As was previously announced, punk legend, legendary guitarist and all-around nice guy, Billy Zoom, was recently diagnosed with an aggressive form of bladder cancer. Zoom immediately began chemo treatment and his fellow bandmates, along with manager Mike Rouse, called out to the fans and music community, alike, to help support Zoom and his family during this difficult time. The response was overwhelming, far surpassing the original goal of $50,000 in a matter of days.
Now, The Music Cancer Fund @SweetRelief will be working with Billy Zoom and his family through their Directed Artist Funds program. The program was created to assist individuals with long term expenses and treatment for cancer and other severe illnesses or disabilities. Program services include guidance on medical bills and insurance plans as well as after care patient resources. Sweet Relief will also assist with fundraising events, managing contributions and providing charitable tax receipts.
Rob Max, Executive Director at Sweet Relief
"X and Billy Zoom have been amazing supporters of our cause to assist musicians for the past two decades. We are grateful and honored to be working with Billy and his family."
Some artists face such overwhelming financial and personal distress when major illness or injury is coupled with a complete lack of, or have a grossly under insured health plan. Even with the best of health insurance, treatment can take a toll on the financial well-being of someone in terms of lost wages and other daily living expenses that one typically has.
The Mission of SWEET RELIEF is simple: Sweet Relief Musicians Fund provides financial assistance to all types of career musicians who are struggling to make ends meet while facing illness, disability, or age-related problems. In other words, Healing Musicians in Need. We all have received so much out of music, it's time to give a little back!
While Zoom battles this dreadful disease, his bandmates have made the difficult choice to continue their previously planned summer tour, in support of Billy. Exene, John Doe and DJ Bonebrake are joined by Texas guitar player,Jesse Dayton (Waylon Jennings, Supersuckers) sitting in for the iconic guitarist temporarily.
X Summer 2015 "How I Learned My Lesson Tour"
July 22 Music Box Supper Club Cleveland, OH
July 24 The Magic Bag Ferndale, MI
July 26 City Winery Chicago, IL
July 27 City Winery Chicago, IL
July 28 City Winery Chicago, IL
July 30 The Sinclair Cambridge, MA
Aug 1 City Winery New York City, NY
Aug 2 City Winery New York City, NY
Aug 3 City Winery New York City, NY
Aug 8 Annenberg Space for Photography Los Angeles, CA
(KCRW sponsored show)
Aug 28 Shank Hall Milwaukee, WI
Aug 29 Mill City Nights Minneapolis, MN
Sept 1 The Bottleneck Kansas City, MO
Sept 2 The Duck Room St. Louis, MO
Sept 4 House of Blues New Orleans, LA
Sept 5 The Saturn Birmingham, AL
Sept 6 City Winery Nashville, TN
Sept 8 Georgia Theatre Athens, GA
Sept 9 Terminal West Atlanta, GA
Sept 11 Ramshead Annapolis, MD
Sept 12 Hopscotch Festival Raleigh, NC
Sept 19 KAABOO Festival Del Mar, CA
For more information on Billy Zoom's Sweet Relief Fund, visit:
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Progressive Rock & Progressive Metal - E-Zine
