Niki N. Phaser

An online auction has been recently set by The Chi Cheng Special Needs Trust with the help of CharityBuzz.com. All earnings will go to the said fund to help pay the medical bills. The auction will conclude on December 8, 2009. For more than a year, the Deftones’ bassist has been, at first, in a coma and then, in a minimally conscious state. Since the tragedy happened, on November 4, 2008, his family and band have been met with the utmost support by fans and fellow musicians.

The latest effort is this  online auction, which is based on the help offered by some of the biggest names in contemporary rock. First of all, there is a lot of original and signed ”rock apparatus” (guitars, drum kits), that would grace any collector’s showroom. The list contains stuff signed by the likes of Metallica, 311, System of a Down, My Chemical Romance, Deftones, Green Day or country star, Tim McGraw. Remaining in the ”signed by” territory, you can also acquire promo material and albums by Coldplay, Iron Maiden, Gallows, Mastodon, Sepultura, Slayer, Alexisonfire.

More special gifts are offered, for example, by HIM. The highest bidder will get a chance to see the band perform at Helldone this year, as well as a meet&greet session, travel expenses and lodgings being also provided. Rise Against are doing something similar, involving their KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas Show gig. Another great proof of generosity comes from Blink 182′s Mark Hoppus, who is willing to produce a track for one lucky (or rich) band, meaning you get to spend a day in the studio with him. One of the most coveted items in the offer is the Velvet Hammer Golden Pass, which, among other magic tricks that it performs, will grant you access to any Velvet Hammer artist show for one year. To see the entire list of items and to place your bid, go AWAY.

Finnish love-metal gurus, HIM, announced through their official heartagram site, that they intend to respect the New Year’s Eve tradition of playing at the Tavastia Club in Helsinki for the Helldone Festival. They’ve been doing it since the birth of the festival in 2005, but also before, the Finnish capital club being strongly connected to the band’s roots. Considering that HIM are done with recording their new album, Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice, it is very likely that they would premiere some new material at the 28th-31st December festival. They will also be joined by friends The 69 Eyes and Anathema, which will offer concert-goers acoustic and unplugged sets. Helldone will also be a chance for a number of new Finnish acts to shine, bands like: Vanity Beach, Ghost Brigade, Major Label and others. More info, about line-up and tickets here:

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