Stone Roses and Liam Gallagher support Viola Beach chart campaign

The Stone Roses and former Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher are among musicians supporting a campaign to get Viola Beach to Number One posthumously after the group were involved in a fatal car crash in Sweden.

The Warrington indie band, comprising of members Kris Leonard, River Reeves, Tomas Lowe and Jack Dakin, were killed in a car crash on Saturday (February 13), along with their manager Craig Tarry.

Their vehicle plunged 80ft off a bridge in Stockholm whilst travelling to Arlanda airport following their first overseas gig at Sweden’s Where’s the Music? festival on Friday.

The band’s debut single ‘Swings & Waterslides’, originally released in August 2015, has entered the Top 40 of the Official UK Singles Chart following a campaign to get the group to Number One.

After the track made it to Number Three in the iTunes chart, Liam Gallagher offered his support by sharing a link via his Twitter page.

The Stone Roses also posted the song online, along with a message urging fans to “get them to Number One”.

See both tweets below.

The group’s record label Communion have confirmed that the proceeds from sale of singles will go to the families of the band and their manager.

The Courteeners and The Cribs had previously led the tributes to Viola Beach. The Courteeners frontman Liam Fray recalled the period in 2015 when Viola Beach were supporting his band on tour. “Heartbreaking news about @Viola_Beach,” Fray wrote on Twitter. “Watched them soundcheck in December with us. They were destined for big things. Can’t believe it.”

The Cribs’ Ryan Jarman, meanwhile, posted a series of tweets, saying: “Heart goes out to the Viola Beach guys and their families… The sacrifice many bands around the world make for gig goers everyday – giving up days for traveling… sadly roads and skies can be dangerous.”

“Tragic news about Viola Beach,” Billy Bragg said. “Young band, first tour outside the UK. My thoughts are with their families and friends.”