There are a few things in life that are certain: shitty things happen to good people, and there are good people in this world that still stand behind their friends to lend a helping hand when needed. And so it is, and how it all began when ROCK AGAINST MS was first conceived in 2013. What started out as some friends helping out a friend has taken on a life of its own over the past year and hopes to become a major force in the fight against Multiple Sclerosis. In that same spirit in which it was started, the group will celebrate it’s accomplishments and further the cause with the 2nd Annual ROCK AGAINST MS Concert at the Whisky A Go Go in Los Angeles on March 26, 2014.
There are a few things in the music business that are also certain: there are shitty, lying, thieving, con artist scumbags and then there are some of the kindest, generous, giving individuals on the planet. Industry veteran, Nancy B. Sayle, is most definitely in the latter category x20. Nancy worked tirelessly for decades as the powerhouse publicist behind such artists as Rob Zombie, John 5, Zakk Wylde and Black Label Society, Slaughter, Warrant, Winger, Great White, YES, Asia…on and on.
Through the years, the 5’2″ dynamo was always the first person to offer to lend a hand or spearhead a benefit for others in need, calling upon her all-star clients and friends to help; and they always answered her call. Like a ninja on crack, Nancy has always gone above and beyond for those in need. She shows this in her work as an animal advocate as well; starting a non-profit foundation, Fur & Feather Animal Sanctuary, which has saved hundreds of special needs animals to date, and has 50 critters under it’s care at present.
In 2007, the unstoppable Sayle started experiencing issues with remembering things that were more frequent and discerning than ordinary forgetfulness, and were accompanied by extreme shooting pains down the back of her legs. After almost two years of visits to her doctor without an answer she went to her spine surgeon requesting a brain scan, which is when she received the devastating diagnosis in 2009: Primary Progressive MS. While there are many types of MS, some of which are only mildly debilitating, and others that can be controlled with medications, Primary Progressive MS is the most severe form of the disease and only affects 10% of those diagnosed. “Yeah well, I’ve always gone big. If I do something…I do it big! So of COURSE I got the worst kind of MS there is! It’s aggressive, painful and a pain in the ass – kind of like me!” Nancy joked, adding, “If I don’t laugh about it, I’ll just cry. And I don’t have time to cry.”
Determined to not let MS slow her down, Sayle continued her grueling publicity schedule; letting no one in on her “secret” but a very few, and even then it was “sugar coated.” “I was in total denial for the first year-and-a-half. I didn’t want anyone to know and I really didn’t want to face it. I was scared that my client’s would think I wasn’t up to the task of pushing their music out to the world in my typical fashion. So, I just pretended that nothing was wrong. Denial is a powerful thing. La la la la la! Yeah, that didn’t work out as I planned. Turns out…after three years and $200 thousand dollars later – I still had MS. Go figure.”
As if that weren’t enough, during an annual routine brain scan in December of 2011 (to monitor her MS), Nancy received yet another sucker-punch of a diagnosis: she has an inoperable pituitary brain tumor. “Well, shit! This is not real; this kind of stuff only happens to other people or in the movies!” was Nancy’s first thought upon hearing the news.
One of the first people that Nancy shared her true plight was her close friend, as well as client, Steve Stevens (longtime guitarist for Billy Idol). While visiting Steve and his wife Josie at their home, she shared the true extent of her medical condition and the subsequent medical bills that were piling up. “We were in the studio in their home and Steve was working on the soundboard. He was listening while I was talking with Josie about my condition, and his head popped up over the console and he said, ‘Well, we need to do something about this! We can do a benefit show!
‘ and by March 2013 the first ROCK AGAINST MS show was born.”
So many people have helped and gotten involved that it’s grown into a full-fledged movement over the past year. Nancy excitedly explained, “This is not all about me. We are working towards very specific goals, now and in the future, to raise awareness, immediate financial help for MS sufferers and an eventual brick and mortar “THE ROCK HOUSE” facility for rehabilitation and healing. It takes money to do these things and do them right. I want to do something different. I may not be able to experience in my lifetime all of the benefits that will hopefully come from the efforts of ROCK AGAINST MS, but I want to leave a legacy behind for other people living with this horrible disease. With this group of people…anything is possible. I’m a fighter and given my situation it would be really easy to just lay down, curl up in a ball and die. There’s a reason that this has happened to me and I’m just an ordinary person who happens to know some extraordinary people. Together…we’re going to ROCK AGAINST MS! FUCK MS! ”
The first ROCK AGAINST MS show on March 27, 2013 at the Whisky brought out a virtual who’s/who of rockstars to play as well as support the efforts of RAMS, and this year’s show is set to do the same! So here it is folks….
