Friends Planning Benefit Concerts To Help Local Musician After Attack
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A $2,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of the suspect accused in the brutal beating of a well-known musician on Pittsburgh's South Side.
Dave Whaley continues to recover and his many friends are doing everything they can to help him.
"Broke my orbital bone there… [going to] have surgery."
That was Dave Whaley in his hospital bed a week and a half ago.
It was the day after the 44-year-old drummer was nearly run over as he walked home on the South Side. Officials say the driver of a Mustang got out of the vehicle, savagely beat Whaley, and then left him bleeding on the ground.
In the Whaley family kitchen in Oakdale this Thanksgiving, there is much to celebrate. Whaley's stitches are out, but there's still a lot of healing ahead.
"The vision in the left eye is coming along reasonably well," says Whaley. "It's still a bit blurry and I'm still dealing with double vision."
Lois Whaley's memory is imprinted by that trip to Mercy Hospital in the middle of the night, but her son is home and safe now.
"We went into the hospital and he was unrecognizable," she said. "He's here. I mean, it's a wonderful Thanksgiving; that guy could have had a gun."
What the suspect doesn't know is that Whaley is probably one of the nicest people you'll ever meet, but he has no health insurance and his medical bills are piling up.
"The most gentle, caring, kind person did not deserve this," says good friend Melissa Turkal.
What began with a tee-shirt campaign expanded to a Facebook page and petitions to the mayor.
"Issues on the South Side have been getting worse over the years," says Turkal. "I think this was the straw that broke the camel's back.
The response is incredible.
"It's been over $10,500 in just a week," adds Turkal
Whaley knows how blessed he is.
"All the friends that have come forward and helped me out with this has just been unbelievable," he says.
If you'd like to be part of this great effort, Whaley's fellow musicians are putting together a slue benefit concerts coming up beginning this weekend.
Here's the list:
"Chris Theoret's David Bowie Show AND Bobby Lamonde's Cursed Concert"
The Rex Theater
Friday, Nov. 23 at 7 p.m.
Portion of ticket sales to support Dave
"Justice For Dave"
Excuses Bar and Grill
Saturday, Nov. 24 at 1 p.m.
Featuring Terry Griffith, Tom Breiding, Bill Toms, Suprise Guests, The Pump Fakes, Mothers Littlehelpers, The Soul Kitchen & Venus In Furs
Brookline Pub 50/50 Raffle
Sunday, Nov. 25 at Noon
Benefit to Support Dave Whaley and Keep the South Side Safe Awareness Day
Tuesday, Nov. 27
Intermission Bar and Lounge at 9 p.m.
DJ'S EZ LOU, Kali Ko Kat, West Cold Pop Aubrey and more
Dish Osteria and Bar Keep the South Side Safe, and Dees Café
Tuesday, Nov. 27
Portion of proceeds to support Dave
Club Café Justice for Dave Benefit
Saturday, Dec. 8
Donation at the door -100 percent to support Dave
Featuring Stainless '80's Metal Madness, Broken Fences, Pete Bush, Nathan Zoob, Casey Deely and more.
Violence Won't Silence the Music: A Benefit for Dave Whaley
Diesel Nightclub
Sunday, Dec. 9 at 5 p.m.
Sardonyx Productions along with Walking Duck Entertainment doing benefit concert
Lava Lounge Benefit for Dave Whaley
Wednesday, Dec. 12
100 percent of the door and 25 percent of the bar will go to help Dave
Smiling Moose Benefit for Dave!
The Smiling Moose
Thursday, Dec. 13 from 7:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
100 percent of the door goes to help Dave
RELATED LINKS:
Local Musician Facing Surgery After Alleged South Side Attack (11/12/12)
More South Side News
