Jeff "Durst" Stranahan lived a normal life until about a year ago.
It was then that he began touring the country with his friends, the Buffalo quintet Every Time I Die. The group was more than happy to bring their childhood friend along for the ride.
"He started touring a year ago, you know, let him touch the waters, eat the fruit, see if he liked it. Next thing you know he quit his job, and was touring full-time. No looking back," said Every Time I Die front man Keith Buckley.
With all of the benefits of living the rock and roll dream, Stranahan set out with his buddies and remained with them on tour for a year, at the age of 24. The rock and roll lifestyle eventually brought about tragic circumstances.
"He was wasted one night on Long Island, and the next day he slept all day, for like 16 hours, and I thought to myself, 'Wow, he must have a really bad hangover.' When he finally woke up he had flu symptoms, then it just got worse and worse, he got rashes and stuff, but he was being stubborn," said Buckley.
"He kept saying that he didn't have health insurance. By day six he was having trouble breathing, and his face was blue, so we ambushed him, threw him in a cab and took him to the hospital."
His friends' quick action turned out to be instrumental to Stranahan's survival.
"The doctor told us that an hour later would have been too late," said Buckley.
The illness Stranahan acquired came on fast, with no more than a week's warning. The illness has yet to be determined, but Stranahan has suffered kidney failure, hives, high temperatures and has undergone a spinal tap. He fell into a coma for more than a week.
The members of Every Time I Die could do nothing but hope and pray for their friend, as they had no choice but to leave him in a hospital in St. Louis, hundreds of miles from home.
The band was forced to keep moving. Every Time I Die kept to the road, hoping to hear of improving conditions as soon as possible.
"It was rough leaving him in St. Louis, but it's business as usual," said Buckley. With no health insurance, the group had to figure out several different ways to raise money to help Stranahan.
The band's Nov. 6 tour stop at home here in Buffalo with Zao, Misery Signals, Black Maria and local friends Ghosts of War is now a benefit for Stranahan. All of the proceeds will be going to Stranahan and his family to help pay his hospital bills. The tickets can be pre-purchased through Ticketmaster, Kaufman's Department Stores, Home of the Hits and Sit 'N Spin Records.
The tickets are a low $12 both pre-sale and at the door. The band will be accepting donations, and there will be five different raffles, with tickets ranging from $1 to $10, depending on the size of the prize. Online donations are also available at www.tour-city.com.
Stranahan will also be receiving support from many other bands and companies that know all of the guys. This support is unquestionably needed.
"We're getting sponsors from Jagermeister, Nike, Virgin, Atlantic and Sony Records. The Osbourne family is sending a care package. We played at Ozzfest and are just really trying to raise as much money as we can," said Buckley regarding the band's benefactors.
So what is the beloved "roadie" up to at the present moment?
"He's back home now, he just looks tired, but he's still got a sense of humor, he was in a coma for a week and a half, and he stopped breathing twice, so it's scary. But now he has six months of physical therapy," said Keith. "He has a great appreciation of life, and he is very considerate of others, He just better do something awesome with his life now."
Photo: Courtesy of Matthew Messina, from the RMBERS' Instagram page
