Former The Who drummer Zak Starkey has issued a public appeal to Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose, requesting the return of a master recording for a charity song that he claims could raise up to $2 million. The recording is a star-studded cover of T. Rex’s “Children of the Revolution,” which features contributions from Rose, Slash, Duff McKagan, Elton John, and Starkey‘s father, Ringo Starr.
In a direct plea on Instagram, Starkey addressed Rose, stating: “Dear Axl Rose, please give me my master of this track back.” He explained that the song was part of a tribute album for T. Rex singer Marc Bolan, which he and his wife, Sshh Liguz, had spent three years creating for the Teenage Cancer Trust.
The drummer went on to detail the intricate arrangements, which were tailored to the A-list collaborators. He wrote that he, his father, and his wife “arranged to include a modulating section for Slash’s guitar, another for Duff’s bass solo and plenty of room for Elton before you asked Sshh if you could sing it.”
The project has been in limbo since Starkey says Rose took possession of the tape in 2024. Starkey emphasized the potential financial impact, noting that the auction house Christie‘s has advised the recording could generate significant funds for the charity. “It’s a drag that the record is on the shelf, as Christie‘s have advised it could generate $2M for teen cancer. C’mon bro,” he added.
This is not the first time Starkey has publicly called for the song’s release. Earlier this year, he leaked a snippet of the track on social media and expressed his frustration. “C’mon amazing people — let’s get this record out and [help] these teenagers who, as musicians, we rely on so much,” he wrote at the time. “If we wait much longer some of the these brave young people may not have enough time to hear it.” The unreleased album is said to include more than a dozen other tracks featuring contributions from various rock legends. If released, the cover would mark the first new studio recording to feature Rose, Slash, and McKagan since their reunion.
