Ex-MISFITS Guitarist Pays Tribute To Slain Fan

THE UNDEAD, the band fronted by former MISFITS guitarist Bobby Steele, is among the confirmed performers at the Brian Deneke Memorial Concert this Saturday, December 8 at the 6th Street Community Center, 638 East 6th St., New York City. Other acts slated to appear include THE BLAME, THE CRUSHER, DEAD ON A FRIDAY, SWEET ONES and BRET MOSLEY. The show will also feature a spoken-word performance by original MISFITS manager DAVE STREET. Admission is $7, with proceeds to benefit the Brian Deneke Memorial Committee and other non-profit organizations.

Brian Deneke was a punk rock music fan from Amarillo, TX who became well known after his untimely death in 1997 at the age of 19. Deneke was killed in a violent hit-and-run incident in the Western Plaza Shopping Center parking lot stemming from a fight outside of an IHOP in Amarillo, TX on December 12, 1997. His death was immediately met with great anger from the punk subculture, since it is widely believed that he died solely for being a punk, i.e. that his death was a hate crime.

Brian is survived by his mother, father and brother.

In 2002, THE UNDEAD recorded "Tears On A Pillow", a tribute to Deneke written by Steele and DAVE STREET.

THE UNDEAD's performance in New York City is one of many shows being held across the country on December 8 to mark the 10th anniversary of Brian's murder, celebrate Brian's life, promote tolerance and draw media attention to what many view as a gross miscarriage of justice.

An outspoken supporter of Deneke's memory, Steele doesn't mince words about his band's active participation in the event.

"It's a shame that these days, we hear more outcry over dog fighting and false rape accusations than we ever hear about the discrimination and abuse of punk rockers — even within the liberal 'punk community,'" he said.

For more information on, visit www.briandeneke.org.

Watch a video tribute to Brian Deneke: