Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall
in association with Aldi
Final Headliners Announced for 2018
The concert series turns 18
UB40 Featuring Ali, Astro & Mickey
Monday March 19th
An Evening of Comedy
hosted by Russell Howard
Plus Special Guests
Tuesday March 20th
Nile Rodgers & CHIC
Wednesday March 21st
Roger Daltrey
Thursday March 22nd
Def Leppard
Sunday March 25th
Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall announce their final headline acts for 2018; Britain’s biggest reggae band UB40 Featuring Ali, Astro & Mickey, An Evening of Comedy hosted by Russell Howard, multi-Grammy-winning Nile Rodgers & CHIC, The Who star Roger Daltrey, and British rock legends Def Leppard.
As founding members of Britain’s biggest reggae band UB40, singer Ali Campbell, second vocalist Astro and keyboardist Mickey Virtue topped the UK singles chart on three occasions, selling over 70 million records as they took their smooth yet rootsy musical blend to all corners of the globe.
When UB40 embarked on their Labour Of Love series in 1983, they were keen to tell the world about the songs that they grew up with in Birmingham. They dug deep into the reggae and rock steady rhythms of yesteryear and ended up producing three Labour Of Love albums, spawning hit after hit including the global smash hits ‘Red Red Wine’, ‘Kingston Town’ and ‘Cherry Oh Baby’. Now, with their new album ‘A Real Labour Of Love’ – to be released March 3rd on UMC – they shine a light on classic reggae tracks from the 1980s.
Appearing at the Royal Albert Hall for the first time as a trio, UB40 Featuring Ali Astro & Mickey show their support for the Teenage Cancer Trust. Their latest record ‘A Real Labour Of Love’ is dedicated to long-serving trombonist John Johnson, who sadly passed away last year.
“We are honoured to be asked to support the Teenage Cancer Trust at The Royal Albert Hall. The fantastic work that has been done over the years continues to pay dividends and support a cause that is so worthwhile. We look forward to a great show and seeing you all on the 19th March. Big love Ali, Astro & Mickey”.
Russell Howard will host an exciting evening of comedy, continuing the long tradition of the cream of British comedy joining forces for a unique and unforgettable night of laughs. The full line-up will be announced soon.
Among music legends, Nile Rodgers is truly exceptional. He amplifies his legacy as a multi-Grammy-winning composer, producer, arranger and guitarist by constantly traversing new musical terrain and successfully expanding the boundaries of popular music.
Rodgers formed CHIC 1976 alongside bassist Bernard Edwards. With an unrivalled catalogue of hits such as ‘Everybody Dance’, ‘Le Freak’, ‘Good Times’ and their on-stage chemistry, they are quite simply the ultimate party band. Not content with their own tracks, they have been sampled on Grandmaster Flash’s ‘Rappers Delight’, Queen’s ‘Another One Bites The Dust’, Blondie’s ‘Rapture’ and Captain Sensible’s ‘Wot?’. Disbanded in the early 1980s, the rhythm section provided instrumental back-up for Diana Ross’ self-titled album, selling over ten million albums internationally. CHIC reunited in 1989, and continue to be one of the best live acts in the world.
Born in Shepherd’s Bush on 1 March 1944, Roger Daltrey CBE first assembled the group that would become The Who in 1961 while at Acton County School, recruiting John Entwistle and subsequently agreeing to John’s proposal that Pete Townshend should join. In those days Roger, whose daytime job was in a sheet metal factory, even made the band’s guitars, and it was his energy and ambition that drove the
group during their formative years.
Daltrey’s solo career outside of The Who, began in 1973 promoting the single ‘Giving It All Away’ which reached number five in the UK charts. Roger has appeared on stage away from The Who on many occasions, and his 1994 solo concert at New York’s Carnegie Hall, with The Juillard Orchestra, was the fastest selling event in the venue’s history.
Since 2000 he has been a patron of the Teenage Cancer Trust. That year, ticket sales and revenue from a DVD and CD of The Who & Friends raised over £1.2 million, and as a result Roger was given a Humanitarian Award in 2003 from Time magazine. The Teenage Cancer Trust shows have now become an established and eagerly awaited annual event at the Albert Hall. In February 2005, Roger was awarded a CBE by the Queen at Buckingham Palace for his services to music and good causes.
Roger says, “We’re now into our 18th year of Teenage Cancer Trust Shows at the Royal Albert Hall and in that time these concerts have raised well over £25 million, as well as giving the Teenage Cancer Trust a voice to educate the public about the special needs of this group within the NHS., “These incredible shows have played a vital role in making sure the charity can provide specialist support to young people with cancer across the UK, but for every young person Teenage Cancer Trust currently supports, there’s another they can’t. The artists who play these shows and the people who come along to see them will help the charity take big steps towards being able to support every young person who needs them.”
