25 years after the original version was recorded, a new batch of stars convened at the Jim Henson Studios in Hollywood, CA to re-record the charity anthem We Are The World in an effort to raise money and awareness for Haitian Relief. 25 years ago, We Are The World was written and recorded in an effort to raise money for African Aid so it is very fitting that the song would be remade for the people of Haiti. Here are a few photos from inside the recording studio yesterday for this momentous occasion:

Producers were putting the final touches Tuesday to a remake of “We Are The World” with stars such as Barbra Streisand, Wyclef Jean and Celine Dion lending their support for Haiti’s quake victims. It was 25 years ago that Michael Jackson, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen joined others at the famed A&M Studios in Hollywood for an all-star recording of the same song to benefit famine relief in Africa. That effort, USA for Africa, raised 63 million dollars. This time, dozens of other A-listers — who also include Usher, Lil Wayne, Pink, Natalie Cole and the Jonas Brothers — took to the same soundstage late Monday for an hours-long recording that dragged into the night. The aim is to raise money to help survivors of the massive January 12 quake that killed 170,000 people and devastated what was already the poorest country in the Americas. No cameras were allowed inside, but the song’s producers said “We Are The World – 25 For Haiti” will air during NBC television’s coverage of the opening of the Winter Olympics on February 12. More than 70 stars — many of them hip-hop artists — lent their voice to the effort, none of them participants in the original recording. Rapper Wyclef Jean, a Haiti native, said in a statement he was “proud to be joined by so many members of the artistic community that want to support the region and have donated their time and talents to providing an effective way for the global community to get involved with helping the Haitian population.” The original tune was co-written and produced by Jackson, who died June 25 of cardiac arrest, Lionel Richie and Quincy Jones. Richie and Jones produced the new version. Academy Award-winning filmmaker Paul Haggis, who directed “Crash” and also co-wrote “Million Dollar Baby,” filmed the session for an accompanying video. “What an unbelievable group of people who have come together to give their voices, for a cause to start the healing of a people who have experienced a devastation of such magnitude,” said Richie. Among the other performers spanning a broad swath of genres and ages, from 83-year-old Tony Bennett to 15-year-old Justin Bieber, were Carlos Santana, Brian Wilson and Al Jardine of the Beach Boys. “It kind of hit me that I guess this is something way more important than I could have ever imagined,” rapper Lil Wayne, who is playing Bob Dylan’s part from the original recording, told a news conference. The recording was timed just a day after the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards to ensure the maximum number of stars would attend. The contemporary version of the song and the video will be available to buy through online and traditional retailers. Producers say all proceeds will go “directly” to earthquake relief efforts in Haiti.

This is such a fantastic idea … what a great way to raise money for Haitian relief. It’s such a shame that Michael Jackson couldn’t be part of this redux but it was nice of Kanye West to wear one of MJ’s jackets so that he could be there in spirit. I can’t even begin to express how much of an impact the original We Are The World had on me when it was released in 1985. I loved that song so much … I would sit by the radio and record it on cassette tapes every time it aired … I would have cassette tapes with just this song recorded on it over and over again. I’m really looking forward to hearing this version. I’m not sure why this report claims there were “no cameras” allowed in the studio because there were and a lot of photos have been made available. After the jump, check out some individual shots of some of the folks who participated in We Are The World: 25 Years for Haiti yesterday …

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Yesterday we saw photos of new dad (again) Joel Madden making his way to his SoCal gym just a week after his second child, Sparrow James Midnight, was born … and today we get to see that Joel made it two for two as he stepped out again sans newborn baby boy but with twin brother Benji Madden:

It’s gotta be tough to leave your newborn baby boy so soon after his birth but I’m sure hanging out with a twin brother lessens the separation anxiety. It’s always great to see the Madden twins together and I’m sure they have a lot to talk about … but I’m already dying for more info about Sparrow James. I imagine that Nicole Richie is resting comfortably and little Harlow Winter Kate is having the time of her life with her new baby brother … the Richie-Maddens are the cutest family ever! I can’t wait to see them all together again.

[Photo credit: X17]

Britney Spears isn’t the only celeb showing off some slick wheels in LA these days, Good Charlotte guitarist Benji Madden was spotted in, what looks to be a new, Audi sports car here in SoCal yesterday afternoon. Earlier this week, his twin brother Joel Madden was spotted riding around on his new vehicle … which, while fun looking, isn’t nearly as cool as Benji’s new whip:

Slick. To be completely honest, Benji doesn’t strike me as the kind of guy who would own a silver Audi but it does suit him. Knowing his affinity for going to the gym, it makes sense that Benj would want a nice, reliable vehicle to ensure that his work out regimen remains uninterrupted. Joel may be totes happy riding around town on his Bat-Cycle but it’s clear Benji needs something more fancy. You know what would make his car even better? No shirt.

UPDATE: Pink reader Beck informs me that Benji tweeted that he was babysitting for a friend … it turns out it was this sweet car that he was charged with taking care of ;)

[Photo credit: X17; Source]

Benji Madden took his famously muscled arms to the Urth Cafe here in LA for a little bite to eat yesterday and managed to give passers-by a little dessert treat … of beefcake:

It’s been quite a few months since we last got a gander at Benji’s guns so I think a great many of y’all can appreciate these pics. I think it would be awesome if Benj spent more time showing off his buffed bod, don’t you?

[Photo credit: X17]

Good Charlotte guitarist Benji Madden took a break from showing off his bare, musclely arms on the streets of SoCal to put those arms to good use in Las Vegas, NV. Benji made his way to the Wasted Space nightclub inside the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Sin City this weekend to spin some tunes for the assembled partygoers … here are a couple pics of Benji doing his thang at the Hard Rock in LV:

While I am newly partial to Benji’s newfound affinity for his sleeveless strolls here in LA, I’m glad to see that he is also keepin’ bizzy with music as well. DJ Benji is a pretty prolific spinmaster so I’m sure the folks at Wasted Space had themselves a good time. That said, I’m hoping that Benj has already made his way back to SoCal to get back to the biz at hand … those bared arms aren’t gonna get nearly the attention the deserve inside a dark nightclub ;)

[Photo credit: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino]

Benji Madden played the dutiful bodyguard for his kinda-sorta sister-in-law (but not really) Nicole Richie here in SoCal yesterday as she made her way out of the Serge Normant salon. In order to provide the maximum amount of protection, Benji saw fit to bust our his bare, musclely arms … behold:

Well now … it’s nice to see that Benji is using his hawt arms for more than just making the girls swoon. It’s really cool that he’s there to take care of his brother’s lady when she needs the support. Hell, any opportunity for Benji to bare his arms is one that I welcome so … bodyguard away, Benj! Keep those paps at bay!

[Photo credit: X17, Bauer-Griffin]

Yesterday we learned from Joel Madden himself that he decided to change up his look a wee bit and ended up going blonde. Yesterday afternoon, Joel met up with his twin brother Benji Madden and the pair took the new blonde ‘do out for some coffee at The Coffee Bean on Melrose Ave … here are a couple of pics:

I dunno, I think I like the blonde on him … it’s a great Summer look and Joel rocks it right. I think I’m more taken with Benji’s newish look … those exposed arms work quite well for the lad. As we saw previously, it’s evident that Benji has been workin’ hard on his physique so it makes sense that he would want to show off a little bit. I wouldn’t be surprised if Benj cut off all of the sleeves on all of his t-shirts :) In any event, it looks like these are the Summer looks for the Madden twins … do we like?

[Photo credit: Splash News]