Band rocks against child abuse

After battling to get their controversial song about child abuse played on the radio, rock band Eve Ransom will tour wine bars around Malta and Gozo to raise funds for a children's charity.

The money will go to Angela House in Guardamangia, which takes care of children, some of whom might have been abused.

The tour will be organised and sponsored by Camilleri Wines, who will be donating €1,000 directly to the cause.

Brendan, the vocalist of the band and the one who penned the song Alisha's Room, said he had been approached by a number of victims of abuse who were inspired by his lyrics. Following such feedback he felt it was his duty to be even more proactive.

"The song was inspired by an old friend who told me she had been abused as a child. I didn't write the song to raise awareness or anything. It just came to me, the band liked it and the rest is history," he said.

But local radio stations were uncomfortable with the graphic lyrics and heavy sounds, so the song was not played. Eventually, after some media attention, some radio stations conceded and the song climbed up the local charts.

A spokesman for Camilleri Wines said the company was proud to support home-grown talent, but even more so to extend its financial support to an institution that works hard to support children.

The unplugged tour will kick off tomorrow at Veċċja in Xemxija. This will be followed by three other acoustic sets, at Fortress in Xemxija on November 21, Mojos in Victoria, on December 5, and Del Borgo in Vittoriosa on December 11.

The public is urged to attend the events and donate money to the cause. The songs of Eve Ransom can be heard on their website www.everansom.com.