Coronavirus: NI musicians on song to thank NHS and help research

Brian Kennedy, Peter Corry, Derek Ryan, Andrea Begley, Margaret Keys, Cormac Neeson and Duke Special are among those musicians who sang on an updated version of ‘Broken Land’ which was a hit for Belfast band The Adventures in 1988.

The video, a still from which is pictured inset, is designed to thank NHS workers and also raise funds for researchers, including those at Queen’s University, who are trying to establish what care and support is needed to ensure coronavirus sufferers can return to full health.

The reworked version entitled Heal This Broken Land was the brainchild of TV producer Petra Ellis and record producer Cormac O’Kane who contacted their musical friends and asked them if they’d like to take part.

Petra said: “The original song Broken Land was a huge hit in 1988 for the Belfast band The Adventures.

“The writer of the song, Pat Gribben, agreed to rewrite the lyrics to suit the current situation.”

She added: “Everybody recorded in their own homes. Cormac edited and produced the video.

“Nicky (Scott), Pat (Gribben) and Liam (Bradley) had home studio setups and fed all their contributions to Cormac’s home studio.

“The singers either contributed by phone or home studio as well.”