt)
• Chris Hager (Rough Cutt)
• Chris Holmes (W.A.S.P., Psycho Squad, Animal, Sister)
• Blackie Lawless (W.A.S.P., New York Dolls, Sister)
• Vince Neil (Mötley Crüe)
• Ted Nugent (Amboy Dukes, Damn Yankees, Damnocracy)
• Jeff Pilson (Dokken, Flesh And Blood, M.S.G., Lynch Pilson, Power Project, Minoru Niihara, Dio)
• David St. Hubbins (Spinal Tap)
• Rudy Sarzo (Ozzy Osbourne, M.A.R.S., Quiet Riot, Yngwie J. Malmsteen, Dio, Whitesnake, Manic Eden, Dudes Of Wrath)
  Rudy Sarzo, born in Havana on 18 Nov 1950, is a bassist who became a cornerstone of ‘80s metal. From Quiet Riot’s Metal Health to Ozzy’s chaos, Whitesnake, and M.A.R.S., he toured and recorded with legends. Inducted into the Hall of Heavy Metal History in 2017, Rudy rejoined Quiet Riot in 2021, the last link to their glory days.
• Derek Smalls (Spinal Tap)
• Matt Thorr (Rough Cutt)
• Mark Stein (Vanilla Fudge).
  Mark Stein was the soulful voice and Hammond organ master of Vanilla Fudge. His dramatic vocals and swirling keyboard textures defined the band’s sound, blending psychedelia with gospel-like intensity. Stein’s vision of slowing pop hits into symphonic rock epics became the group’s trademark.
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Guitars:
• Dave Murray
• Dave Murray – Guitar

  Maiden’s calm killer: smooth leads, twin-guitar harmony for days, and that melodic bite that makes the “gallop” feel cinematic instead of chaotic.  Read more...

  Dave Murray (born 23 December 1956, Edmonton, Middlesex, England) is one of the defining lead guitar voices of heavy metal, and in my book he’s the melodic “second spine” of Iron Maiden. His timeline with the band starts early: joining in 1976, getting briefly pushed out in 1977, then returning in 1978 and staying locked in ever since—making him one of the longest-serving members in the whole Maiden saga. During that 1977 gap he spent around six months with Urchin (Adrian Smith’s band), which is a fun little historical glitch in the matrix if you like your Maiden lore messy and human. Beyond the main band, his most notable “outside the mothership” credit is the all-star charity metal project Hear ’n Aid (1985), because apparently even guitar lifers sometimes leave the bunker to do side quests. Dave Murray Wiki

• Melody Lines On Choruses (Iron Maiden, Urchin)
• Adrian Smith
• Adrian Smith – Guitarist, Songwriter Adrian Smith is one of those players I always associate with Iron Maiden’s classic sound and its later revival. Joining in 1980, leaving in 1990, and returning in 1999, his melodic solos and sharp songwriting helped define albums from The Number of the Beast to Brave New World and beyond.
  Adrian Smith Wikipedia
Melody Lines On Choruses (Iron Maiden, A.S.A.P., Psycho Motel, Bruce Dickinson, Urchin)
• Bruce Dickinson – Vocals Bruce Dickinson, born August 1958, is the powerhouse vocalist who propelled Iron Maiden to legendary status. Joining the band in 1981, his operatic range, sharp phrasing, and commanding stage presence reshaped the group’s sound and ambition, defining era-classic albums like The Number of the Beast and Powerslave. Beyond Maiden, he built a parallel career as a solo artist, commercial pilot, author, and broadcaster, giving his legacy a reach that stretches well beyond heavy metal.
  Bruce Dickinson Wiki
• Craig Goldy (Dio, Giuffria, M.A.R.S. , Craig Goldy's Ritual)
• Eddie Ojeda (Twisted Sister, Prisoner Of War)
• Vivian Campbell (Dio, Def Leppard, Sweet Savage (UK), Whitesnake, Riverdogs, Shadow King, Clock, Trinity, Lou Gramm)

  Vivian Campbell (born 25 August 1962) is a celebrated Northern Irish guitarist known for his work with heavyweights like Dio, Whitesnake, and Def Leppard, where he replaced Steve Clark in 1992. Rising with Sweet Savage during the NWOBHM era, his career spans influential collaborations, including Thin Lizzy, Riverdogs, and Shadow King, blending hard rock mastery with blues-driven solo projects.

• Brad Gillis (Ozzy Osbourne, Night Ranger, Vicious Rumors)
• Neal Schon (Journey, Bad English)
• George Lynch (Dokken, Lynch Mob, Lynch Pilson)
• Yngwie J. Malmsteen (Steeler (US), Alcatrazz, MVP)
• Carlos Cavazo (Quiet Riot, Snow (US), Power Project)
• Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser (Blue Öyster Cult)
• Mick Mars (Mötley Crüe)

Drums:
• Vinny Appice – Drums

  Vinny Appice hits like a wrecking ball that somehow keeps perfect time—tight, loud, and annoyingly tasteful. Late-70s grind with Rick Derringer (1976–1977) and Axis (1978) turned into the real deal with Black Sabbath (1980–1982), then that classic jump with Ronnie James Dio into Dio (1982–1989; back again for the 1994 and 1996 records).  Read more...

  Vinny Appice, Brooklyn-born and raised on the kind of grit that doesn’t need a press release, has always sounded like he’s driving the whole band from the drum throne. First heard him properly when he slid into Black Sabbath on the Heaven and Hell tour in 1980 and then stamped his name on Mob Rules (1981) and the Live Evil chapter (1982). Late 1982 brought the big pivot: leaving the Sabbath orbit with Ronnie James Dio to build Dio, where my turntable still keeps coming back to that early run—Holy Diver (1983), The Last in Line (1984), Sacred Heart (1985), Intermission (1986), Dream Evil (1987)—before he stepped away in December 1989. The story didn’t end there, because heavy metal loves sequels: he flew back into Sabbath for Dehumanizer in 1992, reunited with Dio for Strange Highways (1994) and Angry Machines (1996), and later rode with the same core crew as Heaven & Hell from 2006 to 2010—proof that his groove isn’t a “style,” it’s a structural beam.

  Vinny Appice Wiki
• Frankie Banali (W.A.S.P., Quiet Riot, Heavy Bones, Masi, Blackthorne)

Bass:
• Jimmy Bain (Rainbow, Dio, WWIII, Wild Horses, Key)
• Jimmy Bain – Bass

  Jimmy Bain is one of those bass players I call “quietly essential”: he doesn’t steal the spotlight, he just makes the whole thing hit harder and feel bigger. His lines have that no-nonsense weight that lets the guitars fly and the vocals preach without the bottom end turning to soup.  Read more...

  Jimmy Bain, for me, is a perfect example of how a great bassist can be both glue and engine at the same time—solid timing, fat tone, and just enough bite to keep things from getting polite. Timeline-wise, I always track him from Harlot (early 1970s) into Rainbow (1975–1977), then a long stretch with Dio (1982–1989, plus later returns like 1993–1994 and 2004), with plenty of side quests in between—most famously with Vivian Campbell’s band Riverdogs (1990–1993). Jimmy Bain Wiki

Keyboards:
• Claude Schnell (Dio, Rough Cutt, Hughes Thrall)