King’s X fans pay for dUg Pinnicks surgery

King’s X mainman dUg Pinnick has undergone successful surgery for a hernia – after fans paid for the operation.

He’s needed medical attention for years but couldn’t afford it due to a lack of medical insurance. But supporters rallied round and raised $26,000 from 599 contributors via a GiveForward crowdfunding drive. Pinnick says: “Hernia surgery was a success; I’m waiting to be released.”
He previously explained: “I’m overwhelmed with the amount of love people have shown by contributing. I have avoided this for way too long and I know I have to fix this immediately.

“I wish I could say that all the wonderful years of playing in King’s X were financially rewarded, but it’s not the reality. I’m not complaining – I’m thankful that I get to make music for people who want to hear it. “We will never stop working hard, and we’ll continue to make music in good times and bad.”

Pinnick had no option but to keep working through the pain barrier, and along with his King’s X duties he recently released his sixth solo album, Naked; launched power-trio project Pinnick Gales Pridgen with Eric Gales and Mars Volta drummer Thomas Pridgen; and guested on Dokken offshoot T&N‘s first record. “It’s a tough business,” he reflects, “but it’s what we were born to do. “Our fans have stood by is through it all. I can’t thank you enough for helping me when I needed it the most. Thanks to the people who have never heard of me or King’s X and donated out of love.

“I hope I can repay you all someday with a huge hug, and continue to make the music that makes you think and groove.”

The words of the honorable Rev. dUg E. Pinnick

I read this part of an interview with dUg Pinnick from King’s X / Pinnick Gales Pridgen from guitar international dot com tonight that cut me to the bone. Read on…

Dug Pinnick: Someone told me they were in the studio; this black chick comes in, sings a song and just nails it. She did like three takes, all were flawless according to the engineer and then she left. Later on that afternoon, this hot white chick with big tits comes in and she had to sing the song for over eight hours. When she left, the producer then says, “Ok, let’s start (pitch correction) with the first syllable”. That’s what you are hearing on the radio now. People know the difference though. The real music will always stand out.

There’s music and then there’s entertainment. Until we realize that, we’ll always be stuck with this. The other stuff that’s real, jazz, other genres, even what we do in real rock; it will always be here, but it will never get to be as huge as it was in the ’70s and ’80s.

Once corporations realized they could take hold and jam down our throats what they wanted, that was it. Now everyone thinks that’s the norm. Everyone thinks they are going to be mega huge. It’s not like that anymore. It’s not the gold rush it once was.

Craig: Do you think we’ll get to the point where the corporations are out of music and artists just release material as, say a download on their own budget and schedule?

Dug Pinnick: Yeah, that’s what a lot are doing and it will be that way for awhile until things get more focused.

When The Beatles came over, no one would have known without Ed Sullivan. He was the only person people would listen to. Here’s something along those lines I noticed…

When Whitney Houston died, she was supposed to have sung on the upcoming Grammy awards. So, she dies and they have Adele, who was going to be on the show already in some capacity, come out and get to sing her hit and ends up selling over half a million units over the next week.

Again, that tells me, no focus. So the bottom line is, until the artists can focus, they’ll continue to sell product out of the back of their car, or rather on line as the case now may be.

WORD!

Ty Tabor from King’s X offering Guitar Lessons

Ty Tabor the incredible amazing guitarist from King’s X offering Guitar Lessons online for a limited time. Only in my dreams my friends, only in my dreams.

Pinnick Gales Pridgen epic awesomeness

This is going to be an epic release! Eric Gales like the rising phoenix with dUg Pinnick from Kings X and Thomas Pridgen from The Mars Volta? Duh Duh Duh DAM! I was fortunate to preview the release when it came out yesterday and I’m blown away. This is like a prog blues larger than life set of tunes written and performed by three virtuoso wizards. Come on pay-day Zombie Daddy needs a new iTunes download! I’m really excited about this band, it’s been far to long since I’ve been excited by music and musicians of this caliber throwing down like this. fraking w00t!