During the recording of the collective album 'Help (2)' at Abbey Road Studios in London, November 2025. CHARLIE BARCLAY HARRIS
Paul McCartney and Radiohead made way for Arctic Monkeys and Fontaines DC In September 1995, the cream of British rock gathered for a day at London's Abbey Road Studios. Massive Attack, Portishead and even the archrivals of the then-peaking Britpop scene, Oasis and Blur, joined forces for a good cause: the collective album Help, released against the backdrop of the Bosnian War, whose sales raised £1.2 million (equivalent to €1.4 million today).
Thirty years later, the non-governmental organization, which provides aid to children affected by conflict worldwide, has decided to revive the experience. Simply titled Help (2), the album, recorded in Fall 2025 and released on March 6, brings together some of the biggest names in today's independent rock. Arctic Monkeys, Fontaines DC, Big Thief, Depeche Mode, Pulp, Beth Gibbons, Arlo Parks, Olivia Rodrigo, Wet Leg, Beabadoobee… The list goes on, with the album featuring 23 tracks, including many collaborations.
To bring together these indie rock "Avengers," the British charity approached producer James Ford and entrusted him with the project. Thanks to his reputation and address book – he has produced every Arctic Monkeys album since 2007, as well as recent records by Fontaines DC, Pulp, Gorillaz and Depeche Mode – getting a response was easy. "We sent a lot of emails, and the responses were overwhelmingly positive. Some artists even proposed ideas for covers or original songs," James Ford told Le Monde via video call on February 18. "It was incredible to see our music community rally together like this."
