Shine On - The Chris Sheehan Fundraiser

  • Thursday 31 October 2013

BLAM BLAM BLAM TO JOIN BILL WITH THE EXPONENTS FOR: THE CHRIS SHEEHAN FUNDRAISER

Legendary NZ group Blam Blam Blam are joining The Exponents at the fundraiser show for their friend and ex guitarist, Chris Sheehan.  On discovering that Sheehan was gravely ill, they rallied to put a show on to help him and his family.  Blam Blam Blam agreed without hesitation to join the bill.

We are making it a free gig but encourage the people who come to pay something so we can pass all of that money onto Chris and his family.

Sheehan joined Dance Exponents on guitar in 1983 and was widely recognised as bringing a new edge to the group, best heard on his first recording, Sex & Agriculture produced by Julian Mendelsohn.   Chris moved to the UK with the band in 1986 and elected to stay on when the other members returned to New Zealand in 1990.  Sheehan formed his own group The Starlings as well as playing with The Mutton Birds and Sisters Of Mercy.

Recently he posted the following on his facebook page and the news is worse than anyone could imagine.

‘I can't justify any of my limited income to be spent on my own non-profit activities. Stage 4 metastatic nodular melanoma. Clinical trials and palliative treatment only. Wife terminally ill. Dozens of rescue animals. I don't own a computer anymore and would like a good laptop and software to see what comes out. I will not divert money from my family for selfish artistic urges. Maybe someone who enjoyed a Starlings record at some time is flush. Ta Chris’.

The four founding members of the band have rallied to send funds to Chris and the family.  The obvious thing was to play a show, to have friends, family and fans of the band come together and to help contribute to the family and in the hope that Chris can make one more record.