Producer Guy Fletcher described Jeff Beck’s part in the song as “absolutely meant to be. And what he did with it, it just brings you to tears.”
David Gilmour, Tony Iommi, Brian May, Slash, and many other great musicians have joined together for a cover of Mark Knopfler’s seminal track “Going Home.”After the previous announcement of an upcoming supergroup of sonic legends collaborating on a cover of Knopfler’s old hit, the new version of “Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero” is finally here.
The song is a reimagining of the Dire Straits’ frontman’s 1983 instrumental written for the “Local Hero” movie, more popularly known as the theme to which the players of Newcastle United run out into the field before a home game.
The 2024 edition is a 9-minute epic and features a catalog of rock heavy hitters, such as Pink Floyd leader David Gilmour, Black Sabbath’s “godfather of metal” Tony Iommi, Brian May of Queen, Guns N’ Roses icon Slash, guitar hero Eric Clapton, and many more. A particularly interesting point is the presence of the final recording by the late guitar virtuoso Jeff Beck, created shortly before his death in January 2023.
The reimagining of “Going Home” was recorded at British Grove Studios in West London, and produced by longtime Knopfler collaborator Guy Fletcher. Describing Jeff Beck’s part in the song, Fletcher said it was “absolutely meant to be. And what he did with it, it just brings you to tears.”
The track proceeds will go to the Teenage Cancer Trust and Teen Cancer America charities.
For a full list of contributors and some notes about the charities being supported, check out the official website of Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes.
