Russian Circles is having an incredibly shitty month. The band was robbed of their gear at a hotel in Chowchilla, CA on October 17, and then had their remaining tour dates postponed after System Of A Down vocalist Serj Tankian contracted COVID. The band's manager (and owner and founder of Sargent House) Cathy Pellow then launched a GoFundMe to help the band recover from these two massive losses, originally seeking $40,000.
Fans ended up donating nearly $63,000, which is nothing short of incredible. Pellow has since shut down the GoFundMe, but you can still check it out here. It's also worth noting that Russian Circles was recording a new album in September, meaning your 2022 is off to a good start already.
"Russian Circles are one of the most hardworking bands I've met," said Pellow. "As their manager it has been so hard to watch them suffer back-to-back financial losses because of this pandemic – first with a full European tour cancellation that left them deeply in debt and now having all their gear stolen while out in California for their first shows back in two years. We then found out our insurance had lapsed and none of it would be covered. If that was not enough today we got the final blow of having both of their Los Angeles shows be cancelled the day before, due to circumstances completely beyond our control.
"We really hoped that the stolen gear would somehow be found so that we would not have had to ask for so much help. We still have had no leads and getting any of it back seems unlikely. Now, the loss of the income and merch sales from these two big shows is leaving them with just too many unrecoupable expenses for me not to ask our music loving community to help them .
"Please know, it is only in the most extreme of circumstances that we would ever ask for this.
"A huge thank you to a few of the gear companies that did reach out and did replace a few items. As well as the friends / musicians that offered loaners for them to use. Your kindness was so appreciated.
"With eternal love and thanks to all that help us spread the word and or who can contribute."
