Members of Sum 41, Chixdiggit, The Flatliners, Danko Jones, and more have collaborated with The Fizzgigs for a charity single to benefit Kids Help Phone.
The Fizzgigs and co will release a cover of The Wipers’ 1980 tune “Is This Real?” and will raise money for the young people’s counseling and support charity.
Dean Rudd, Fizzgigs’ bass player, says, “Between the impact of COVID-19 and the prospect of growing up in a world where systemic racism is an undeniable reality, the kids have more questions, anxieties, pressures, and problems these days. For many, home is not a safe place, the outside world doesn’t yet feel like a safe place, and isolation from their social groups has amplified the normal challenges of growing up.”
The single will premiere on Exclaim! July 30, and will be available to stream on July 31 with links to donate to the campaign.
The charity is projecting upwards of 3 million interactions with young people in 2020 compared with the 1.9 million last year. Funds raised through this collaboration will support Kids Help Phone’s professional counseling and text-based support so that when a young person reaches out for help, someone will always be there to answer.
The Fizzgigs feature former Belvedere songwriting duo Jay Sinclair and Scott Marshall and state their influence as the Ramones, Descendents, and the early Lookout! Records catalog. The band released their debut album, Weeeeeeeeeeeee are the Fizzgigs, earlier this year, and have a new 7” single out September 18. Check out the video for “Destiny” below.
Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only 24/7 e-mental health service offering free, confidential support in English and French to young people. They give millions of youth a safe, trusted space to talk over phone and online chat or through text message with Crisis Text Line powered by Kids Help Phone in any moment of crisis or need. You can find out more and donate here.
Musical collaborators include:
- Dave Baksh from Sum 41
- KJ Jansen from Chixdiggit
- Chris Creswell from The Flatliners
- Blair Cooney from One Shot Left
- Chuck Coles from The Creepshow, United Snakes, and Rules
- Seth Anderson
- Darren Ollinger from Julius Sumner Miller
- Emily Bones from The Anti-Queens
- Hugo Mudie from The Sainte Catherines and Yesterday’s Ring
- Jeff, Jamie, and Limo from Modern Terror
- Danko Jones
