This is a tribute to Mahsa Amini. On 16 September 2022, the 22-year-old Iranian woman Mahsa Amini, died in a hospital in Tehran, Iran, under suspicious circumstances. The religious morality police of Iran's government, arrested Amini for allegedly not wearing the hijab in accordance with government standards.
The Law Enforcement Command of the Islamic Republic of Iran stated that she had a heart attack at a police station, collapsed, and fell into a coma before being transferred to a hospital. However, eyewitnesses, including women who were detained with Amini, reported that she was severely beaten and that she died as a result of police brutality.
Mahsa's death resulted in a series of protests. Some female demonstrators removed their hijab or publicly cut their hair as acts of protest. Iran Human Rights reported that by the beginning of November 2022 at least 304 people had been killed by security forces attacking protests across the country. Amnesty International reported that Iranian security forces had, in some cases, fired into groups with live ammunition and had in other cases killed protesters by beating them with batons. As this video is released, these protests, perhaps the most significant women's revolution in history, are ongoing and escalating. After initial indifference news outlets in The West are starting to pay attention, and momentum is growing.
ZELDA - LEAD VOCALS
JAY STAPLEY - GUITARS
JOHN GORDON - BASS
SIMON WEBB - KEYBOARDS & BACKING VOCALS
STIX MACDONALD - DRUMS
SVEN SVENSSON - BACKING VOCALS
SIMON WEBB - MUSIC & LYRICS
IAN TOMPSON - MASTERING ENGINEER
BAHAR - ARTWORK
Recorded at the musician's and singer's studios. Mixed at SF Studios, UK.
Published by Music For Sport Ltd.
Animation Video by @art_disorder
Video produced by Mainstream Media Productions, New York.
Copyright Music For Sport Ltd. & Mainstream Media Productions 2023. All rights reserved.
Made in the UK & the USA.
THE SPIDERHAWKS - TRAVELLING LIGHT
The Spiderhawks made their first release in mid–pandemic with a single titled Holy Joe, which was designed to raise money for homeless people. It was fun to do in a pandemic sort of way, successful, and spurred us on to complete this album. Travelling Light is due for release on 25th March 2022.
The backbone of the band is songwriter and composer Simon Webb, who is a well-established composer for theatre, TV and Film; Robert Hart, best known for his work with The Distance, Bad Company, and Manfred Mann’s Earth Band; Bernie Marsden, legendary Whitesnake guitarist, who has worked with Simon on many film, theatre, session, and television projects; Jimmy Copley, famed session drummer, best known for his work with Jeff Beck and Tears For Fears. The supporting cast of musicians (including The Kick Horns) and singers are all top sessioneers in their own right.
In a previous incarnation, as The Powwow Rock Orchestra, The Spiderhawks released the double album, Everybody Powwow!
Band Line-Up:
ROBERT HART - LEAD VOCALS
SIMON WEBB - VOCALS / KEYBOARDS / BASS
BERNIE MARSDEN - GUITARS
JIMMY COPLEY – DRUMS
EMMA PEARS – VOCALS
JAY STAPLEY - ACOUSTIC GUITAR
WES MCGHEE - B BENDER GUITAR
ALAN STEWART – BASS CLARINET
RODDY LORIMER - TRUMPET
SIMON CLARKE - ALTO SAX
TIM SANDERS - TENOR SAX
PETE JAGGER - BLUES HARP
SIMON EDWARDS – PERCUSSION
LYNDA HAYES, STEVE STAPLEY, STEVE DEVEREAUX, JULIAN LITTMAN, THEA RANFT, KEVIN SHORT, & KARENA K. ASHTON – CHOIR
Music and lyrics by Simon Webb, except Landslide by Stevie Nicks.
Album produced by Ian Tompson and Simon Webb.
Mixed by Simon Webb.
Mastered by Ian Tompson at Werkhaus Studio.
Artwork by Alan Stewart.
Photo by Rob Cass.
Manufactured by The Duplication Centre.
Released on the Music For Sport label.
Music and lyrics published by Music For Sport Ltd.,
Copyright Music For Sport Ltd. 2022.
All rights reserved.
Made in the UK.
Thanks to: Bernie Marsden, Ian Tompson, Jamie Hayes, Rob Cass, Joan Ashley, Jeffrey Webb, James Wharram, Roger Simpson, Sabine Bernard, Kevin Short and the Band.
We dedicate this album to our great friend, and inspirational musical colleague, Jimmy Copley, who sadly passed away during the making of this album. RIP Jimmy. Your spirit, and your music live on.