Stars re-record hit song for the Shorncliffe Trust and the British Red Cross

On the 100th anniversary of the Christmas Day Truce, during World War One, which inspired The Farm's 1990 hit All Together Now, many of the UK's biggest music stars have united as The Peace Collective, to re-record the song. The new track features a backing choir of schoolboy footballers from the Premier League and German Bundesliga. All profits from the release, out December 15th, will go to the Shorncliffe Trust and the British Red Cross.

Peter Hooton, lead singer of The Farm, says:

"I wrote All Together Now about the extraordinary events on Christmas Day 1914 when British and German troops took part in an unofficial truce, singing Christmas carols, exchanging gifts and even playing football. It was a spontaneous act of humanity that transcended the horrors and barbarity of World War One and is a story which still resonates 100 years on. It is a story of hope and peace which should be told over and over again.

"I'm so very proud that so many artistes from all styles of music and the football authorities have come together to promote peace and reconciliation this Christmas and raise funds for the brilliant work carried out by the Shorncliffe Trust and the British Red Cross."

The new recording is being produced by Simon Britton, and executively produced by Suggs (Madness) - who produced The Farm's original version - and Mick Jones (The Clash). Stars confirmed to appear on the new recording include Alexandra Burke, Guy Chambers, Gorgon City, Gabrielle, The Proclaimers, Engelbert Humperdinck, Holly Johnson, John Power (Cast), Jah Wobble (PiL), Jane McDonald, I Am Kloot, Shara Nelson (Massive Attack), Amelle Berrabah (The Sugababes), the winner of The Voice 2014 Jermain Jackman, and The Farm themselves, with many more to be confirmed. Strings and brass on the track are provided by the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA).

Chris Shaw, Chairman of the Shorncliffe Trust, said:

"We feel humbled and honoured to be included in this amazing project. This charity single symbolises the past, present and future and enlightens our understanding and perceptions of WW1. All together Now by the Peace Collective beautifully commemorates the spirit of the past on that December day in 1914. The monies raised will support the great work of the British Red Cross in the present but for the Shorncliffe Trust this about us creating an educational legacy for the future. We will be building an immersive learning experience for thousands of students from across the country and enable them to walk in the footsteps of their great grandfathers who marched from Shorncliffe camp to their destiny on the Western Front."

The Christmas Truce was a series of widespread, unofficial ceasefires which took place along the Western Front over Christmas 1914. British and German troops ventured into 'no man's land', exchanging food and souvenirs, singing carols, and, most famously, playing football.

A hundred years on, British and German children have united to provide the backing choir for The Peace Collective, which comprises of sixty U12 footballers, 38 from Premier League Clubs and 22 from German (mainly Bundesliga) clubs. The children came to Liverpool for a weekend and recorded the song together at Parr Street Studios in a great spirit of togetherness. The boys sing in both English and German and appear in the video in their football club shirts.

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The Peace Collective

The Peace Collective has been put together by the team behind The Justice Collective, whose re-recording of He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother in aid of the victims of the Hillsborough disaster topped the charts during Christmas 2012.

The Shorncliffe Trust

The Shorncliffe Trust is building a national education centre and heritage park in Kent. Its primary focus it to tell the story of the social impact that military life has on the men that serve their country, their families, their communities across the country and those that were left at home. This will be done by also preserving the onsite original WW1 training trenches, barrack houses, and the war horse stables.