The Asylum

August 16, 2013...a date I'll never forget. On a Friday afternoon in the middle of summer my niece lost her life. Tawnee was 23 years old and had been fighting for her life since the Saturday before. Slowly information leaked out and we learned she'd suffered abuse at the hands of a boyfriend.

After her passing I was lost and in pain trying to make sense of this. Johnny from Thirteen Shots suggested that I do a CD in her honor to raise money for a charity and so was born Break The Silence. 

Today Oct 3, Arkham Records released the CD featuring 29 artists. While not every song will please everyone, I am beyond proud of what I've accomplished with the help of these amazing bands and the best damn record label in the world. 

100% of the sales of Break The Silence will be donated to Tranquility House and Hospitality House in Georgia where Tawnee lived and worked. These two shelters are on the front lines every day fighting the war against domestic abuse and offering hope to those women who are lucky enough to escape with their lives. They also offer help to the families of victims who die at the hands of their partner. 

Sadly, they're doing just that with my niece's parents and siblings. This CD was made to not only honor Tawnee's memory and raise money but to offer hope to those who may be in an abusive situation. 

Included in the download you'll receive a digital booklet written by me that will give you statistics on domestic violence and the lives it affects. You'll also find information on how to get help if you are a victim or how to help someone you suspect may be being abused. 

Also included is a short bio on each of the artists that contributed and links to their social media sites where you can find out more about them. I urge you to go to the sites and listen to more of their music. They all gave without hesitation and have offered great support throughout this venture. 

You'll also get the amazing art that is the cover and find out just who the beautiful young woman is that not only modeled but did the make up work and photographed the cover. I am so proud of this work.

Last but certainly not least you'll learn a little more about Tawnee and why I felt so strongly about making this CD. This is Tawnee's legacy, her chance to live on and change the lives of other women. Now is the time to speak up for those that can't speak for themselves, protect the scared, offer hope to the hopeless and remember the life that was lost so tragically. 

To get a copy of Break The Silence please click the link below. 

http://breakthesilencealbum.bandcamp.com/

The cost is nominal £8 or around $12.98...if you can't afford that then use the code BREAKIT at check out and receive 20% off. If you'd like to donate more to help there is a button on the site for that as well. 

Every single cent of what you pay will go to the charities. Break The Silence and end the violence. ~~Sun Stars

So step right up and see just what the bands here at the Pug have in store for you! 

Enter a world of gothic sleaze with In Dante's Eclipse's new release Run Away. It's sure to get you out of your coffin and make you crave even more from this band of merry misfits out of Wolverhampton. 

Join the growing legion of Gravediggers and pick up a copy today on itunes. Just click the link and let the fun begin! https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/run-away-single/id698861979

While you're partying it up in the graveyard be sure you Don't Walk On My Grave. But if you do, you can pick up that tune and a whole lot more scary fun from PAIN! Their album Waking The Dead will surely make you shiver with horror and delight. You can find it on http://www.paintheband.com/ and be sure to check back often because rumor has it that PAIN! has been in the studio working on a brand new EP due out around Halloween. 

After you've danced with the devil be sure to turn up the Psycho Jukebox and grab yourself a copy of Tales That Start With A Whisper from Thirteen Shots. These masters of horror punk will leave you Bewitched. Find your way on over to http://thirteenshots.bandcamp.com/ and get a copy now. And keep watching here because word in the crypt is that Thirteen Shots has been working on new material. It will make you scream with anticipation!

  When you're done wandering through the graves, take a moment to give back. Our very own Sun Stars has been working on a special project to benefit those affected by domestic violence. The benefit CD contains many great unsigned indie artists and will be available on Sept 30. All of the proceeds from the sale of Break The Silence will go to Hospitality House and Tranquility House in Rome and Cartersville, GA. Help us end the cycle and be sure to pick up this CD. Together we can save a life! 

Keep your eyes peeled for more announcements coming soon. We're only getting started! Autumn is getting off to a dark, dangerous and quite entertaining start here at Freaky Pug. What lies ahead? The mystery will be solved soon enough kiddies. Buckle up, this ride is about to get wild! 

Last Saturday my 23 yr old niece Tawnee was found unresponsive. She's been on life support ever since. She has no brain activity and has been given a 1% chance of survival. 

I've known Tawnee since she was just a toddler and one thing I can tell you...she's a fighter. Her parents and siblings have all rallied and are not leaving her side. Her friends have set up camp in the waiting room at the hospital. 

We're all fighting alongside this young woman. 

But we need prayers, good thoughts, whatever it is you do spiritually. We have to believe that Tawnee is still with us and still fighting. Monday she moved her feet and hands just a little but since then there has been nothing. 

But we still have HOPE. If you can take 5 minutes out of your life and say a prayer or light a candle or even just send a good thought her way, we'd appreciate it so much. 

23 is far too young to leave us. And we're not giving up on Tawnee. 

Thank you for keeping her in your thoughts at this trying time.  You can like the facebook page as well by clicking the link below. 

https://www.facebook.com/prayfortawneeayers

Thank you, from the very depths of my heart. 

July 9, the Vans Warped Tour rolled into Virginia Beach, Va and this little Freaky Pug girl was there! With my children attending their very first Warped and some friends who drove down from New York 12 hours to attend with us, we knew this was going to be the best day ever! 

