Playing At A Benefit Tomorrow

[ProfessorGAC]

Backstory: A guy we knew from Isle of Mann was a superb guitarist and he spent some time here in the states. He got a gig with a cruise line based in Greece and played in the band on a Mediterranean cruise.

Since they worked only 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off, they played on shore at the resort the other two weeks. Well, back in early January, he was on his way home from a gig on his scooter and a car ran him off the road. He died a few hours later. He was 30!

Anyway, his parents had to spend almost 9,000 pounds to get his body home, and bury him in England. They don't have the money.

So, a bunch of the american musicians that knew him organized this big deal tomorrow. There's going to be 13 bands (we're two of the bands) to raise money to send to his parents to defray the cost of bringing their son's body home.

Everything is supplied, except guitars and drumsticks, but all the bands are doing it gratis, and the soundcompany is donating system and lights. (It's a big system, too. About 12,000 watts.) The banquet center is donating the room too. So, we should be able to raise a few coins to help the family out.

Musicians are pretty good about this stuff, aren't we? We take care of our own.
The Professor

[Wickerman]

1. very cool

I've seen it time after time - musicians coming together to help their own (and other worthy causes) out. Have fun.

[bif]

2. Good for you!

Have a great time. The jazz musicians here in the Detroit area are doing something for one of the finest sax players I've ever heard who has a brain tumor. You guys really have good hearts, I must say.

[Beetwasher]

3. Damn! That is SOOO Fucked UP!

But way cool of you guys to help out his family.

Where was he when he was killed? Did they ever get the driver of the car?

Man, that really sucks. Sorry about your friend.

[ProfessorGAC]

5. In Greece! No. Hit & Run. No Witnesses

Just some parts of a car and white paint on his red scooter. Finding a white car with a scratch on it in southern Greece wouldn't be easy. There's probably 500,000 of them.

He's dead. Someone killed him. They're walking around. We have to raise money for his parents who are 3000+ miles away.
The Professor

[johnnie]

4. That's cool

I really don't play a lot of gigs these days, but when something like this comes around I will do it no questions asked.
Yeah, musicians are funny that way. They spend a lot of time ragging on the other person's playing and the ego thing gets out of hand, but when the chips are down they will bend over backward.

[ProfessorGAC]

6. We Had A Mutual Admiration Society With Lee

We told him he was the best guitar player under 30 that we had heard in many years. He told us we were the tightest band he'd ever heard. We all liked one another personally and respected one another musically. So, this is especially hard because he wasn't a fellow musician; he was a friend.
The Professor

[nickgutierrez]

7. Wow -- good to hear, Prof.

You guys ought to be able to raise some serious cash tomorrow. Good luck.

[Blue-Jay]

8. Oh! Here it is!

Can I come? PM me the details!

[Lautremont]

9. Is that the Isle of Manfred Mann?

And is that different than the Isle of Man?

But seriously, that's a wonderful thing to do. I've always noticed that musicians are good that way. All my musician friends drop everything when there's trouble and rush to help.

Good on you.