Punk Community Unites to Heal Sick of it All's Lou Koller

Punk Community Unites to Heal Sick of it All’s Lou Koller

Rancid, Dropkick Murphys and AFI are among the bands, artists and fans who have donated more than $200,000 through GoFundMe for the singer of Sick of It All Lou Koller following his recent cancer diagnosis.

Koller was diagnosed with esophageal cancer, which forced Sick of It All to cancel their European tour. A GoFundMe was subsequently launched, and many of his peers in the punk rock community donated to help him with medical expenses and loss of income while he was undergoing treatment.

From the over 4,000 donations received so far, the bands Rancid, Dropkick Murphys and AFI have made the largest donations, amounting to $5,000 each.

Furthermore, AFI frontman Davey Havok donated $2,000 himself (under his birth name David Marchand), while veterans of the scene Hot Water Music And Snapcase contributed $1,000 each to the fundraiser, as did Obituary singer John Tardy and that of the Napalm Death Barney Greenway.

Lou’s brother and bandmate, the guitarist of Sick of It All Pete Kollerset up the GoFundMe and posted the following on the page:

“My big brother Lou has been diagnosed with adenocarcinoma cancer. He has a cancerous tumor in his esophagus. We, Sick of It All, have canceled the rest of the year of touring and will not tour until Lou beats it. As you know, touring is the lifeline of a band like Sick of It All. If you could help him, it would be greatly appreciated.”

After revealing the diagnosis, Lou shared a video in which he declared himself optimistic that it was hoped he would be cancer-free in time for Sick of It All’s return to the stage later this year.

“Thank you for all your support and I hope we get through this and see you at the end of the summer… or maybe winter,” he said.

You can support Lou Koller’s fundraiser by visiting the GoFundMe page.