The 2nd Annual ROCK AGAINST MS benefit show is set for March 26, 2014 at the world famous Whisky A Go Go and has a slew of rockstars coming out to support Nancy and her mission!
In addition to the amazing bill already in place, the legendary Robbie Krieger from The Doors is coming out to play. Excuse us, but if you’re in LA and you don’t go to this show on that fact alone – then PISS OFF! Seriously…Krieger is one of those guitarists of urban legends; who wrote songs with and played with the great Lizard King – and he’s playing this show. Get your ass there! End of story. No excuses!
Also, just added the bill today is Jane’s Addiction drummer, Stephen Perkins!
Before this gig is through, who the hell knows who will ultimately end up showing up for this love-fest of insanity! All we know is this is going to be one badass night of music!
Another extremely cool thing happening is that Guitar Player Magazine will be there to present Lita Ford with their ultimate award – “Certified Guitar Player.” Chet Atkins is the man who inspired the phrase “Certified Guitar Player” and the award is typically presented at NAMM during Muriel Anderson’s All-Star Guitar Night. Guitar Player Magazine gave the first award to Les Paul in 2003, and it has become one of the most highly coveted titles/awards by guitarist worldwide.
“Lita Ford slugged it out with the boys club in an era where female musicians who liked to rock hard had very few heroes,” says GUITAR PLAYER Editor in Chief Michael Molenda. “But Lita was there, and man, did she cut a heroic figure. She was tough. She was smart. She could write a good song. And she could shred. Stinging bends. Fierce vibrato. A great sense of melody and phrasing. Since the Runaways in the late 1970s, and throughout her solo career, Lita has been a beacon of cool, and an inspiration for girls AND boys who want to express themselves through the guitar. She is the definition of a Certified Legend.”
We think it’s safe to say that Lita is going to be tearing up the stage after receiving such an honor and joining the GP-honored ranks with former winners Duane Eddy, Nokie Edwards, Dick Dale, Larry Carlton, Tommy Emmanuel, Mike Stern, Lee Ritenour, Robben Ford, Joe Perry, and others.
This is sure to be one of those nights that will go down in the history books of epic jams with untold momentous musical talents that you’ll tell your children about! You can purchase general admission tickets from $35 and there are Meet & Greet, Tables, and other VIP tickets available. Doors are at 7:00 PM / Show starts at 8:00 PM
BUY TICKETS HERE: ROCK FOR MS TICKETS AT TICKETFLY
CAN’T GO TO THE SHOW BUT STILL WANT TO HELP?
Buy a tax-deductible ticket marked DONATION so RAMS can resell it to someone who can attend – a win/win!
Show your support wearing a “Be Brave” Bracelet in MS Orange or ROCKER Black for $35 (click this link)
“Nancy’s Got A Big Ole Brain Tumor & Shitty MS Fund” – set up by Nancy’s good friend & legendary concert photographer Chad Lee
Buy a ROCK AGAINST MS or FUCK MS t-shirt on ebay for $20! (click this link)
Yes, you too can rock a ROCK AGAINST MS shirt like Jennifer from ‘That Metal Show’!! Watch the video to see how Jennifer turned her RAMS Shirt into a tee of pure, sexy awesomeness!
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About Multiple Sclerosis
- Every hour in the United States, someone is newly diagnosed with MS, an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system.
- MS interrupts the flow of information from the brain to the body and stops people from moving.
- Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. The advancement, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are moving us closer to a world free of MS.
- Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with more than twice as many women as men being diagnosed with the disease.
MS affects more than 400,000 people in the U.S. and 2.1 million worldwide.
By: Valerie King, Co-Founder/Editor in Chief
