A good friend and seminal member of the bay area noise, experimental metal, and free jazz community Mr. Jay Korber was involved in an extremely life threatening bicycle accident, where he was ran over and dragged by one of the sweet sweeper trucks that paurse the SOMA district of San Francisco. (http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2012/12/cyclist_gets_trapped_under_cit.php) For many, this would have signaled the end/death/whatever. but for Mr. Korber, tough as nails, the doctors predict that a FULL RECOVERY is possible. His pelvis was completely shattered, amongst many other serious, life threatening injuries, and he endured many emergency “life saving” surgeries- just in his first few days at SF General Hospital. Throughout all of this unexpected chaos – the endless chain of apathetic doctors, buzzing machines, tubes, blood transfusions, confusiion from the drugs and painkillers, Jay has managed to keep a positive attitude and even the occasional burst of humor. His Girlfriend Angie, has been a huge support for him, easing the burden on Jay and his wonderful, but shocked/traumatized family, as well supplying the lifeline of information and updates between Jay and the concerned, bay area music/art community. Jay has been playing wonderful, aggressively exciting, tense music in the bay area for a decade, or more? now through various bands, such as current projects BURMESE, NUCLEAR DEATH WISH, ETTRICK and other projects such as KORBER/YEDA
DUO , ELF ASS, PUKE VOMIT, plus a slew of other projects. Here’s a video of him doing an extremely rare solo noise set from 2008,
Jay has been offering his music, thoughts, and art up to the bay area (any beyond) for years and now, never asking for anything but a spot to tune up or drop his drums, but now Jay’s life is changed drastically, at least for the time being, and any dealings with the city will take years. What does this mean? JAY NEEDS OUR HELP NOW!!. He needs his rent paid, medical supplies, a wheelchair, new glasses, the list goes on and on. Now Jay, being the kindred old spirit that he is , would NEVER ask for help, even when he does need it, which is exactly why we need to come forth and bond together as am artistic community to show solidarity and help him out. To HONESTLY call a group of artists, musicians, and cultural curators a “community” or “scene” comes with certain requirements, one being mutual community support for all members when something goes wrong. A chain is only as strong as it’s weakest link, and right now there is a broken link, which means the chain is not at 100% , and we need to help fix that. Jay has enormous strength and what Macho Man Randy savage would call, “intestinal fortitude”, and he WILL pull through this, but he needs our moral, emotional, creative, and FINANCIAL support above all. If you’ve ever come to a Ratskin show, and been given a free beer, take that $5 that you would’ve been charged at a bar for it, and give it to someone who needs it. Donation link is right below here… Benefit shows to be held at local underground Oakland and San Francisco venues are in the works, but for NOW , please consider making a small donation here….
http://jaykorber.chipin.com/jay-korber
This incident has shaken the entire bay area music/art community, as Jay is such an inspirational life force and positive influence for us all, it only seems natural to give it right back to him….Have other ideas how you can help? Please email us at decaycast(at)gmail.com and we’ll be sure it gets to the right people.
Love and recovery,
DR. DECAYCAST
can we re-print this article in the january transbay calendar? we are organizing a benefit concert for jay and it would be great to use this article to help promote the show for him. please let me know at pgsaxo@pacbell.net
sincerely,
phillip greenlief
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I am contacting you because I would like to help. About 2.5 years ago I was i a similar bike accident.. Shattered pelvis etc. I was fortunate to have health insurance. I feel for Jay. I cant imagine going through the pain of an accident like that only to be left with the financial burden of medical bills. I am a member of a band called big long now and we would love to help organize or play a benefit show for Jay. Let us know what we can do to get involved.
Best wishes,
Jimmy and bln
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I knew Jay as a little boy and hope he is improving. First of all, this is a prime example of why we need health care in the US. If this had happened in virtually any other “western nation” (one in Europe, New Zealand, etc.) he would have great care and no bills. Amazing that this is not so here. Next, you say the MD’s were “apathetic”. Where would he be today if not for the medical care he received from surgeons, emergency room MD’s, etc. BBB
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