DAVID BOWIE and opera star LUCIANO PAVAROTTI have resigned as patrons of WAR CHILD following accusations of corruption within the charity.
An investigation by UK newspaper The Guardian claims a co-founder of the charity took a bribe from contractors who were building a music centre in Pavarotti’s name in Bosnia.
War Child are an international agency who work to help child victims of war. Famously, the charity helped put together a compilation album in 1995, ‘Help’, when artists including The Stone Roses, Radiohead, The Charlatans, Noel Gallagher and Paul Weller each recorded a song in a day for the album. The proceeds helped suffering children in Bosnia.
The investigation claims that War Child co-founder Bill Leeson and consultant Mike Terry received a gift of #14,716 in November 1996 from the contractor building the Pavarotti music centre in Mostar, Bosnia.
A spokesperson for Pavarotti told the paper: “He did not want to be associated with anything that was corrupt and wanted every dollar that he had raised to be accountable.”
Other, non-musical patrons are also reported to have resigned, including actress Juliet Stevenson, MTV boss Brent Hansen and playwright Sir Tom Stoppard.
Speaking to NME.COM this morning (January 10), a spokesperson for War Child was unwilling to comment fully, but would confirm that both Bowie and Pavarotti have resigned. A statement is currently being prepared, and NME.COM will bring you updates throughout the day.