Albert Hammond Jr. to Play Benefit for School of Seven Bells Guitarist
Earlier this year, Alejandra Deheza of the New York electro-rockers School of Seven Bells posted to her Facebook page that bandmate and guitarist Benjamin Curtis had been diagnosed with T-Cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma, a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Due to its rapid onset, Curtis has been undergoing aggressive chemotherapy treatments and is awaiting a match for a bone marrow transplant procedure.
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Now some of Curtis’ friends are stepping in to help. Interpol‘s Paul Banks and Albert Hammond Jr. of the Strokes will headline the benefit “Put Your Sad Down,” named for the School of Seven Bells song, on August 22nd at the Bowery Hotel. The headliners will play music from their solo projects, and there will be DJ sets from Strokes drummer Fabrizio Moretti, Devendra Banhart, Alexa Chung and Danny Masterson (a/k/a DJ MomJeans).
The fundraiser will kick off an online silent auction available to both guests and fans who can’t attend, and it will feature memorabilia and unique experiences donated by artists like the Black Keys, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Regina Spektor, Vampire Weekend and brands such as John Varvatos, Phillip Lim and SNL, among others. Bidding on certain items will be live for a week after the event, and 100 percent of the money raised will go directly to Benjamin’s fund.
Deheza has kept fans updated on the band’s Facebook page and on a Curtis-specific website, sharing that Benjamin “is responding really well to treatment” and that he was even trying to figure out a way to sample the MRI machine. Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, which provides financial assistance to career musicians, is spearheading the event.
Tickets for “Put Your Sad Down” can be bought through Ticketfly and will be available at three price points, with vinyl EPs pressed specifically for the event and and t-shirts designed by graphic artist (and Joe Jonas’ girlfriend) Blanda Eggenschwiler as incentives.
School of Seven Bells released their third LP, Ghostory, last year.