Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
18 July 1918 - 5 December 2013

Mandela wasn't a rock star, but... he was a rock and a star, and he's also been a name linked to (Western) popular music since The Special AKA launched their single "Nelson Mandela" in 1984. The following year Little Steven Van Zandt founded Artists United Against Apartheid and put out the single (as well as an album) "Sun City". Van Zandt was backed with a massive posse of artists: Afrika Bambaataa, Gil Scott-Heron, Miles Davis, George Clinton, Bonnie Raitt, Run DMC, Jimmy Cliff, Lou Reed, Jackson Browne, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr, Peter Gabriel, L. Shankar, Ron Carter, Tony Williams, Grandmaster Melle Mel, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Herbie Hancock, Sonny Okosun, Pete Townshend, Joey Ramone, Bono, Keith Richards, Ron Wood, and more. At the time of the "Nelson Mandela" single Mandela had served years and years at Robben Island and Pollsmoor Prison, and he contiuned doing years at Victor Verster Prison until he was freed in Februrary 1990. The rest is history.

PS! As history repeats and repeats we'd better spin The Special A.K.A.'s "Racist Friend" while we're at it. Sadly enough it's not out of date. Never will be.

Copyright © 2013 Håvard Oppøyen