RIR MAGAZINE - July-September 2014

July 2014

History of Rockers THE

In Recovery

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT:

CASEY MONTANA ROGERS

Summertime is Concert time

Pets & Addiction Treatment Yoga Therapy & Mindfulness Based Recovery www.rockersinrecovery.org

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INFO

CREDITS Publisher

Rockers In Recovery Radio Productions

Layout & Design

Philip Salvagni philipsalvagni@gmail.com

Contributions by: Carol Harblin KLEAN Pro-Act The Recovery Village

CONTACT 954-826-4920 825 NE 12th Ave. Pompano Beach, FL 33060 www.rockersinrecovery.org john@rockersinrecovery.org

ARTICLES Casey Montana Rogers - Battling Scars One Song at a Time........................6 Pro-Act Recovery Walks!..........................8 Summertime is Concert Time............... 10 Yoga Therapy & Mindfulness Based Recovery....................................................... 12 Pets and Addiction Treatment.............. 13 A Village of Recovery & Vision............. 14 The History of Rockers In Recovery... 16 The Stars of the RIR All-Star Band Keep Shining.................................... 20 4

Rockers in Recovery Magazine

CONTENTS

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Casey Montana Rogers

Battling Scars One Song at a Time

the outside as well as from a very personal side.

By Carol Harblin

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ddiction is a well-traveled road that several million people walk down everyday, and next to that is the road less traveled, also known as Recovery Road, which is the longer and more scenic route, but also holds more promise and there is always assurance that there will be peace of mind in addition to a better quality of life as long as people stay on track.

Casey Montana Rogers (Casey Montana) is a 19-year-old college student who hails from Canton, Georgia is already an accomplished singer/songwriter and acoustic artist with many more miles yet to travel. Montana is transferring to Kennesaw State University this fall of 2014, from Reinhardt University, to further her studies in Music Business.

Excerpt from Battle Scars: “But I’ll go down before I let you die A war was waged within yourself, The fallen before you too many to count, But now I see your changing eyes You’re close to it now but breathe back to life You’re warrior in the dark and all that’s left are battle scars.”

No matter how tumultuous a person’s battle is, recovery helps that person arrive alive on the other side with more strength, beauty, and clarity than before. No matter how isolated a person may feel, there are always other people to help give a hand.

Everyone knows someone fighting an addiction battle, which is why addiction is all in the family. Each battle is quite subjective and unique to the individual; however, the concepts are familiar, which is why we can all relate to each other as well as through song. Montana is no stranger to being a supporter in recovery, because her older brother, Mason, has overcome his own battle of addiction too. Her brother is not only her best friend but her biggest inspiration.

Montana is the youngest Rockers In Recovery singer/songwriter and also the winner of RIR’s 2014 song of the year for, “Battle Scars.” Montana’s brother, Mason, is the sole inspiration behind Battle Scars, because she had watched his battle from 6

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Montana was just previously introduced earlier this May when she sang at a treatment facility in Baltimore, Maryland, in affiliation with RIR. She alternated from singing her own songs with popular songs from Alman Brothers, Black Crows, and Amy Winehouse. Now, her next stop with RIR is on the West Coast in Aberdeen, Washington at the D & R Theatre.

“There is no doubt that this is what I was meant to do,” said Montana after performing in Maryland, “Singing in a rehabilitation environment inspires the residents on spiritual levels and in turn helps and inspires me.”

A few of her newly recorded songs are “Tipsy Kisses,” and “Spirits Like That,” which are available on iTunes. Many of Montana’s songs are also available to view on YouTube and Amazon. “It is an honor that my songs are touching people on such profound levels,” said Montana.

Montana also sings at local businesses near her hometown in Canton, GA, in addition to having sung at her college. Her songs are also playing at her University’s radio station too and can also be heard online at www. reverbnation.com/caseymontana as well as her website www.CaseyMontanaRogers. com. «

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Pro-Act Recovery Walks! welcomes Rockers In Recovery

By pro-act recovery

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t was on September 29, 2002, that 125 recovery supporters got together in Valley Forge Park, 24 miles outside of Philadelphia, for what PRO-ACT named its 1st Annual PRO-ACT Recovery Walks!

The Walk route this year, starting at 9:00 am, will be through historic Philadelphia and then proceed past Independence Hall before returning to Penn’s Landing.

They feel that passing Independence Hall symbolizes the freedom and dignity that recovery brings to individuals and families.

The two finalists in the Philadelphia Recovery Idol will perform at the Walk and the winner will be selected and announced.

