| |
|
 |
Russian Ska Masters Spitfire tragedy, need your support!
[22-02-2002] [http://www.spitfire.spb.ru - matthias@vielklang.de]
If you've ever seen Spitfire perform, you'll not debate that they are a fantastic live band. Dynamic performers who have been travelling Europe over and over again in recent years, Spitfire's Russian ska-garage-punk mixes something Mighty Mighty Bosstones with something Arch Bishop Kebab with something over the top and dervishly witty. Spitfire have been for years developing solid links between independent ska and punk scenes in Russia and "Western" and Eastern Europe.
A tragic thing happened recently that deserves your support. Spitfire's new trombonist Michael Gapak suffered a nearly fatal fall in concert in Zurich, Switzerland last November, resulting in temporary or possibly permanent paralyzis. His Russian Insurance Company "Spasskiye Varota" is not upholding their responsibility for the tragedy, and declined paying its share of the cost despite Michael's insurance agreement.
The following email from Spitfire's friends and supporters provides more information and lists ways that you can help. If you can think of other ways to help, please write to matthias@vielklang.de (hey lawyers: could you donate advice or help?):
Dear bands, music fans and media partners !
Sometimes unfortunate things happen even in our notoriously easygoing music biz which we can't shrug off with our usual comments of "nasty" or "that's really hardcore." Please read through the following carefully! Such things can happen to anyone. That's why our band Spitfire and all of us at Vielklang Studios would appreciate your HELP.
On 2 November 2001, Spitfire's new trombonist Mikhail Gapak had a terrible accident: At a gig in Winterthur (Switzerland), Mikhail fell down in such an unfortunate manner that he had to be sent to the Zurich University Hospital.
Diagnosis: a fracture in the cervical spine!
Since then, Mikhail has been paralyzed from the neck down. Whether or not he will ever be able to walk again is questionable. As if that weren't bad enough, the Russian insurance agency "Spasskiye Varota" has refused any responsibility and declined to pay its share of the cost in spite of the insurance agreement. This means that the band itself must now bear the total amount of the hospital bill accrued so far (about $60,000 US at the moment). In order to pull together enough money to cover the cost, Spitfire is planning a few benefit concerts in Europe. This will certainly not be possible without outside support.
The band, along with all of us here at Vielklang Studios, asks for your help and financial support.
Those who would like to provide support for the band can do so in the
following ways:
Those who wish to donate money can make a bank transfer to the
following account:
ZKB (Züricher Kantonalbank)
ZKB 8157 Dielsdorf
Clearing # 725
Swift: ZKBKCHZZ80A
Account # 3525-8.236834.5
Account holder: E. Schmid
Transfer reason: "Donation for M. Gapak"
For those who would like to write to Mikhail:
Address: Universitat Spital Culmanstrasse 8, 091 Zurich, Switzerland
(only before 28th feb 2002)
Those who would like to help by performing at one of the benefit
concerts or help with the promotion of such concerts should send an e-mail to: atthias@vielklang.de
Thanks a lot for your help - SPITFIRE and Vielklang
|
|
|
|