Our adventure started on Monday night on the drive down. Stuck in traffic we were shocked to hear someone in another car scream that our car was sick. (Yes, I was riding in style in the BVB car). After finally arriving in Va Beach at 2am, we set up camp in the WalMart parking lot only to find ourselves parked right next to Attila. We got the chance to meet Fronz and tell him how much we hate the WBC as well. We crashed for a couple of hours then were up bright and early and in the venue parking lot by 8:30am. We lined up and hung out with all the cool people in line with us. By 9am Freaky Pug's very own PAIN! had arrived. They were playing the Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands stage and were stoked to be there! Countless PAIN! stickers and pins were passed out. 

After getting my "parent's band" to get in, and my daughter Siena getting to high five Kevin Lyman who took one look at her and knew it was her first Warped tour, we made our way back to my son Trey who was holding our place in the Skip the Line line.

It was then I heard that Nikki Misery of New Year's Day was in the crowd somewhere and I ran to find him. My entire goal of this year's Warped was to meet this man and in a few short minutes I did. The best feeling in the world was when he knew who I was and gave me a huge hug. 

We spent several minutes talking and I gave him a PAIN! pin which he promptly put on and kept on all day. I later learned from PAIN! that Nikki made a point of finding them and coming over and saying Hi. And now you see why I love this young man so much. Such a class act.

Finally, the gates opened and we were off. We made our way to merch tents because we had some coconut water to drop off to Codie over at the Bring Me The Horizon tent. Lots of hugs were had then we rushed off to the AP tent to try to get a poster for Andy's signing. SCORE! We got three! Siena mumbled the rest of the day about how it was really going to happen, her meeting Andy. 

We then hauled ass clear back across the venue to the Tilly's stage to see New Year's Day! This creepy party was a blast and they put on an amazing show! Full of energy and horror, just the way we like it. 

Once NYD finished and we found out the time for their signing, we picked up our stuff and were off and running again. This time we headed back across the venue to get to PAIN!'s set on time. We made it and stopped at their merch tent to chat for a bit while the boys set up then we grabbed our spot on barrier and prepared to have one hell of a good time.

The crowd was thin to start with, then they started to play and people began to flock to the stage. PAIN! truly knows how to put on a show that makes the crowd part of the experience. It is a show like no other and I'm honored to be part of the PAIN! fans! 

The crowd really got into it when lead singer Timmy Pain climbed the barrier and threw himself into the crowd, opening the pit for the first time that day. He was soon followed by Reverend Pain who joined the pit with guitar in hand.

We are so proud to have had the chance to have a Freaky Pug family member like PAIN! win the battle of the bands and play at Warped!! 

We left the PAIN! show and headed for New Year's Day's merch tent for their signing. We spent a great deal of time in the direct path of the sun but it was so worth it to be able to meet the band and tell them how much we enjoy their music. While my kids talked to the band I slipped past and went straight into the open arms of Nikki Misery. We chatted and hugged and before heading out, he once again sang Oh Donna to me much to the amusement of my kids. My daughter got to get a "kiss" from Ashley Costello and was thrilled. 

Being mid day we decided to cool off and hang out with our PAIN! family in their merch tent. We ventured out here and there for cold water, shaved ice and then made our way towards the front of the venue again for some shade and food. After cooling down, we wandered a bit. Stopping at the BVB merch table we got to meet Jesse Lee and put a face to the name. He was so nice and we gave him a free PAIN! cd. We stopped to see Codie again at BMTH and gave him a cd as well. 

Throughout the day my son kept blinking in surprise as more and more people in bands and the crew knew me. He commented on it a time or two and his sister just laughed. She's used to it now, I guess. 

The day wore on and we caught different bands here and there, including the fabulous Juliet Simms at the end of her set. But we were anxious to get to the signing with Andy Biersack. 

Trey, being the kind soul he is, gave up his ticket to Ana Pain so she could meet Andy. Us girls headed over and got in line. That's when the tears started for both girls and I fought to hold back my own. This was a moment that Siena had been waiting for for three years now. And it was a bit overwhelming for her. 

Soon it was her turn to stand in front of one of the young men whose words have saved her so many times. And all she could do was cry. Andy was so kind to her and held her hand and told her "Don't cry. It's going to be okay."

That's when I stepped in and told him a bit of her journey and how his words and the band's music have helped her so much. I said it all through my own tears and this very special young man held her hand again and told her "I'm so proud of you. Keep working hard." He then flashed her that smile that lights up the world and she was led away crying. 

I took his hand in mine and sincerely thanked him for all he's done for her. True to form he kept telling me to not thank him. And told me more than once "Don't cry, Mom." It was impossible to not when you stand before a man that gives hope and courage to so many kids like my own. I gave him the PAIN! cd I had for him and he signed my poster and then I got to show him my BVB skulls tattoo and it was then that he shocked me by knowing who I am. We spoke for a few more minutes and then it was someone else's turn to meet their hero. 

The day caught up to Siena then and we headed off to say goodbye to PAIN! and found a shady spot to sit and relax until the rest of our group was ready to go. 

Warped turned out to be an unforgettable experience. Tears, laughter, great music and a hero or two. 

Thank you to all of the bands, the crew, the volunteers, the vendors, the venues, Vans and Kevin Lyman for all the hard work you put in every day! You brave the heat and the crowds to give kids like mine an experience that changes their lives.