Auditions are currently underway with the third round coming up in May. The winner will receive a trophy, a contract for professional studio recording sessions, and public appearances.

sash and button indicating their years in recovery (the Honor Guard represents thousands of recovery years). Ten years in recovery is an important and enduring symbol of hope and proof that recovery is possible and is happening now.

While PRO-ACT and The Council celebrate the 23 million people who have been able to access and sustain recovery today, they hope that their 13th Annual Recovery Walk will inspire the millions of others in need of recovery. It is for those that everyone will walk. Addiction not only affects those suffering from this chronic disorder, but impacts their family members and children as well. The Walk welcomes anyone who supports recovery.

To register (free) to walk in PRO-ACT Recovery Walks! 2014 on September 20, form a team, make a donation, join the Honor Guard, or become a Recovery Walk Sponsor, please check out our website, www.recoverywalks.org. ÂŤ

The Walk will be led by an Honor Guard comprising those with 10 or more years of recovery, each identified by a purple

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Summertime is

Concert Time

By Carol Harblin

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ummer is finally here, the grills have all burned off some burgers and dogs, and concert season is in the air.

Two synonymous signs of summer are that heat and music both on the rise. Once car windows roll down, and music pours out, it is time to start the concerts.

Rockers In Recovery (RIR) is kicking off the concert tour season this June 27, 2014 in Aberdeen, Washington, where the RIR East Coast All-Stars, Lou Esposito (Joe Walsh) and Mark Bosch (Ian Hunter), are rockin’ the West Coast, in addition to Casey Montana Rogers making her grand debut.

The East Coast boys, Lou Esposito and Mark Bosch, have teamed up as the RIR East AllStar Rockers, and are taking the stage for the 2014 recovery tour. The D & R Theatre in Aberdeen kicks off summer in June and then closing the summer in September with the Philadelphia Recovery Walk. The Pièce de résistance is the Gratitude “Woodstock” Festival in November. All concerts are free and open to the public because everyone has been affected by addiction in some way and we all deserve to experience clean and sober fun while rockin’ out with friends and family. Each of the concerts will have a meet and greet session prior to the show.

The Gratitude “Woodstock” Festival in November is in appreciation and gratitude for all the support RIR has received throughout 2014. Bosch, Esposito, and Rogers are all recovery supporters with the same goal of making music in a clean and sober world.

Unconditional support is paramount in recovery. It isn’t just the addict who is in 10

program, it is the whole family. Addiction hits us all, which is why we all need to celebrate together, because each person is as significant as the other. All of the concerts are free and open to the public because recovery is fun and meant for everyone to understand and share what it is about – unconditional love and support between the recovering addicts and the families and friends.

Aside from the music, food, and fun, there is also a connection that always follows from one RIR concert to the next, and that is recovery education and awareness.

There is always a plethora of pamphlets and handouts about rehabilitation centers as well as a variety of 12-step meeting information.

Education and awareness of recovery is essential for the public to understand because there is still much ignorance regarding recovery and addiction. When there is ignorance there are stigmas. Bill W. and Dr. Bob blazed the trail several years ago, and it is up to their successors to honor their memories by continuing to educate and raise awareness of recovery, while showing the public that having fun is possible while maintaining sobriety.

Among the recovery supporters at the Aberdeen concert will be Miss Washington (Reina Almon). Not only is recovery education and awareness the state of Washington’s platform, but it is also very near to Almon’s heart too.

“I am excited to work with Rockers In Recovery, many of my family members are inflicted with alcoholism and addiction – but it is just that, an infliction with a disease

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that can be overcome. I’ve seen it happen firsthand in my family. I have been working with ESD 113 and the Reduce Underage Drinking Coalition to help with preventative work as well,” said Almon, regarding addiction and her work with recovery awareness.

The concert in Aberdeen is one of Almon’s last appearances as Miss Washington before handing over her title that following Fourth of July weekend. Almon’s personal platform has been steadfast with sustainability and

environmental issues, with aspirations of becoming an environmental attorney.

Almon plans to finish her senior year of college this fall where she is also studying for her Law School Admission Test (LSAT).

The Recovery Village is one of the tour sponsors.

