Welcome to Sluggo! Ball
This is a Benefit for Nick West—
Founder and Publisher of Sluggo!
Alternative Media and Cyber-Pioneer
Nick West, one of the true catalysts of the Austin music scene in the late seventies, has unfortunately been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. Nick is currently in Germany receiving a new and innovative treatment that is currently unavailable to patients in the United States, As a result Nick has incurred a devastating amount of medical bills due to the pathetic state of the health care industry in the USA.
Let’s face it, without Nick West Austin’s music scene would not be quite the same. In 1978, Nick moved to Austin with one purpose – to establish a fanzine that would energize the nascent local scene. Introducing Austin music to the world and vice versa, Sluggo! developed into one of the most innovative and controversial fanzines in the country. After Sluggo!’s grand finale – the Industrial Collapse issue – Nick’s interest steered him into the world of alternative media where he has worked since the early eighties developing adventurous artistic projects and educational ventures in San Francisco, New York, Rio de Janeiro, London and Austin.
Nick’s cohorts from the world of music, visual arts, cyberspace and beyond (performers, artists, filmmakers, video producers, computer wizards, former students, friends) are banding together to organize not one but a relentless wave of benefits to assist him with these extraordinary expenses for treatments that should be available to one and all. The events will range from concerts and club dates to an art gallery exhibit and auction (both live and on-line) These will begin in the fall of 2007 and climax in 2008 when Nick will return to Austin from Germany.
The Sluggo! Ball will be the first of these benefits. The Ball will showcase Austin music past, present and future. Although bands from the Raul’s/Clubfoot era will be invited, the emphasis this night will be on the continuity of originality that is so characteristic of Austin’s musical history. Set for the last Friday in October, the Halloween atmosphere will provide a dramatic background for a memorable night on the Austin music calendar.
Read Nick
West’s Blog 