In case anyone hasn’t heard yet, our dear friend BillySteve Korpi (guitarist extraordinaire of the Crack Pipes, Victims of Leisure, Bloody Tears, Blitzens, Barley Pop, Magdelines, and a number of other bands of note) has recently been diagnosed with leukemia. Like so many of us, he has no medical insurance. The prognosis is as good as we can hope for, but the treatment is very aggressive, costly and physically exhausting. Here is a note of explanation from his wife, Laurie “the Wrench” Rourke Korpi:

“Billy Steve Korpi the guitarist for the Crack Pipes, Bloody Tears, Victims of Leisure and countless other bands, has been diagnosed with ALL (Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia). A more precise description is (B-ALL). The B cell type is highly treatable and Billy’s doctor says treatment is 90 to 100% successful in attaining full recovery.

He is in the hospital for the next 6 – 8 weeks. Treatment will consist primarily of chemo therapy. He will be highly uncomfortable and requests total privacy. He will look forward to cards and letters but no visits or phone calls.

After his hospitalization, he will be on medication for at least three years before he can be sure of a cure.

Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers during this trying time.
His email address is stillybeve@hotmail.com if you want to send him a note there.

If you want to do more please go to the blood and tissue center on Lamar and donate blood in BillySteve’s name and be sure to get a voucher… He is using a lot of blood and he would like to replenish the center…

I am daily inspired by Billysteve’s smiling resolve to beat this cancer… BUT we need all the good vibes thoughts and prayers we can get! We started chemo (Saturday)… So far so good. Love you all! Laurie”

BillySteve and Laurie are two of our oldest and dearest friends. They are wonderful people who have given so much of themselves for all of us over the years; it is imperative that we band together as a community and help them as much as we possibly can.

Ways We Can Help:

There are a number of benefit shows in the works to help BillySteve and Laurie defray the costs of this time consuming and costly procedure. I will try to keep track of them and post them here:

Give Money! There is a Paypal account set up to receive donations. Go to Paypal and send money to leukorpia@hotmail.com.
Give Blood! Go to the Blood and Tissue Center on N. Lamar (4300 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, TX 78756; 512-206-1266). Give blood and get a voucher (ask if you can have more than one!). Drop the vouchers off at Rio Rita and we’ll take them to BillySteve. He is using a lot of blood and these vouchers help offset the costs of his transfusions.

Upcoming Opportunities to Give:

DeArmond Guitar Raffle:  We’re offering this beautiful orange electric guitar donated by Chad Warren for only $5 a ticket.  And when we’ve sold a hundred tickets,  we’ll hold a drawing and give it away.  Come down to Rio Rita for your chance to win.

Thanks to you all for all your help! Randall, Donya and the entire Beerland/Rio Rita family appreciate your continued love and support.