An organization without sponsors is like a person in recovery without a sponsor of his or her own to see them through the steps. RIR is beyond grateful and indebted to each of the sponsors who have supported them for every concert. «

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Yoga Therapy and Mindfulness Based Recovery By the recovery village

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ecovery is a process that changes with each individual that enters it. There are countless therapy methods that are used for the treatment of addiction disorders. Each treatment program must be tailored to meet the needs of the individual patient, taking into account all of their goals and challenges in order to help them achieve holistic recovery. The Recovery Village understands this, and offers a diversified approach to treatment that allows providers to use a variety of methods and tools, providing patients with a recovery plan that will work for them.

Yoga therapy is one method that has repeatedly shown itself to be effective for recovery from addiction because it promotes spiritual healing and physical presence. The art of yoga encourages individuals to practice mindfulness, a technique that helps clear away negative thoughts and attitudes and replaces them with feelings of serenity and awareness of the present moment. In early sobriety, simple yoga poses employ physical movements that nurture connected with breathing and feeling, and elementary meditation techniques that help prepare the individual for the task of recovery that is before them. When continued as a daily tool in sobriety, yoga has proven to increase individual’s ability to manage stress, while continuing to improve physical and mental health, all things that are important for long-term sobriety.

curriculum, allowing patients to practice in this ancient method of healing with one of the most accomplished instructors in the industry. The Recovery Village's Sandee Nebel uses her talents and experience to empower patients on their recovery journey through her yoga therapy sessions.

“Yoga connects us to that power tucked away in each of us, strengthening our ability to overcome an all-powerful addiction,” Sandee said of her therapy sessions.

The Recovery Village is a full-continuum treatment center located just outside the Ocala National Forest in central Florida.

To learn more about The Recovery Village and its yoga therapy program, visit www. therecoveryvillage.com. «

The Recovery Village incorporates yoga therapy into its regular treatment 12

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Pets and Addiction Treatment

By KLEAN Treatment Centers Animal ownership provides many things: stress relief, responsibility, unconditional love and more. To a recovering addict, being a pet owner can provide constant companionship, give you something to be responsible for and take care of, and provide many therapeutic benefits. Now, you do not have to leave your pet behind while you attend addiction treatment. There are many treatment programs where you can bring your pet along while you receive treatment from your addiction.

How are Pets and Addiction Treatment Combined?

Benefits of Pet Companionship and Addiction Treatment: There are numerous physical and emotional benefits that stem from having your pet with you in treatment. Pets provide unconditional love, they do not judge you for your addiction or subsequent treatment, and they do not have a hidden agenda in regard to you getting clean.

They have one purpose in life, and that is to be your companion. You can provide them with more care, regular exercise, and they give you something to keep you company and keep you busy while you are in treatment.

Finding a treatment center that allows you to bring your pet along is a key component to enjoying this therapy. In West Hollywood, our KLEAN Treatment Center allows you to bring your dog to treatment, so they can enjoy the experience and be there for you as a companion as you receive treatment. ÂŤ

Many pet owners do not want to leave their pets behind when they attend addiction treatment, and often use this as an excuse to delay treatment.

This does not have to be the case any longer. Bringing pets along to treatment is an innovative therapy that gives you the same sense of ease and comfort you get from seeing your pet at the end of every day. It allows you to bring a piece of your home life into your addiction treatment center. If you are an animal lover, you will love having your animal in treatment right alongside you.

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A Village of

Recovery & Vision

By Carol Harblin

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t indeed takes a village to get things done, and Recovery Village is one of the steadfast supporters and sponsors of Rockers In Recovery 2014 concert series.

Without sponsors, there would be no television programming, nor there would not be any concerts, shows, or sporting events anywhere.

Sponsorship is a two-way street, just as how one hand washes the other. A helping hand goes a long way, particularly in recovery.

The founder of The Recovery Village, Mitchell Baumann, would never had thought Recovery Village would have been possible six years ago while he was going through his own treatment.

Baumann always had a vision for helping people and his drive and vision helped bring his success into fruition. His recovery anniversary will mark six years on December 7, 2014.

When people are first in treatment for their addiction, support and unconditional love makes the recovery process even more successful.

Baumann’s biggest inspiration while going through treatment and his on-going recovery is his daughter. His daughter redefined the meaning of support and love for him. She showed him her unconditional support and love, as well as tough love, every step of the way.

“Unconditional support is crucial,” agreed Baumann, about the successes of recovery, “In order to grow in recovery, we need emotional sobriety too.”

Baumann’s two older brothers and his business partners have also proven tremendous support through his recovery and Recovery Village work.

Faith also played an integral role in his recovery success as well.

This July 6, 2014 will also celebrate the one-year 14

anniversary of Recovery Village. Baumann has not stopped dreaming and envisioning more for his village creation, because Recovery Village is growing.

