Patterson Hood, singer of the Drive-By Truckers, performs the new song he wrote entitled "After It's Gone"
ATHENS, Ga. (WXIA) -- The Drive-By Truckers' lead singer Patterson Hood snaps his fingers when asked how long it took him to write, record and launch a video in support of an effort to block a planned Walmart on the edge of downtown Athens.
"It came to me pretty quickly as far as what I wanted to say. Amazingly when I started calling in the rest of the musicians they all made it work, dropped what they were doing and donated their time," said Hood.
"After It's Gone" was written by Hood but features a number of other big names who either started in Athens or have a big following in the small, home-grown college city. Among them is Mike Mills of R.E.M and Widespread Panic's John Bell and Todd Nance.
The video of the song was just launched on YouTube and encourages viewers to go to www.protectdowntownathens.com where there is a full fledged campaign to fight a planned multi-use development being floated by Selig Enterprises.
"I have a small business. I'm not against making money, but this just doesn't fit here in the downtown area. It would sit right next to our greenway that we've spent millions to create and next to the rails to trails that we're developing over the next few years," said Hood.
According to the city of Athens, no formal plans have been submitted by Selig Enterprises but there is a rendering that has been done. Selig has told media outlets it is in the process of gathering public feedback.
11Alive News made calls to Selig asking to speak about it's plans for Athens. No one returned our calls.