Linzi Stoppard Rock Bonhams With Electric String Super Group FUSE...…

Jan. 3, 2010 - PRLog -- To mark the 40th anniversary of Status Quo’s first hit single, 'Pictures of Matchstick Men', and to raise money for The Prince's Trust, Status Quo hosted a star-studded auction at Bonhams auction house in London. The evening included a one-off performance by special guests Linzi Stoppard & Ben Lee, aka electric string super group FUSE.

FUSE violinists Linzi Stoppard & Ben Lee - rock electric string super group. FUSE are redefining the stereo-type that the violin is just a classical instrument with their eagerly awaited debut album. Months were spent locked away in rehearsal rooms mastering the FUSE sound which is taking the violin further than any string act has dared to venture before - ROCK. Already labeled as "the most innovative string act for over a generation" FUSE are pioneering a new violin dawn.

As Linzi says, "It's completely fresh, no one thought that what we do was even possible. Everything you hear is violins! The style that we use when we play is more akin to that of a guitar player, with more soul and electricity - literally! We chose work from artists that are huge stadium acts, and that's where we want to be. It is that big and that powerful - get some ear plugs! We specialise in blowing away people's preconceptions."

No reality TV, no stories, just talent and music. That is what FUSE is all about.

FUSE are already finding friends in the rock fraternity who appreciate what they do. After raving, "I love what you've done, how did you get that sound?", Francis Rossi appears on the album version of Quo's 'Down Down', Nick Mason of Pink Floyd offered his services as a drummer and Roger Daltrey asked Linzi and Ben to support him!

What FUSE do can have a truly global appeal; there are no language barriers. Whilst they are very proudly a string band, listeners can sing along to the choruses that we all know. With the release of "FUSE" in March, FUSE will be bringing their unique brand of entertainment to a whole new audience, let's hope they are ready.

To celebrate Quo's remarkable anniversary, fifty artists, musicians and celebrities took up the challenge from The Prince's Trust and created their own versions of classic Quo single and album covers and these were all auctioned on the night with all net proceeds going to the charity. HRH Prince of Wales' art material supplier Winsor & Newton provided all the art materials for the paintings and had the pleasure of attending the auction evening.  

Paul Gambaccini opened the auction and started the bidding. Eight of the lots of paintings went under the hammer and the rest were sold by silent auction. A cheque of £100,000 was presented to the Prince’s Trust and one of the most popular paintings by David Shepherd called Heavy Traffic raised £18,000!

Personalities as diverse as Brian Wilson, Sir Tom Stoppard, Andrew Marr, Alice Cooper, Fiona Phillips, Brian May, Nick Mason, Sir Steve Redgrave, Harry Hill, Chris Tarrant, Rolf Harris, David Shepherd, Chelsea and Liverpool FC and the cast of Coronation Street contributed works.

The band's frontman Francis Rossi said: "It's marvelous because normally these things can go down a damp squib. The fact that we reached £100,000 is very nice. The Prince's Trust is for young people that are not articulate or come from a poor background. Nobody gives them a chance. People are not usually concerned about some young kid from a council estate background."

Bidding initially took place online, but the highest bids were transferred to the Bonhams auction room in London. The event, which marked the 40th anniversary of Status Quo's first hit Pictures Of Matchstick Men, saw the launch of a new retrospective album entitled Pictures: 40 Years Of Hits.

http://www.electricstringquartet.com
http://www.myspace.com/fusemusic
http://www.linzistoppard.com