UK Metal Merger sees the coming together of some of UK rock and metal’s most celebrated names to support those individuals who have seen their livelihoods devastated by the effect of COVID on the live music industry. The brainchild of music producer Mark Mynett, UK Metal Merger sees eighteen UK metal musicians - including members of Cradle Of Filth, My Dying Bride, Iced Earth, Winterfylleth, Kill II This, Xentrix, Divine Chaos, Krysthla and Pythia – remotely writing and performing collaboratively on an epic track called In Solitude, with the aim of highlighting the severity of the impact of COVID lockdowns on those involved in live music: from roadies; to sound engineers; to drivers; to venue staff.

Live events were amongst the first sectors to be impacted by the Covid-19 Pandemic crisis and will likely be the last sector to return to sustainable activity. With a largely self-employed workforce, many of whom have fallen into the gaps in Government support and widespread redundancies amongst employees, registered charity Stagehand raises funds to help those in most need, with the simple aim of providing the necessary support that will enable live music event crew to return to the industry. Many have lost their homes or are relying on food banks, yet their contribution to the music industry is immeasurable and, unless help is provided immediately, the loss of these professionals with often highly specialised skills and unique insight and understanding will affect not just rock and metal gigs but the live music sector overall for years to come.

Motivated by their collective love of live music with a view to supporting the sector's long road to recovery from the pandemic, the UK Metal Merger project resulted in an epic 12-and-a-half-minute musical journey titled In Solitude. Mixed and mastered during lockdown-two, with the video filmed, then edited during lockdown-three, over 300 hours of contributions were edited down into a track which explodes into an experience which is as symphonic as it is powerful and crushing.

UK Metal Merger’s call-to-arms is to ask for everyone to share the video, track and message and ask those who are able to, to donate to the UK Metal Merger Stagehand Crew Relief Fund. It doesn't have to be much but it all counts. You will be helping to avoid a catastrophic loss of skills, knowledge and experience in the live music industry.

Without roadies there won’t be a live events industry, even when Covid restrictions are lifted. Crowdfunding is needed because the help available isn’t reaching everybody and if that continues, we risk losing an industry that brings so much joy to all of our lives. Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity.

The Musicians of UK Metal Merger are:

AARON STAINTHORPE – MY DYING BRIDE
JEFF SINGER – MY DYING BRIDE
ANDREW CRAIGHAN – MY DYING BRIDE
LUKE APPLETON – ICED EARTH
JO QUAIL – SESSION CELLIST
MARK DEEKS – ARD / WINTERFYLLETH
MARK MYNETT – KILL II THIS
SIMON GORDON – KILL II THIS
DAN CAPP – WINTERFYLLETH / WOLCENSMEN
RICHARD SHAW – CRADLE OF FILTH
ADRIAN MAYES – KRYSTHLA
NEIL HUDSON - KRYSTHLA
ANDREW WRIGHT - MOTHERLOAD
STAN HAVARD - XENTRIX
SOPHIE DORMAN – PYTHIA
CHRIS O'TOOLE – DIVINE CHAOS
MATT GILMOUR – DIVINE CHAOS
STACEY GAUNT – PLAGUE OF ANGELS