Famous Family Behind 'Rockfest For Aurora' To Benefit Shooting Victims
LAKEWOOD, Colo. (CBS4) - Help continues to pour in to help the families of the 12 people killed in the Aurora theater shooting and all those that were hurt. That includes a big rock concert planned this weekend.
The event is this Sunday at the Grizzly Rock in Lakewood. It's a sister venue of the Grizzly Rose.
What usually takes a year to put together was pulled off with two weeks of planning. It's a family event from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m., and it's got a famous family making it all happen.
When Motley Crue rolls in to town, it's a family affair. Front man Vince Neil's son and his daughter-in-law, the Whartons, live in Colorado, and like most everyone, they were so saddened by the Aurora theater shooting. Especially since it was personal. One of the victims in the shooting was Rebecca Wingo, a friend Marie Wharton knew well.
"She was a single mom, she has two beautiful little girls, five and nine," Marie Wharton said.
So the rock-n-roll family wanted to do something.
"You feel helpless in that you just want to help, and you don't know how to, and this is the way he and I both came up with how to help these people," Marie said.
Neil Wharton is a rock star just like his dad. His band is the Rock-And-Roll Junkies.
"We kind of put the call out to the rock n community, which is our friends," Neil said.
Neil's band will make its Colorado debut and play along with seven other local bands.
"Every penny that we raise, everything that we make goes directly to the victims' families and that's the least that we could do," Neil said.
They're calling the event Rockfest for Aurora.
"We want everybody to just come together and be a big family, and that's what we are, a big Colorado family," Neil said.
The famous family is using music to raise money to remember the innocent victims of July 20.
KISS and Motley Crue have donated signed guitars. The Nuggets, Rockies and Broncos have all made donations as well as numerous local businesses.
There will be raffles and a silent auction, and of course music.
LINK: View The Flier For Rockfest for Aurora
On Wednesday evening, Vince Neil performed with Motley Crue at Comfort Dental Amphitheater. The band was part of a performance that included KISS.
The two bands have donated $100,000 to givingfirst.org.
