HOLLYWOOD, CA (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Accomplished singer/songwriter/musician Gary Louis Finneran (4/17/64 – 5/10/09) will be honored at a memorial and benefit show at Hollywood, California’s 3 Clubs Cocktail Lounge starting at 8:00 PM on Friday, June 5.
The evening will feature performances from Lit, The Ex-Idols, Tuscaurora, She Died, Motochrist, Charlie And The Valentine Killers, The Flash Express, Rodleen, Satiate, The Crazy Squeeze, Silver Needle and more. Admission is a $20 donation and all money raised will help pay for funeral expenses, with any remaining funds being donated to Gary’s three sons.
Finneran gained critical acclaim and radio success with his band The Ex-Idols, known for their single ''Go Away,” the 1993 Pill Popper EP and 1994 Social Kill full-length CD (both released by Sony/Relativity Records). After The Ex-Idols, Gary went on to sing and play guitar in the Hollywood three-piece band Tuscaurora. His other music projects included: She Died, Tragedy Club, and Gary X and the Fortune Hunters. Most recently, he was attending the California Institute Of The Arts.
Gary was respected and admired by many. Former bandmate Sean E DeMott (bassist for The Ex-Idols) says: "I've been in the music industry for 20 years and have never experienced a talent as real as Gary Finneran. He was a friend and a warm gentle soul with the commitment to music and song."
Nick Lane, drummer who played with GARY in Tuscaurora, She Died and other projects, noted: "I met Gary when I was 16 and had my first real band. I moved out to California with him and the rest of a caravan from Leavenworth, Kansas. He was a mentor on drumming and music and became my best friend. In all the years we knew each other, in and out of different bands, we never stopped making music together and never once stopped being friends. He touched my life so incredibly, as I know he did so many others. I'm so fortunate to have known him, played music with him and to have had him as a best friend. There was only one Gary Finneran."
Duke Decter, guitarist who played with GARY in The Ex-Idols, commented: "We have been fortunate to have worked with some great talented people in music. None quite as talented as Gary Finneran, though. I always figured he would be the best songwriter any of us had ever known. I know he would love everyone to listen to his music from time to time; The Ex-Idols, Tuscaurora, etc, and remember him for what he was–one of the best punk-influenced songwriters in American rock & roll. And that is exactly what we all will do. I look forward to the day we organize to listen, laugh, and talk about the great moments and music which made my awesome, good-hearted friend who was Gary ‘X’ Finneran legendary. We will all miss him, and we will all remember him.” To read Duke's full statement and/or to leave thoughts and comments, go to: http://www.myspace.com/dukedecter.
Finneran is survived by three sons: Gary David Carreno Finneran, Trevor William Finneran and Josh Louis Finneran. Donations can be made via Paypal.com by sending to Garyfinneran@hotmail.com or by sending a check to: Gary Carreno c/o Jamie Parker, 5003 Westpark Drive, #102, Valley Village, CA 91601. –by CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