Baumann has always wanted to give back to the youth and support them. He is opening an adolescent facility in Sebring, Florida. In addition to helping adolescents, he also intends to open a spiritual and faith-based facility as well.

Faith and support are of equal importance in recovery, and part of Baumann’s vision is to create more faith-based facilities.

“We need more strong faith-based programs in recovery, in this country,” said Baumann, “There is a growing population [in recovery] who hold their religious and spiritual beliefs near their heart.”

Recovery Village helps those in need of drug and alcohol detoxification, prescription drug abuse, eating disorders, and also offers outpatient programs as well.

Recovery Village came into fruition after the realization that many clients with a dual diagnosis are in more need of support, without having to move to more than one facility to get that specialized care. The Recovery Village takes on a holistic approach to recovery in that they look at the whole person.

In addition to Cognitive Behavioral therapies and the use of the 12-step program, The Recovery Village also enhances its therapies to meditation, yoga, and spirituality. Recovery is about reconnecting with yourself again on a profoundly spiritual level.

To really make a strong impression and success in recovery, “You need to do whatever it takes and stop lying to yourself,” Baumann said, “You cannot make excuses anymore, and you just have to do it.” «

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History

The of Rockers In Recovery

By Carol Harblin To understand a person’s plight, it is important to get to know the person on a profound level. Everyone has a story; therefore, judgment should not be allowed because everyone is doing the best they can do with whatever tools they have in that moment. The lesson is to be a perpetual learner of life and correct past mistakes by learning from them and being a better person for it. Here is John Hollis’s story.

John Hollis (John), Founder of Rockers In Recovery, was born in the mid-1960s, between a devastating presidential assassination of John F. Kennedy (JFK) and one of the most famous musical festivals of the era known as Woodstock. John grew up in a small town of Poughkeepsie, New York, just two hours north of New York City. The youngest of three boys, John’s mother and father divorced when John was seven years old.

During this time, John was left with his father and one of his brothers. Being a single parent is difficult enough, but to have a wife leave her family it can create many challenges and try the patience of even the best of Saints. His father did the best he could with what he had with his sons, while working a full-time job. Being a single dad as well as an adult child of an alcoholic can create challenges and can make coping unmanageable, especially when his abilities to cope are strained due to lack of coping skills.

John’s home life became out of control and unmanageable throughout the 1970s.

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One of John’s brothers is seven years older, and the eldest brother is fourteen years older than him. Between 1951 and 1964 John’s mother had several miscarriages in between the three brothers which is why there are many years between each brother. From a very early age, with all the family dysfunction going on around him, John isolated himself a lot. He found safety with his Aunt Marge, Uncle Blackie, his cousins Vince, Bo and Pat in New Jersey as well as his oldest brother, Joe, when he was home in New York. Over the next few years of his childhood, he became a victim of sexual and physical abuse. Disciplinary problems began increasing within his family life, school and his community.

John’s threshold for dysfunction came to a head and at the tender age of 11-years-old he smoked his first joint and drank his first beer. This was the only form of coping he knew. The after effect of smoking a joint and beer had made him feel a peace for the first time in a very long time. It numbed him from the pain he felt from his messy life. Getting high was the answer he was looking for, so he thought. He thought it was the magic pill to curing a messy life.

At the age of 13, he sniffed out his first experience of cocaine, the effects made him feel much different than the pot and the alcohol; it made him feel so alive and elated that he chased those feelings for the next 30 years.

Hitting a bottom comes without warning and when least expected. The next 30 years brought countless jail time, detox centers, treatment centers, in addition to the loss of his whole family. He went on to have two divorces and three children from two relationships. John was becoming

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increasingly more lost and more out of control, the more he continued coping in his negative ways.

He became homeless and actually liked it or so he thought. He did not have a home, because he wasn’t given the example of how to uphold one, so he made his world his home. John had his own pay phone on the corner of 79th and Biscayne Blvd.

Where he would receive and place phone calls. He would panhandle to use and vice versa. In 2006, he slept under a bridge on 79th Street in Miami. After another failed recovery attempt, he sat next to a 12-step club in Miami.

