Indie rock band Arcade Fire ignited a music world frenzy when they came onto the scene in a blaze of glory (okay, stopping with “fire” references) in 2004 with their debut album Funeral. Even pop music’s most proficient musicheads like the lead singer for the Killers found Win Butler, along with his wife Régine Chassagne and company’s sonic stylings to be worthy of the hype. U2 even used Arcade Fire’s song, Wake Up, to open shows during the “Vertigo” tour. When Bono approves, that’s something, right kids?
Now, the band upon whom kudos were so greatly offered is offering something of their own: When that same song that U2 so adored plays during the Super Bowl this Sunday, Arcade Fire will donate 100 percent (yes, all of it) of the proceeds that otherwise would have been theirs from on-air licensing. And where will all that money go? To Partners In Health’s Stand With Haiti.
Proceeds from subsequent airings on the NFL Network will also be donated to the relief efforts, the band announced.
Arcade Fire has a special connection to Haiti as Chassagne’s family emigrated from the country (she was born in Canada, but her parents are Haitian) under the reign of dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier. Arcade Fire’s song, Haiti, on their debut album is a tribute to her heritage.
Let’s hope their fans are still listening, loud and clear.
Click here to read more of Tonic’s ongoing Haiti coverage.
Photo (Chassagne, left; Butler in center) courtesy of Kevin Westenberg
