Hi J-14ers!
If you've ever seen The Academy Is... in concert, you'll understand why they're one of my all-time favorite bands. Not only are their songs so catchy (personal favorites: "About a Girl" and "His Girl Friday"), but the guys always performed with so much passion on stage and were super sweet with their fans off stage.
Further proof of that? Even though the band is no longer together, they're still looking out for one another.
Former band member Andy Mrotek (nicknamed "The Butcher") was walking home one day and suddenly out of nowhere, he got mugged. They didn't just take all of his money, but they also violently knocked him unconscious.
"He ended up with both his eye sockets fractured, 25 stitches across his face, 30 stitches on his gum line, 20 stiches on his eyelids, 3 titanium plates screwed into his skull and has been in and out of the ER for surgery and countless doctors checkups for nose bleeding and intense ear, sinus, and facial pain," his former bandmate Adam Siska says.
Since the horrific incident, he's since been going through a difficult recovery process -- but luckily his former bandmates and friends from other bands have come together to help Andy. Cobra Starship, Gym Class Heroes, Fall Out Boy, and Panic! At the Disco are all working with The Academy Is... to raise money to help Andy by selling a "We Love The Butcher" T-shirt, which you can purchase by clicking here.
Buy a "We Love The Butcher" T-Shirt
Besides purchasing a shirt, you can also help simply by spreading the word. The more people that know about it, the more we'll be able to help Andy get back on his feet... and back to what he does best: Creating great music.
Thanks so much -- and pass along the message!
Rachel Chang
J-14 Editor-in-chief
Photo: Courtesy of Fueled By Ramen
