When Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes was hailed as “a landmark in rock music history”, it was no exaggeration. The former Dire Straits leader has pulled together an astonishing line-up of famous players to appear on a charity single in aid of noble causes including Teenage Cancer Trust and Teen Cancer America. Going Home (Theme From Local Hero), a song written by Knopfler and originally released back in 1983, has been reworked as an extended showcase in which he is joined by legendary guitarists including David Gilmour, Eric Clapton, Pete Townshend, Brian May, Slash, Steve Vai, Ronnie Wood and Joe Walsh. Poignantly, it also features the last ever recorded work of guitar icon and innovator Jeff Beck.
And elsewhere, layered within Knopfler’s six-string tapestry, is longtime Toto man and general session legend Steve Lukather, who was more than happy to lend his licks. “Are you kidding me?” Luke tells TG. “To be a part of something like this, which is so cool, and to be on this with all those cool players for such a great cause – it’s an honour. I just wanted to be a part of it.”
