BRUCE Springsteen has delivered a major boost to a tragedy-hit Irish family by agreeing to waive most of his royalties for an Irish super-group's fundraising cover of one of his most famous songs.

The Boss agreed to accept vastly reduced royalties for a cover of his song, The River, by a Waterford ensemble featuring members of Solar Taxi, Propeller Palms, Kodakid and The Unusual Suspects.

The proceeds will go to the Bolger family in Passage East who lost three brothers in a fishing tragedy last June.

Paul (50), Ken (47) and Shane (45) Bolger were thrown into the sea when their punt capsized off the Waterford coast. All three men were wearing life jackets but died from hypothermia and drowning.

The Passage East community set up a charity fund for the Bolger family. A group of musicians decided to launch a single to help the appeal.

The ensemble is titled The Suspects & Guests with 100pc of the profits from the single going to the charity fund.

The rocker has personally endorsed the project and the charity single has been advertised on the Springsteen fan site, Backstreets.com.

The single received its world premiere on Hotpress.ie and is now available for download from iTunes and other music sites.

Anyone who wishes to donate to the Fund can do so at Allied Irish Banks, Ardkeen, Waterford, A/C Number 20146027 Sort Code 93-44-02.

hnews@herald.ie