This year’s line up is as varied as ever with our good friends Kasabian making a welcome return as is UB40. Chic featuring the incomparable Nile Rodgers will be making their Royal Albert Hall debut, and Courteeners will be playing a one-off London show celebrating the 10th anniversary of their debut album. There will also be a special show from me and my band featuring Who hits as well as some songs the Who never played live. Rounding off the week will be Sheffield’s finest Def Leppard playing their first UK show in three years”.
Def Leppard - Joe Elliott (vocals), Phil Collen (guitar), Rick "Sav" Savage (bass), Vivian Campbell (guitar) and Rick Allen (drums) - continue to be one of the most important forces in rock music. Over the course of their career the band has produced a series of classic ground-breaking albums that have sold over 100 million copies worldwide and set the bar for generations of music fans and artists alike. The group’s spectacular live shows and arsenal of hits have become synonymous with their name, leading Def Leppard to be heralded as an institution in both the music and touring industry.
Formed in 1977 in Sheffield, UK, the bands singles and albums have entered the fabric of contemporary music. Albums such as “Hysteria”, “Pyromania” and “Adrenalize” and singles like “Pour Some Sugar On Me”, “Animal”, “Let’s Get Rocked”, “Two Steps Behind”, “Make Love Like A Man”, “Armageddon it!”, “Slang” and “Photograph” have led Def Leppard to be dubbed “The UK’s greatest arena rock band”.
The bands all conquering 1987 “Hysteria” album alone produced seven worldwide hit singles. Def Leppard are one of only five rock bands with two original studio albums selling over 10 million copies in the U.S.A.
In January 2018 Def Leppard’s full recording catalogue was made available online for the first time, making them one of the last multi-platinum selling acts to be added to streaming and download platforms. The response was overwhelming with the bands singles and albums entering the charts across the globe and introducing the music of Def Leppard to a whole new generation. On release the band had three albums enter the Top 10 of the iTunes chart.
Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott says, “When Def Leppard and The Who played together last October, Roger asked us if we’d like to contribute to the Teenage Cancer Trust shows this year. Having performed myself with Roger and The Who at the Shepherds Bush Empire back in 2014 solo it was a no brainer to say yes as a band. It is a privilege and an honour to be involved with such a worthwhile event”.
Previously announced for Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall are Courteeners and Kasabian.
Over 235 artists and comedians have played Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall since 2000, raising over £27 million for young people with cancer. These incredible shows have played a vital role in helping the charity to provide 28 specialist cancer units and over 60 nursing and support staff in NHS hospitals across the UK, making an incredible difference to young people diagnosed with cancer around the country. But for every young person Teenage Cancer Trust currently supports, there’s another they can’t. Every penny they raise goes towards their goal of reaching every young person with cancer who needs them.
2018’s impressive line-up adds to an extraordinary legacy that has seen unique, once in a lifetime performances like Noel Gallagher and Damon Albarn performing together for the first time ever in 2013, Sir Paul McCartney in 2012, plus everyone from Muse to The Cure, Tinie Tempah, Florence + The Machine, Ed Sheeran, Kasabian, Stereophonics, Paul Weller, Eric Clapton, Robert Plant, Sir Tom Jones and many more. And, of course, some of the greatest concerts of the past 20 years from The Who.
Last year hit new heights with the 100th Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall show, performed, of course, by The Who. There were also incredible performances by Ed Sheeran, Olly Murs, Paul Weller, Pet Shop Boys with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, a night of comedy hosted by Romesh Ranganathan, plus surprise guest appearances by Michael McIntyre and Noel Gallagher.
Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall was conceived and curated by the charity’s Honorary Patron Roger Daltrey CBE, the legendary frontman of The Who, and he still plays a vital role in making the shows happen.
This year’s shows are once again generously supported by headline sponsors Aldi who are aiming to raise £5m for the charity, alongside associate sponsors American Airlines and Tangle Teezer.
Further incredible support is provided by media partners Absolute Radio and Metro.
TEENAGE CANCER TRUST AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL IN ASSOCIATION WITH ALDI
Monday 19 March – Sunday 25 March 2018
Monday 19 March UB40 Featuring Ali, Astro & Mickey
Tuesday 20 March An Evening of Comedy hosted by Russell Howard
Wednesday 21 March Nile Rodgers & CHIC
Thursday 22 March Roger Daltrey
Friday 23 March Courteeners performing St Jude
Saturday 24 March Kasabian
Sunday 25 March Def Leppard
Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday 2nd February from: