Simon Cowell pulls together the best of British pop for Grenfell Tower benefit single

Robbie Williams, James Blunt, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, London Grammar, Stormzy, The Who, Rita Ora, Leona Lewis and Craig David: these were among the stars seen arriving at Sarm Studios in London’s Notting Hill over the weekend for the recording of a Grenfell Tower charity single.

Music and TV mogul Simon Cowell pulled together an A-list of British pop to raise money for the victims of the tragic fire at the 27-storey building.

Other names involved in recreating Simon & Garfunkel’s ‘70s classic Bridge Over Troubled Waters were Gregory Porter, Paloma Faith, Lily Allen, The Libertines’ Carl Barat, Pixie Lott, The Choir’s Gareth Malone and James Arthur, with more artists calling Cowell to offer their services.

The X Factor mastermind said that grime star Skepta, Emeli Sandé and the London Community Gospel Choir wanted to be involved.

Others who were out of the country were sending their vocals for addition.

Harry Styles and Niall Horan were both reportedly trying to free up time to appear, raising the possibility of a One Direction reunion with Payne and Tomlinson.

The single will also feature a choir of 300 of the tower’s residents who survived the disaster, The Sun reported this morning.

Cowell sprang into action last Thursday after watching footage of the blaze in White City, which so far caused 58 confirmed deaths and injured dozens more.

He tweeted, “I am watching the footage of the Grenfell Tower fire in London. Heartbreaking.”

“We hope to confirm a record tomorrow which will raise some money for the many people affected by this tragedy. Making calls tonight.”

We hope to confirm a record tomorrow which will raise some money for the many people affected by this tragedy. Making calls tonight.

— Simon Cowell (@SimonCowell) June 15, 2017

By the next morning, most of the names had committed and sessions booked to begin on Saturday.

Cowell hoped that aside from raising money, the charity single would “prick a few people’s consciences and then other people decide to do something else, because I think we can do more in addition to just the record.

“That’s my plan.”

Also on the night of the fire, Adele and her husband came down to comfort and help dazed victims.

Rita Ora, who grew up nearby, spent the whole night carrying water and supplies with a group of friends.

Many of the artists became involved in the single because they felt that the £5 million (A$8.3 million) that the British Government had promised for victims was an insult.

The Government, already embattled over a disastrous election in which Prime Minister Theresa May lost her party’s majority in Parliament, have also been blasted over the lack of regulation which led to the council housing block’s inadequate fire safety facilities.

Paloma Faith told waiting media outside the studio, “I don’t think £5 million is going to touch the sides, and I don’t think it even amounts to the amount of compensation that people deserve.

“They’ve not lost just their families, they’ve lost their neighbours, they’ve lost their community, everything they know.

“The mind boggles how [the Government] can find any redemption for doing that.”

57-year old Cowell has long been known for his willingness to work for charity.

This is his second charity single. In 2010, he produced Everybody Hurts for victims of the Haiti earthquake which killed 200,000. It sold over 450,000 units in the UK in its first week.

His philanthropy ranges from PETA and dogs’ homes to being patron of Together for Short Lives, a charity for children with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions, and of Children’s Hospices UK.