The Straight Jackets guitarist Corey Beierbach (left) and singer Aaron Simpson rock out during their first set of the night during Friday night's show called The Hat Rocks Cancer at the Esplanade.--NEWS PHOTO MO CRANKER
mcranker@medicinehatnews.com@MHNmocranker
When the lights went out and the music started playing, all eyes were on Corey Beierbach.
“I’m overwhelmed,” he said after his band, The Straight Jackets, kicked off a night full of music. “I feel so grateful and blessed – I have such amazing friends and family.”
Friday night marked the Hat Rocks Cancer event at the Esplanade, a night built around good music and raising money for good causes.
Half the money raised at the event will be donated to the Margery E. Yuill Cancer Centre in the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital. The other 50 per cent will go to Beierbach’s family.
The born-and-raised Hat guitarist was diagnosed with glioblastoma in October, a terminal form of brain cancer. Since then, the community has rallied behind him – quickly selling out nearly 700 tickets for Friday’s show and donating several items for the silent auctions.
“Despite my situation, I feel blessed,” he said. “Before the show I was just pumped up and ready to go.
“This is going to be a special night.”
Beierbach says he had plenty of support in the audience from family and friends.
“My son and daughter are here tonight – they have been so amazing during this whole thing,” he said. “My wife and her five children are here – my two grandchildren are here.”
Beierbach says he had no idea what the show would turn into when the band first came up with the idea.
“I couldn’t have imagined all of this – it’s nuts,” he said. “I didn’t think it would get this big, but the community has been incredibly supportive.
“I wish I could thank every single person who has helped out.”
Tragically Hip singer Gord Downie passed away in 2017 of a similar cancer to Beierbach’s – he says he definitely feels a connection to the Canadian icon.
“I think of it every time I hear a Hip song,” he said. “I’m a big fan and have a lot of respect for them.”
Beierbach says he feels great physically.
“I feel like nothing ever happened, other than a bad dream,” he said. “There’s this lingering feeling following me – I know that zero per cent diagnosed with this survive.
“I’m just living my life as best as I can.”
Beierbach was joined on stage by band mates Aaron Simpson, Todd Glock and Gary Straub at the beginning of the show for a tribute to Elivs. They closed out the show as the final act after a number of local bands performed throughout the night.
While he may not know how much time he has left with his friends and family, Beierbach says he wants to rock for as long as he can.
“I know it’s coming,” he said. “Until then, I’m going to continue doing gigs for as long as I can.
“I want to play until I can’t.”