He never was taught or instilled with trust; therefore, he had many trust issues. With his mom leaving and not having anyone he could turn to because everyone else around him appeared too busy, he did not venture off into the world with a limitless amount of trust in people. Because of his lack of trust, he thought it was him against the whole world. If John had epiphany; his whole life didn’t “WOW, you did this fit in a hefty bag he to yourself, no one wanted nothing to do else.” John went with it. Settling was into a meeting and not an option. His life picked up a white was ricocheting from chip. He then called one catastrophe into a friend and asked if another with only he could stay at his vision of negativity sober living house – drugs, anger, hate, in Pompano Beach. and getting through John had been a life by whatever resident there off means necessary and on since 2002. was his pathway.

After realizing that Enter Lori Sullivan; leaving high school John’s girlfriend, at 16-years-old with life partner, and only a ninth grade comrade since 1993, education left his also a mother to opportunities limited, one of his children he studied for his living in Miami, got General Education clean in 1999. When Diploma (GED). He the time came, Lori then started working picked him up after for the telecom he had been on the RIR Founder - john hollis and construction street for almost a industry through year. He moved to 2004. In 1993, he Pompano Beach moved to Miami, Florida because he wanted where he stayed clean for the next 7 years to be closer to the cocaine. in which time John and Lori built Rockers In Recovery. 2008 is when his Rockers In This period of his life was all about daily Recovery vision crept into fruition. John had substance abuse; as much as he could believed his vision was God-given; to create get. His benders were lasting weeks into a recovery organization where nobody months. He began to hit the streets where would ever feel alone, and always make he loved the feeling of being alone. Being recovery a fun and musical adventure. alone was something he found solace in since his recluse childhood growing up with Lori and John contracted and paid some a family too busy to hang around with him. classic rockers in John’s next vision to www.rockersinrecovery.org

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establish and build RIR. The Rockers In Recovery All-Star Band commenced from 2011 and increased its momentum into 2013. It was then that the RIR Band and RIR Unplugged went on to do fifteen unplugged shows, concerts and festivals throughout the east coast. RIR reached out to the west and even booked the Bellogio Hotel in Las Vegas. Between John’s own money and sponsorship dollars he was able to fund three years of shows. He was sacrificing his newly recovered time as well as his money for other people, but what felt good in the beginning was really beginning to take a toll. Ironically, he was forgetting his own needs just as he was finding himself.

treatment options. We initiate and develop opportunities that encourage interaction between Rockers In Recovery and our fellow friends in recovery. This helps us all to maintain meaningful and rewarding connection to our communities.

John’s vision went on to build the following in the recovery community. His passion was to show everyone that treatment and education mixed with “HAVING FUN” in recovery is indeed possible!

We also invite other musicians that are in recovery or support recovery to help carry our message of hope through music. Their musical talent makes them RECOVERY all stars. Most importantly the message of “Rockers In Recovery Live Concert Series” is that treatment and education mixed with “Music and HAVING FUN” in recovery is indeed possible!

So begins John’s mission.

“Nobody should be made to feel alone when there are other people who are also struggling with a similar life path. The rooms that bring recovery into action are more sacred and golden than anyone could ever imagine, because those are the rooms that help people to reveal a new perspective onto their current lives.”

Rockers In Recovery can be also found on Facebook where it covers recovery issues, music, humor, upcoming recovery events, musicians, and people in recovery having a place to look for help or just to share their recovery viewpoints. Today, there are over 100,000 fans and over a million talking about Rockers In Recovery on Facebook every day. There are all types of comments and posts from various people from all over the United States, South America, and Canada. It is growing more and more each day.

Rockers In Recovery (RIR) was created to provide support for people and their families suffering from all forms of addiction. Our goal is to provide education and support about addiction, as well as, 18

RIR does this through the following: The Rockers In Recovery All-Star Band The RIR All Stars combine cream-of-thecrop musicians that are also in recovery or support recovery. When like-minded people with a shared vision come together to share music and fun, it is guaranteed to be a fun time by all.

Rockers In Recovery Unplugged visits addiction drug and alcohol treatment centers all over the United States. Select members of the Rockers In Recovery band come to share their message of hope, and play an unplugged set of songs geared towards recovery.

Rockers In Recovery Addiction Network Our network of drug addiction treatment centers, detox centers, expert addiction specialists, seasoned physicians, caring therapists and more, is dedicated to providing the absolute best, proven methods of treatment and rehabilitation.

The network facilities, located across the country, offer unmatched programs and services that honor mind, body and soul call 877-799-8773. No Matter your addiction.

– We can help. Call 877-799-8773 or 877-241-8383. Rockers In Recovery is a fellowship of music and recovery that welcomes all people who want to celebrate life and not feel alone.

