Cleveland, Ohio based metal band VENOMIN JAMES were hit with tragic news recently. Drummer Jared Koston, 40, was diagnosed with two brain tumors stemming from stage IV Melanoma cancer. His condition is critical. He was released from University Hospital in Cleveland to be at home with this family.

"Jared’s started radiation therapy, but his doctors have basically said that we should prepare for the worst", says Venomin James guitarist Joe Fortunato. "I don't even know where to begin. It has all happened so rapidly that it took us all by surprise. He had been getting chemotherapy, but a bad reaction hospitalized him, which is how they found more going on. Originally, it was only in his shoulder but has now spread to his spleen and brain. It may happen that he doesn't survive too much longer. We were planning to have a benefit concert for him and for Melanoma charities, but it looks like he may not even be around long enough to see it, let alone play at it. The fundraiser is at a very early stage. I have several bands willing to donate performances. We’re praying he makes it through this okay”.

“Jared and his family need financial help immediately", says Auburn Records president Bill Peters. "Jared has four beautiful children and a wonderful wife by his side. The heavy metal community is always very generous and supportive when it comes to good causes. The international outpouring of support to the Iannicca family last year to help prevent the parole from prison of the murderer of my friend and DESTRUCTOR bass player Dave Iannicca was overwhelming. The response had a major impact on the parole board’s decision.

”Anything you can contribute to the Koston family during their time of need is greatly appreciated. This family is doing everything they can to keep things going but can’t do it alone. Jared and his wife Michele are both hard working people but had to leave their jobs while they continue to battle this illness. All of the money raised will go directly to Jared and his family to help cover medical and travel expenses. Please take a few minutes to contribute if you are able. No donation is too small. You can make a difference."

The band and family have setup a way to donate.

Cash, checks and money orders (payable to Jared Koston) can be sent to:

The Koston Family

3060 Princeton Drive

Madison, Ohio 44057

USA

PayPal donations can be sent to: jaredkoston@rocketmail.com

(Be sure to mark ‘personal’ then select ‘gift’)

There also is a Koston Cancer Funds ‘Cause’ page setup on Facebook.

Michele Koston has organized two spaghetti dinner fund raisers at the Stadium Grill in Mentor, Ohio on May 3 from 6-8 p.m. and at the Wagon Wheel Restaurant in Madison, Ohio on May 24 from 5-8 p.m.

Michele, along with members of Venomin James, will be appearing live on WJCU’s Metal On Metal radio show, hosted by Peters, on Friday, March 26 at 8:30 p.m. (EST) to talk about her husband’s condition. Listen live at www.wjcu.org or 88.7 FM in the Cleveland, Ohio area.

Venomin James are about to release their second album, Crowe Valley Blues, on Auburn Records in May. An advance track from the album, Cosmonaut, will be appearing on Poland’s Hard Rocker magazine Monuments Of Steel II compilation CD. The CD will be included in issue 17 of the magazine (due out April 10). The band's first critically-acclaimed full-length CD, Left Hand Man, was released in 2007.

Venomin James lead vocalist, Jim Meador, also serves as a sergeant in the US Army. He was called to active duty in 2009 and sent overseas to be stationed on the front lines in Afghanistan. He is scheduled to return home in May. During his absence, the band have been writing and demoing new material for their third studio album. They have also performed a couple of all-instrumental sets in the Cleveland area, including a benefit concert for WJCU in February, to remain active and visible while Meador is overseas. The shows have been very well-received.

“Venomin James are one of Cleveland’s hottest upcoming bands”, adds Peters, “and Jared is a standout drummer. The band is on the verge of breaking out of this market and going on to the next level. Anyone who has seen them live can attest to that fact. They are facing a lot of adversity but are staying strong and positive to overcome these obstacles. All of our thoughts and prayers right now though are focused on Jared’s recovery and Jim’s safe return home.”

Statement from Michele Koston, wife of Venomin James drummer Jared Koston:

“Jared has been fighting melanoma since 2005. It started with a mole on his left back. They removed that and it came back. It was stage III melanoma cancer. So they went deeper to remove more of his skin. They also removed his lymph node on the left side. They found that one of the lymph nodes were infected with melanoma cancer. They started him on a treatment called interferon. That was a very hard treatment for him. It totally made him sick where he just stayed on the couch.

Then in 2009 he has another tumor that was growing on the left shoulder again. They did surgery and removed it. We went for his 6-month check-up and he had a tumor growing in the same spot that they just removed. This cancer is growing very fast. He was in the hospital ICU to go through treatment for a week then a week off. He did this 3 times. That treatment was called Interleukin-2. This was working but then his cancer found a way around it and was still growing. They started him then on chemo called dacarbazine. He did that twice. Every three weeks we would have to go in for the treatment. The second one was the last one because a week and half after treatment Jared started to get really sick and he was not keeping food down. He was very pail and stayed in bed. I noticed that he had red dotes on his legs and I called his doctor. The next morning they wanted him to go get blood work done. Within an hour they called me and told me that he had to go to the hospital right away. They had to give him platelet and a blood transfusion because his blood levels were so low. Jared was in the hospital for almost 2 weeks. While there they did his cat scan and that came back his cancer had spread to the spleen. They also wanted to do a MRI on the brain to figure out why he keeps getting sick. That came back and Jared now has two brain tumors. He is going through radiation Monday through Friday. We drive to Cleveland everyday for his treatment. After that they want him to go do another treatment of chemo. While all this is going on, Jared has not been working and I have not been to work either so I can be here for him. He stays in bed and really does nothing. I stay here to take care of him and make sure he is drinking and eating a little. This is very hard on us in very many ways. We have three daughters – ages 20, 18 and 9 - and a 5-year old son. Any help you can give is greatly appreciated. Thank you for thinking of Jared and our family.”

The Koston Family:

Venomin James website: www.venominjames.com.

Venomin James 'Cosmonaut' video:

Photo top-left by Joe Kleon: Jared Koston performing live with Venomin James on February 19, 2010 in Cleveland at the WJCU 2010 Radiothon Benefit Concert