The Beasts of Bourbon will re-form to headline a benefit concert in Melbourne to help bandmate and legendary Australian alternative rock and blues bassist, Brian Hooper, after he was diagnosed with incurable lung cancer last year. Brian’s Perth friends are also getting together to play a benefit show featuring Kim Salmon and the New Scientists, Gareth Liddiard, Kill Devil Hills and more.
Brian’s illness has devastated his many friends in the Australian music industry, who are rallying to support him and his family.
The Melbourne benefit – on Friday April 13 at the Prince Bandroom– will also feature a reunited Kim Salmon and the New Scientists, Adalita, Mick Harvey, Gareth Liddiard, Rosie Westbrook, and Six Ft Hick.
Tickets on sale now, via the Prince Bandroom website princebandroom.com.au (Price $50 plus booking fee)
The Perth show is on Friday April 20 at the Claremont Showgrounds and will include – Kim Salmon and the New Scientists, Gareth Liddiard, Kill Devil Hills, King Pie (Brian’s brother has reformed the band for the show), teenage Dreamers (Kim Salmon and James Baker), Beautiful Losers, The Floors, Polite Society, and The Painkillers
Tickets available from www.showtickets.com.au
Further artists will be added to the line-up and announced over the coming weeks. It’s not the first time misfortune has knocked Brian down. After a freak balcony fall in 2004, doctors said he would likely never walk again. They were wrong. Now, Brian faces the toughest fight of all to get back up again.
Bandmate and Beasts lead singer Tex Perkins said: “Despite being told that he would never walk again, Brian determinedly rehabilitated himself to a point way past expectation. His recovery was a true Phoenix rising from the ashes episode and was an inspiration to the rest of us beasts. Brian’s accident really showed what he was made of – true grit.
Organiser and Beasts drummer Tony Pola said: “I Get Up Again will be a rare and unique show. As you’d expect from an artist of Brian’s pedigree, it will bring some of Australia’s most respected alternative rock, seminal punk and swamp blues artists together for what is shaping up to be an unmissable night.”
Punters who want to support Brian but can’t get to the benefit can donate via www.GoFundMe.com/BrianHooper