Though never a mainstream favorite, Peaceville Records has always been one of metal’s most important and interesting labels. The UK independent released many of underground and extreme metal’s greatest records, among them Autopsy’s Mental Funeral, At The Gates’ Terminal Spirit Disease, Darkthrone’s A Blaze In The Northern Sky, Anathema’s Alternative 4, Opeth’s Still Life, and My Dying Bride’s Turn Loose The Swans. Now, it’s been revealed that label founder Paul “Hammy” Halmshaw is terminally ill, and needs your help.
News of Halmshaw’s illness was revealed via the JustGiving campaign started to help him pay for renovations needed to be done on his home. Due to his disease — hereditary dilated cardiomyopathy, a familial heart disease that can result in irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, and fainting — Paul can no longer climb the stairs in his house, and so needs a ground-floor bathroom and bedroom built ASAP.
“After a life in music I became seriously ill in lockdown,” explains Halmshaw via the campaign. “I found out I had hereditary dilated cardiomyopathy which is terminal.”
The campaign has already garnered over £4,000 of its £10,000 goal, so if you have a few bucks to spare, you can give them to Hammy via his JustGiving page.
Halmshaw isn’t the only metal scene fixture dealing with significant illness and trying to pay their bills via crowdfunding. Extreme metal artist Justin Bartlett recently started a GoFundMe to help pay for his cancer treatment.
“Justin is one of my best friends,” wrote his sister on the campaign’s page. “He’s funny, intelligent, generous, and extremely talented. He has his own business working as a graphic designer & gallery artist — most famously in the heavy metal music genre. If you’re a metal fan, you’ve seen some of his album cover work and merchandise designs. He’s got a LONG road ahead of him, and needs help with medical and living expenses because he’s too exhausted and in pain to work.”
While we know times are tough during COVID, The Pit urges you to give what you can to help Justin pay for his expenses. All donations can be sent via his GoFundMe page.
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Words by Chris Krovatin
