Queens Band Twin Stumps Planning Benefit for Their Bassist Mike Yaniro

Michael Yaniro

Lost amid the Halloween blog blitz was the terribly sad news that Michael Yaniro, bassist for hardcore sludge outfit Twin Stumps, was violently attacked two weeks ago in Ridgewood over $10 and a cell phone. The artist didn't have health insurance--and the mere account of his injuries was absolutely harrowing:

His right eye socket needs surgery as there is a bone protruding into it... so it needs to be repaired to restore his ability to move the eye. He has a fractured jaw and nose which will require surgery to repair, as well as multiple broken bones in his face. Pieces of titanium metal is to be inserted in his face to support the bones.

Yaniro is out of the hospital now, hopefully doing better than expected since he's actively looking for movie companions, and friends have set up a web site for donations. Twin Stumps are, understandably, on a hiatus, but frontman Alessandro Keegan is currently looking for big-hearted bands who'd be interested in playing a "tentative" early December benefit show at Death By Audio. Contact the man directly. And be careful out there, this year just keeps getting worse and worse.

Download: Twin Stumps, "Scar" [Built on a Weak Spot]