SHOK PARIS To Headline Benefit Concert For Suicide Prevention Service

Reunited Cleveland metal band SHOK PARIS will perform at a benefit concert forthe Help Hotline Crisis Center (a suicide prevention service) on January 29 at The Breakfast Club in Lakewood, Ohio. Also appearing on the bill are JJ GRIM, SHADES OF REMEMBRANCE and ERECTO-JECTOR. Admission is $5. All door proceeds will be donated directly to the Help Hotline.

The benefit is being organized by guitarist John Porter of JJ GRIM, with help from SHOK PARIS guitarist Ken Erb.

"It's amazing the number of people involved in this show who have had a friend or family member involved in a suicide," says Erb. "Suicide is still a dark subject not openly discussed in public. We want to bring awareness to the problem and let people know there is help available they can reach out to with this benefit."

Porter lost a brother and cousin to suicide in 2003. He was diagnosed with cancer in 1992 and given two years to live by his doctors. He also is raising two children on his own.

"John has been through a lot," says Auburn Records president Bill Peters. "He's a true survivor in every sense of the word. He has been a long-time listener to my (WJCU) radio program and calls in every Friday night from his cab driving job to make requests. He is always upbeat and has a very positive outlook on life, despite the many personal hardships he has had to endure."

The Breakfast Club, formerly the Hi-Fi Concert Club, is co-owned by guitarist Billy Morris (WARRANT, THE BILLY MORRIS BAND). Morris has donated the venue for the benefit and will contribute an extra portion of his bar proceeds as well.

The Help Hotline Crisis Center was incorporated in May 1971 as a drug information line for Ohio's Mahoning County. In the past thirty eight years, the agency has not only expanded their geographic area, but has also grown from a 6-hour-a-day hotline service operated by volunteers, to a 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week comprehensive crisis intervention, suicide prevention and community resource center. They also offer support services to mental health and social service consumers.

Commented Porter: "I formed JJ GRIM in February of 2008 in response to my brother Doug Elfers committing suicide on May 25, 2003. On that day my world came crashing down, I lost my brother and my best friend, and the music world lost a great rhythm guitarist and songwriter.

"Five years after Doug died I made a call to Jocko (guitar) and Rita (bass) who were playing with Doug at the time of his death. I stated to them that my brother wrote great music and never got to record any of it. I wanted to know if they were interested in having me learn to play guitar and record some of Doug's material to release.

"I was given less that two years to live in 1992 from cancer, which is why I left music 21 years ago.

"Dealing with cancer was nothing compared to losing my brother.

"Hearing that my little brother was dead almost destroyed me on every level.

"Since my brother died, a fire has been burning in me to take this negative and turn it into a positive. I want to help prevent this kind of thing from happening to others."

SHOK PARIS is writing material for a new studio album, to be released on Auburn Records. The band will headline the first night of the Headbangers Open Air festival, set to take place July 29-31, 2010 in Brande-Hörnerkirchen, Germany.