#weneedcrew

It goes without saying that it has been a challenging and very different year for so many. 

The entire world has had to adapt to a new world where normal daily lives, routines, and job opportunities have changed dramatically due to the pandemic that we have all lived through this year.

One of the biggest changes for us personally is not being able to play shows for our fans.

But these shows not happening affects far more people than just the musicians who play them and the fans who watch.

This year, the live industry has been one of the hardest hit by the pandemic and left an entire industry of touring personnel without work. The incredible crew that we work with are just a few of thousands working with other artists and bands around the world. 

They are the backbone of the industry and integral to making shows happen.

The live touring industry, despite being one of the hardest hit by the pandemic has also been one of the least supported by governments. They need our help.

We have partnered with We Need Crew and Crew Nation to launch an exclusive 5SOS crew range on 5sosstore.com to support and celebrate the amazing work all these people do.

We Need Crew is a nonprofit organization which was set up by two of our very own here on the 5SOS team, Karen and Alice… they have been a very special part of our team for years and are key members of our touring family… the work they are doing is incredible. We salute you both! 

All profits from this range will go to both these organizations and other recognized organizations around the world that have been set up to help support tour personnel affected by the pandemic. Please note that due to current shipping delays related to the pandemic, items may not arrive until 2021.

Finally….

We all hope to be back playing shows soon but in the meantime, we hope you stay safe and have a great rest of your year.

Niall's big announcement is here and great news guys, it's neither a new golf initiative nor a perfume, it's a LIVE SHOW!! “I’m going to put on a show for you and I promise you will love it,” says Niall. First Heartbreak Weather live show? I'm very certain he's right about that! He's playing a livestream concert, with his full band, from the beautiful Royal Albert Hall (seen in his announcement pic) on Nov 7. The ticket prices are not high and in any case are for a good cause-- proceeds are to go to Niall's own out of work touring crew and any surplus to WeNeedCrew, an initiative (founded by a former 1D crew member!) that provides financial relief to UK based live music touring crews. Niall says, “I’m putting on this gig to try and raise awareness of the immense value [crew] bring to an industry enjoyed by so many, and do something to help them and their families. I ask all you guys to support them with me and buy a ticket if you can, and I encourage all artists to do the same⁣” because “I'm obviously one of the lucky ones but not everyone is as lucky as me.” He talks about some of the jobs his crew members are currently working to survive-- construction, grocery store staff-- and says, “I felt it was absolutely the least I could do” and that he hopes to sell enough tickets to “pay all of my crew.” The event will be viewable 'live only', but also the streams will be staggered for time zones which seems to suggest to me it's not what I would call a 'live' stream but semantic nitpicking aside the point is you can't watch it later, only when broadcast. Tickets go on sale Friday but they aren't capping sales, so no rush no stress. Niall has added another radio slot tomorrow morning on RTE, and while he had everyone's attention today he posted to urge young American voters to get registered and to vote, saying “This election is gonna dictate what happens for the next two generations. So make sure you’re there.” He doesn't specify that he means to vote Trump out but we all get that he means that right? I think he's made his feelings very clear on that matter!

Official Golden single release news at last!! According to All Access (the radio database) the song will “impact” Oct 26! I've been around here too long to expect that to stop people being certain it'll drop at some random midnight anyway (spoiler: it won't), but a girl can dream. Five more Don’t Worry Darling cast members have been announced, including Douglas Smith who folks are eyeballing as bearing a resemblance to Harry, and H was nominated for the fan voted Best International Artist Aria. I think expecting him to show up and accept the Australian award in person is right out this year but I have no doubt voters will give it their all anyway. And yesterday's fan pic of Harry taking a distanced fan pic was shortly followed by the fan pics he was taking, and more; the most, er, committed, cadre of Harry's LA followers, previously seen in various LA parking lots with him and other lucky celebs over the last five years, are on the job tracking him down. They found him (and Jeff) yesterday in, yes, a parking lot, where they got Harry to take pics and somewhat unenthusiastically sign their records and... birth control packaging? I want to think that's funny, well I DO think it's funny, like between his gayness and his baby fever is there anything LESS Harry, but I fear it may have been intended to be... sexy?? Anyway at least one of the crew sells their autographed hauls on depop so hey maybe that birth control packet will soon be for sale to the highest bidder.

Of course he is. I hope he begs some more. He’s not keeping a dime of the money from this performance and he’s trying to raise as much as he can for people who are without work. So they can feed their families and pay their bills. He should beg harder. 

Let’s get as much money as we can to as many people as possible. Let’s ALL beg. Go beg on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook if that’s your thing. Beg your family, friends, neighbors, coworkers...strangers at the grocery store. Beg everybody to buy a ticket and donate some extra if they have it. 

Niall’s an amazing live performer with a huge heart and he’s busting his ass to make this successful so watch me become a PROFESSIONAL beggar.