WASHINGTON - December 9 - The Black Eyed Peas, Avril Lavigne, and The Cure are joining Amnesty International in a groundbreaking musical venture using the works of John Lennon. Make Some Noise, launching on December 10 - International Human Rights Day - aims to inspire a new generation to celebrate and stand up for human rights.

The global launch of Make Some Noise will see the release of the Black Eyed Peas' rousing version of Power to the People, The Cure's interpretation of Love, Snow Patrol's recording of Isolation, and Grow Old With Me performed by The Postal Service. All four exclusive singles will be available as online downloads at http://www.amnesty.org/noise via MSN Music.

These will be followed in early 2006 by an array of iconic John Lennon tracks from further top artists, including Avril Lavigne.

Amnesty International wants Make Some Noise to encourage a new audience to celebrate and take action for human rights and attract one million new supporters worldwide.

"John Lennon's message of hope lives on in his art, which continues to resonate today," said AIUSA Executive Director Dr. William F. Schulz. "Amnesty International looks forward to inspiring young people to work toward the shared vision of a more peaceful and just world through Make Some Noise."

All of the contemporary recordings will feature as either single downloads, over the course of the year, or as part of a download compilation album. Due for release in 2006, the compilation will mark one of the greatest music projects of the decade. In the United States, Microsoft's MSN Music will serve as the exclusive provider of music downloads for Make Some Noise.

All profits from music sales will be used to support Amnesty International - the world's largest human rights organization - in its global human rights work.

Make Some Noise follows Yoko Ono's generous donation of the rights to John Lennon's solo songbook to Amnesty International in 2003.

"It's wonderful that, through this campaign, music which is so familiar to many people of my era will now be embraced by a whole new generation," says Yoko Ono. "John's music set out to inspire change, just as Make Some Noise does. In standing up for human rights, we really can make the world a better place."

Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas, says "Power to the People is the ultimate anthem! We had an incredible time recording the track for Make Some Noise, and hope the single will motivate people to truly stand up and be counted."

Irene Khan, Secretary General at Amnesty International, says "We're thrilled to be using John Lennon's songs in our human rights work. We hope this music will bring an awareness of human rights to a new generation. After all, human rights are what make music possible - we wouldn't be able to create music, listen to it or dance to it without freedom of speech, expression, and association."

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Print and Broadcast Media
Contact: Alison Zero - (212) 989- 2222, x107 or alison@girlie.com

New Media (Internet) Media
Contact: Danny DaSilva - (212) 989- 2222, x106 or danny@girlie.com

Media website
To preview additional media-only materials, including streaming audio of the first four Make Some Noise tracks, artist and spokespeople video interviews, biographies and photos please go to the following, password-protected website: https://secure.amnesty.org/noise

username: msnoise
password: press

Please note the above site is for media access only. Consumers should be diverted to the official Make Some Noise website http://www.amnesty.org/noise for more information and music downloads.

Notes to editors

• International Human Rights Day marks the anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.
• Amnesty International has a rich musical heritage. The 1988 Human Rights Now! worldwide tour saw hundreds of thousands of people fill stadiums across the globe, with musicians including Bruce Springsteen, Sting and Tracy Chapman joining together to spread the human rights word.
• Single downloads will be available at US $0.99 per single via MSN Music and at equivalent prices in other currencies from http://www.amnesty.org/noise
• All monies will go towards Amnesty International's human rights work.

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