L.A.-based bassist Kevin Chown (TARJA TURUNEN, BOMBASTIC MEATBATS) has set a May 8th worldwide digital release for his upcoming solo EP, Light The Way, which will be part of a fund raising campaign to help cover Chown's mounting medical bills. The title track, 'We Light the Way', is streaming below:

Chown, who is currently hospitalized at USC Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA and scheduled to undergo brain surgery on May 2nd, only recently revealed he had epilepsy after suffering several seizures over the past months.

"It’s taken me years to finally acknowledge my condition publicly, even to my closest friends. As strange as it seems, embracing who I really am to everyone in my life, even my closest friends, has taken just as much or more courage than it has taken me to consider brain surgery. For decades, I have carried this around with me, worried what people would think. I feel like I am half way home already by simply embracing the reality of my situation."

Light The Way, which was recorded and mixed by Kevin Chown at The Groove Bubble, Sherman Oaks, CA, with additional production by long-time friends Jono Brown and Jeff Kollman taking place at World of Mouth Recording, Agoura CA, features Chown on bass, cello and lead vocals on the opening cut 'Alive', along with contributions from guitarists Jeffery Marshall and Jeff Kollman (Bombastic Meatbats, COSMOSQUAD, GLENN HUGHES), drummers Adam Gust and Jono Brown, and Marian Tomas Griffin on backing vocals as well as co-lyrics on 'Ties That Bind' from Chown's former TILES band mate, Chris Herin. The EP's sweeping title track features the talents of female lead vocalist Angel Travis, with additional vocals from Chown.

"'We Light The Way', moreso than any other track on the EP, is my nod to all the Tarja fans out there you have been amazing in welcoming me into the fold all around the world and have been so supportive ever since I went public with my battling epilepsy on Facebook. Thank you one and all!"

In addition to raising money from the sales of Light The Way, a page has been launched in order to help Chown collect funds for his considerable out-of-pocket expenses from these medical procedures. Anyone interested in helping to reach the targeted goal of $50,000, can make a donation at this location.

A native of Escanaba, Michigan, Kevin Chown first made a name for himself as a member of highly regarded Midwest progressive hard rock quartet EDWIN DARE, who issued three albums in the 1990s, before becoming a much in demand session and touring musician with likes of TED NUGENT, ARTENSION, TONY MACALPINE, Tiles and UNCLE KRACKER. He teamed up with former Edwin Dare band mate Jeff Kollman and RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS drummer Chad Smith in the Bombastic Meatbats in 2008 and joined Finnish superstar Tarja Turunen's band in 2010. He appears on Tarja's 2012 Act I live CD/DVD and tracked bass for her upcoming studio release, produced and mixed by Tim Palmer (PEARL JAM, U2) and scheduled for an August/September release via earMUSIC.

More on Kevin Chown at this location.