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Rockers In Recovery Concerts and Network Events We do this through Rockers In Recovery Radio and Productions Inc. Each quarter of the calendar year RIR puts together a concert and network meet and greet. This is a great way to get to know other addiction professionals with mainstream traffic of the general public. This combined together brings professionals and community together.

Book RIR Unplugged or the RIR All-Stars for your next event. All events and band bookings includes the following: Event MC, Press Releases, Social Media event pages and announcements, article in RIR Magazine, banners with links on all websites and much more. We reach millions with the RIR Network.

Rockers In Recovery Digital Media Rockers In Recovery is dedicated to addiction recovery through music, news, interviews, events, and festivals taking place within the clean and sober community. Through Rockers In Recovery Radio and Productions Inc. we offer different platforms to carry the message of hope in an exciting new way. RIR Events, RIR Concerts, RIR Festivals, RIR magazine (in print and online), RIR Addiction Talk Radio, RIR TV, and RIR Live Concert and Event Streaming, makes it easy to reach hundreds of thousands of people globally with just a click of a mouse.

Most recently, in December 2013, John took some time off because of health concerns and recovery issues. He needed to take care of himself again. Lori Sullivan and Rob Vincent took over and laid out a new business plan in which RIR will never forget it’s primary purpose which is to provide support for people and their families suffering from all forms of addiction, and that treatment and education mixed with “Music HAVING FUN” in recovery is indeed possible!! No matter how much fun is had with other people in recovery, never lose yourself.

At this current time John is all in, with Lori and Rob as his conavigators, because, like in recovery, you can never do it alone.

They invite recovering musicians, bands, songwriters, music production people, moms and dads, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, and friends of people regaining their health and lives through freedom from addiction. By organizing and speaking out together, we support and give hope to individuals who are still struggling with addiction and to those who have found the power of long-term recovery. «

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The

Stars of The RIR

All-Star Band Keep Shining

By Carol Harblin

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here are a myriad of musical contributors with Rockers In Recovery (RIR) who have renewed and redefined the RIR All-Star Band – past, present, and future. Hope and undying support are just two components of RIR that also depicts each of the musical contributors and gives them their special vitality and vigor.

For the upcoming concert in Aberdeen, Washington the musical All-Stars selected to play are Lou Esposito (Joe Walsh, The Capris), John Gianoulis (Earl Slick Band), Lee Brovitz (Cyndi Lauper, The Byrds), Tommy Zvoncheck (Blue Oyster Cult), and Eliot Jacobs.

On the West Coast this June 27th, the traveling RIR All-Stars will be playing at the D & R Theatre in Aberdeen, Washington. September 20th is the next stop on the recovery music trail where the All-Stars will be taking on Philadelphia at the Pro-Act Recovery Walk. Following the walk, in RIR tradition, the 2014 tour will close at the Gratitude Festival in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on November 1, 2014.

Esposito is excited and looking forward to singing his new song, “In Your Eyes,” which he wrote this past April. The message in the song is near to his heart and very special. Addiction is like a lightning bolt, it can strike anywhere and hit anyone – it does not pick favorites, nor does it choose to befall on any specific economic class.

Excerpt from, “In Your Eyes:” Rich man, poor man, it doesn’t matter Good family, bad family too Let’s get this straight It don’t discriminate It can happen to me It can happen to you 20

Helping and supporting others is the easiest task people can ever do, yet there are some people who never pick up a finger for others because of a multitude of justifications and excuses. It is in good practice to never look down at anyone unless helping to pick that person up. Helping and supporting people brings a balance to the human spirit and it is also two-fold. When someone offers help to someone or something, it will come back to the person because that said person may need help at some point down the road, too. Nobody should ever be void of help.

Just as the song “In Your Eyes” states, ‘It can happen to me, It can happen to you.’

“There is a zero degrees of separation in the music industry,” said Mark Bosch (Ian Hunter), musical All-Star contributor, “Everyone helps someone because that is how people make it in the business.”

Each concert that RIR showcases will be vibrant and fresh as the last, with musical contributors who carry the same vision and message as RIR – hope, dedication, and support. Being a musician is much more than gigs and making money, it is a form of communication and emotion that is released from a soul level.

“Music is a religion in and of itself because it comes from within and it is an expression of the soul,” said Bosch.

As part of spreading the message of hope, it is important to recondition the social stigma of music and concerts from the old adage of “Sex, Drugs, and Rock-n-Roll” to “Peace, Love, and Rock-n-Roll,” because that is what having fun is all about. «

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