Shane MacGowan and Friends Record Haiti Fundraising Single

Following last week's Spinner report on what could be the most bizarre charity record ever, former Pogues singer Shane MacGowen has assembled a stellar line-up of alt.rock luminaries and recorded a version of Screamin' Jay Hawkins' 1956 classic 'I Put A Spell on You' to raise money for relief and aid in earthquake-stricken Haiti.

MacGowan flew from his home in Dublin to studio in Battersea, South London last Friday (Jan. 29) where he was joined by singer Nick Cave, Primal Scream frontman Bobby Gillespie, the Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde, Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock and Clash guitarist Mick Jones. They were reportedly joined on guitar by actor Johnny Depp and singer Paloma Faith.

MacGowan's partner, writer Victoria Clarke, spoke to Channel 4 news of the rationale behind the single, "It just popped into my head as a great alternative to what Simon Cowell's doing."

But with the Simon Cowell-backed version of R.E.M.'s 'Everybody Hurts' about to hit the stores and with Quincy Jones' new rendition of 'We Are The World' not far behind, isn't there are a danger of there being too many charity singles about?

The Clash's Mick Jones disagreed, saying, "I don't think there can ever be enough in the same way that you can't have too many guitarists!"

'I Put A Spell On You' is scheduled for release at the end of February and has been so timed to ensure that the plight of Haiti is kept high on the public agenda. Money raised will go the Dublin-based Concern Worldwide which has been in Haiti for 16 years. The charity has 100 staff on the ground and has distributed 135,000 litres of water per day since the earthquake.