Kim Warnick, lead singer and bass player for The Fastbacks, has taken seriously ill in Seattle.
Warnick was the former wife of one-time REM touring member Ken Stringfellow.Local musicians have rallied to help raise money for Kim. Presidents of the United States of America gave the door money from the annual Double Album Christmas Show to Kim.
This year's Double Album Christmas Show featured local Seattle musicians performing Bob Dylan's 'Blonde On Blonde'. "It's not that she's a Dylan fan really - in fact, she'd take the UK Subs, the Raspberries and Sweet over Bob any day - but she's a musician with no health insurance who hasn't been able to work at all since June. She literally hasn't been able to walk for months now," said PUSA's Andrew McKeag.
In a statement at his website, Ken Stringfellow said "recently, my first wife, Kim Warnick, beloved bass player, bartender, giver of wit, lover of all things Ramones, was in hospital for some serious surgeries. No real insurance, although Music Cares and other folks are helping. However, if you ever knew Kim, or even if you didn't, and you thought...hey, she's awesome, and she needs help, you can write an email to Brooke Williamson (brooke@mercuryseattle.com). Brooke is organizing donations to go towards Kim's medical expenses and what is to be quite a bit of recovery time. Kim had some crazy things growing on on her spine and is walking by sheer...medical skill and the grace of Johnny and Dee Dee. Anyway, Kim is ace-I always thought that if Seattle issued its own money, Kim would be on the twenty, at least!"
Kim played with The Fastbacks from 1980 to 1998. She then became a member of Visqueen until retiring fro performing in 2004.
Stringfellow was a founding member of Seattle band The Posies and more recently was a touring member of REM.
