This Saturday (May 18), several Greater Cincinnati Rock acts are teaming up to raise money for an American Punk legend. Last October, Chris Doherty— founder of influential Boston Punk band Gang Green — suffered a stroke that left him paralyzed on the left side of his body and also affected his internal organs. The stroke occurred last October and Doherty had to have emergency brain surgery.
Needless to say, all of the medical attention has resulted in a lot of medical bills, a situation made even worse by Doherty's lack of insurance; according to a GoFundMe page, it was canceled two weeks before the stroke.
Saturday's multi-act showcase at Newport's Southgate House Revival will go to assist Doherty with his medical bills; here's a link to the GoFundMe page to further help.
Gang Green was formed in the Boston area in the early ’80s when Doherty was just 15. The singer/guitarist has been the sole constant in the group's ever-rotating lineup ever since. Gang Green was crucial to the development of East Coast Hardcore and the breadth of their influence can be partially gauged by the bands who covered GG's most well-known song, "Alcohol" — groups ranging from The Meatmen to Bad Brains to Metallica (who reportedly would play it during soundchecks).
Doherty has lived in Cincinnati for the past several years, though Boston still loves him, as indicated by a benefit concert there in January. Doherty kept Gang Green on the road with a lineup that includes several Cincinnati musicians, including current members Chris Donnelly and Sean Boyle.
Those musicians will perform as Gang Green at Saturday's benefit concert (check the rest of the lineup below). The artists are having some fun with the event's theme — several of the acts will be tackling songs from the Headbangers Ball-era of MTV. The TV show — featuring music videos, live performances and artist interviews — initially ran from the mid-’80s through the mid-’90s, offering a haven for Metal and Hard Rock fans across the country (and world), most of whom, in a pre-internet musical landscape, would likely not have been exposed to the music otherwise. "Headbangers Ball-era" covers could conceivably include songs by everyone from Poison and Mötley Crüe to Pantera and Helloween to The Cult, Primus and Alice in Chains — you'll just have to go to the show to find out which songs the bands chose to take on.
Tickets for Saturday's all-ages benefit concert are $10 (click here to get them in advance). Showtime is 7 p.m. Find more info here.
Full lineup:
The Whiskey Shambles
BoozeLords/Casino Warrior
Carian
Feral Friends
Leopold the Ghost
Chris Lee Blues Quartet
Ghost Driver
Black Tractor
Defiant State
Lockjaw
Mud Larks
Blueprint
The Nailers
Chakras
Dux
Sons Of Gargamel
Stüpid Sïster (with members of Siren Suit, Halvsies and The Tongue & Lips)
The Nothing
Springa Sonic Droogs
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