Speakers For The Dead Guitarist Jason Fights Cancer
Dr. Einhorn, the doctor that helped cure Lance Armstrong's cancer, has just taken on Fresno, CA metal band Speakers For The Dead's guitarist Jason Garcia as a patient. After seven months of chemotherapy and radiation treatments having failed and all doctors out of ideas, Jason has a newfound hope. Even the medical staff at the University of San Francisco refused to treat Jason, saying there was nothing else they could do for him.
There is now only one problem, Jason and his family and friends have to come up with $200,000 in 1 week or he will not be treated. Jason's cancer is consuming him at an alarming rate. It has rapidly spread to his brain, lungs, and liver. Without this treatment, his fight will end as abruptly as it has begun. Jason Garcia is the lead guitarist for the Fresno, CA metal band, Speakers For The Dead. Before his cancer, he was also training for cage fighting and recently received a belt of completion from Royce Gracie himself. His diagnosis was revealed to the rest of the band during the recording of their debut album, Prey For Murder, slated to be released worldwide in Feb, 2006 on Magna Carta Records out of NY. Singer Curtis Shamlin, Drummer Gary Shipman, and Bassist Rob Slocum were devastated. Because of his cancer, the album, the band, and life itself were put on hold. The album was all but done except for Jason's solos. It was all he could think about. It bothered him so much that he eventually fought through extreme chemo and radiation treatments, which made him violently ill to complete his parts on the album.
After many setbacks, the album was eventually released worldwide May 9th 2006 on Magna Carta Records and distributed through WEA. The band has since added a second guitarist -- Jimmy Matcham, who plays rhythm when Jason feels well enough to play and plays lead when he is ill. Jason also worked up enough strength to get through a recent grueling music video session. The video should be released some time in July 2006. Speakers For The Dead is currently getting radio airplay on over 100 mainstream, college, and specialty radio stations across the U.S. The band will embark on their first national tour July 14, 2006 which will take them from California to North Carolina and back. One more oddity of SPEAKERS FOR THE DEAD is that its lead singer, Curtis Shamlin is currently an elementary school vice principal in Fresno. To see more about the band and here songs from their debut album, go to speakersforthedeadmusic.com.
Shamlin adds: "Jason is also a Mexican-American citizen, whose family has been here for generations but had to struggle like most American citizens to get coverage for this terminal disease. After miles of red tape were cleared, he eventually received the coverage he needed up to this point. Now his coverage has said no to this treatment. He will have to pay or that's it. Too bad American citizens like Jason that have paid their taxes all their lives and are now kicked to the curb to perish."
To help, go to this site.
Please send funds made out to:
Pilgrim Armenian Congregational Church
(for: Medical Trust - Jason Garcia)
Pilgrim Armenian Congregational Church
Care of Jason Garcia
3673 N. First Street
Fresno, CA 93726-6870
or contact
Curtis, SPEAKERS FOR THE DEAD, Booking and management
Management@speakersforthedeadmusic.com
Copyright © 2006, HM Magazine. All rights reserved.
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