In response to the recent wave of storms that brought tornadoes and highly-damaging winds to the Midwest, STYX and REO SPEEDWAGON have announced that they are using their combined might to help raise funds for those affected by this tragedy.
Tonight, Dec. 4, these proud members of the Midwest's rock elite will appear with special guests (to be announced shortly) at
U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington,
Illinois in a fundraiser:
Rock To The Rescue Extends A Hand To Those In Need.
Funds will be earmarked for affected families in central
Illinois communities that were left reeling in the wake of devastating tornadoes and winds. In order to maximize charitable proceeds, the artists, along with numerous vendors, crew and local staff, have generously forgone any personal compensation for the evening.
Tickets for this performance go on sale at
www.ticketmaster.com for $58, $43 and $28 (tickets are subject to applicable service charges and event time and date are subject to change). Visit
www.uscellularcoliseum.com for up-to-date information. Donations to Rock to the Rescue can be made at
www.rocktotherescue.net.
STYX guitarist and IL native James "JY" Young said, "As we approach the 50th anniversary of JFK's assassination, I'm reminded of his famous quote, 'Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.' The good people of
Illinois lent support and a helping hand to every artist on this bill at different times in their respective careers, and we owe a tremendous debt. It's our turn to ask what we can do for this great State, and the best way we know to help those in need is to get on stage and let the incredible healing power of music play its part in rebuilding Illinois."
REO SPEEDWAGON singer/guitarist
Kevin Cronin said, "I am
Illinois born and bred.
REO Speedwagon is an
Illinois band. The word 'Illinois' is music to me. The utter devastation and human suffering in Washington, IL and the surrounding areas is heartbreaking. I believe that we need to take care of our own... the people of
Illinois are our own, and we are theirs."
"With our company being based in this area for over 40 years and my family living in Pekin which was effected by the storm, we wanted to do something to help all those affected. Everyone at Jay Goldberg Events have had friends, family members and employees who were directly impacted by the storm," said Jay Goldberg of Jay Goldberg Events and Entertainment.
City of Bloomington Manager
David Hales said, "The City of Bloomington has heavy hearts for those affected in the recent tornado outbreaks around Central Illinois. We know that our city and surrounding cities will pull together to help out and support this cause. We are glad to be hosting this benefit concert in our city."
"We are honored and excited to be hosting this benefit concert. We are passionate about our business and know this is the best way that we could help out. Everyone involved in putting on this concert has dropped everything to make this happen, and we are looking forward to a very successful event to help those that need it," said
John Butler, President of Central
Illinois Arena Management that operates the US Cellular Coliseum.
Rock to the Rescue is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, whose mission is to build strong, healthy communities through the support of grassroots organizations across the country. Rock to the Rescue originally started in 2001 as a result of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and is the brainchild of STYX's
Tommy Shaw and REO SPEEDWAGON's
Kevin Cronin. The two musicians brought together bands and artists such as Bad Company, Journey, Survivor, Kansas,
Lynyrd Skynyrd and many others to be part of "Volunteers For America" concert events in Dallas and Atlanta that ultimately raised over $775,000 for victims of 9/11, as well as the Port Authority police department in New York City.
On the bands' last tour together, the Midwest Rock N' Roll Express, Rock to the Rescue not only raised thousands of dollars for local charities at each tour stop, but also raised $108,000 which went directly to the Boston One Fund, helping victims of the Boston
Marathon bombings. For more information visit:
www.rocktotherescue.net and
www.facebook.com/rocktotherescue.
ABOUT STYX Spawned from a
Chicago basement in the early '70s, STYX would eventually transform into the virtual arena rock prototype by the late '70s and early '80s, due to a fondness for big rockers and soaring power ballads. Over the course of their 38-year career they've released 15 studio albums, 6 best-of compilations and 4 live albums, garnering 8 Top Ten singles. STYX has sold over 30 million albums worldwide. Throughout their illustrious career, they've performed more live shows since 1999 than all of the previous years of its career combined. Two Super-Bowl appearances, Pollstar box office chart-topping tours with Def Leppard, Journey, Boston,
REO Speedwagon and
Bad Company (to name only a few), two more studio albums and no end in sight, STYX continues to conquer the planet, one venue at a time.
ABOUT REO SPEEDWAGON Formed in 1967, signed in 1971, and fronted by Cronin since 1972, REO SPEEDWAGON has rocked to the top of the charts with a RIAA-certified 22 million albums sold in the U.S., 40 million around the globe, and a string of gold and platinum records. The group's nine-times certified platinum Hi Infidelity spent 15 weeks in the #1 slot. Thirty-plus years later, Cronin and bandmates
Bruce Hall (bass), Neal Doughty (keyboards), Dave Amato (lead guitar) and Bryan Hitt (drums) are still electrifying concert audiences across the nation. Live at Moondance Jam - the band's hit-filled performance from the country's premier classic rock festival, was released in both a Blu-ray and a deluxe edition (containing a CD and DVD in a glossy digipak) on November 19th. Recently, REO unveiled the band's "
Great Chicago Fire Hydrant" as part of a citywide
Chicago public art installation project. On December 4, these will be auctioned, with proceeds benefitting 100 Club Chicago.
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