To help with the most urgent personal protective equipment needs facing the health workers responding to the coronavirus, rock band Shinedown has partnered with the non-profit humanitarian aid organization Direct Relief. Shinedown is offering some optimism and faith in humanity by reaching into their vault and making available a never-before-heard, brand new song, “Atlas Falls,” which will benefit Direct Relief, who are currently working to provide personal protective equipment and essential medical items, including protective masks, exam gloves and isolation gowns, to U.S. and international health workers.
The song is available now for download with the purchase of a special T-shirt. 100% of proceeds will go to Direct Relief, one of the largest providers of humanitarian medical resources in the world. Direct Relief operates in the U.S. and in more than 100 countries around the world. The band is kicking this off with a $20,000 donation of their own to Direct Relief. The organization is working in overdrive to get protective gear into the hands of as many health workers as possible as quickly as possible, with emergency deliveries leaving daily for medical facilities across the U.S.
Drawing inspiration from the Greek myth of the Titan Atlas, who carries a celestial sphere on his shoulders, the song is a reassuring anthem that even if Atlas falls, we will hold each other up in times of strife. Click here to purchase the T-shirt and download “Atlas Falls.” For more information on Direct Relief’s COVID-19 response efforts, visit directrelief.org/emergency/coronavirus.
“I have always said, and believe to be true, that music can heal us all. We need music, and each other, now more than ever, as we all are witnessing a global pandemic unlike anything we have ever seen in many generations. Myself, Barry, Zach, Eric and our Shinedown family want the entire world to know that we are in this together, and we must all do our part and continue to encourage love, respect and taking care of each other. Now is the time to put our differences aside so that we can truly lift each other up. We have partnered with an incredible organization, Direct Relief, who are doing important work globally to help the medical community receive the resources they need in order to save lives. Years ago, during the writing and recording of the Amaryllis album, there was a song that meant a great deal to me and the band titled 'Atlas Falls.' Although the song did not make the album, I always felt that one day the world would hear it… It has never been more clear to me than right now that the time has come for ‘Atlas Falls’ to arrive.”
—Brent Smith, Shinedown
