BW&BK; has received the following press release:

Lee Popa, a veteran sound engineer, producer/remixer and musician who has worked with some of the biggest names in Rock and Metal, has announced that he is suffering from primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and is in need of a partial liver transplant.

A primary figure in the industrial rock scene since the late 1980s, Popa served as live engineer for MINISTRY’s legendary 1989/1990 The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Taste tour (as documented on the 1990 live album, In Case You Didn’t Feel Like Showing Up) and KILLING JOKE’s 1990/1991 Extremities, Dirt & Various Repressed Emotions tour (as documented on the 2007 compilation, Inside Extremities, Mixes, Rehearsals & Live). In addition to being an early member of the infamous PIGFACE, Popa’s extensive resume as a remixer/producer/sound engineer includes work with TOOL, LIVING COLOUR, KORN, PRONG, WHITE ZOMBIE, DANZIG, KMFDM, QUEEN, BAD BRAINS and BUSH, among countless others. Most recently, Lee and his wife Jolee recorded original music under the moniker, pinksideofthemoon. An extensive Lee Popa discography is available at this location.

Primary sclerosing cholangitis is a disease primarily of the bile ducts, both inside and outside the liver. The ducts of the gallbladder and pancreas may also be involved. The walls of the bile ducts become inflamed (cholangitis), and this inflammation causes scarring and hardening (fibrosis) that narrows the bile ducts. Since bile cannot drain properly through the ducts, it accumulates in the liver, causing damage to liver cells. Eventually, so much bile is accumulated that it seeps into the bloodstream. Finally, with longterm cell damage, the liver develops cirrhosis (hardening or fibrosis) and can no longer function properly.

Drummer Martin Atkins, who traveled across Europe with Popa during the 1990/1991 Killing Joke tour and later worked with him in the early years of PIGFACE (as documented on the 1991 live album, Welcome To Mexico…Asshole), praises Popa’s contributions to the world of underground music – as well as his one-of-a-kind personality.

“Lee is one of those people you want to have with you on the road when the shit hits the fan,” Atkins says. “[He’s also] one of those special people who occasionally cause some of the shit, but you’re all in it together and you have his back for all of the times he’s had yours. He’s one of those very rare, no-bullshit, tell-it-like-it-is Chicago fuckheads… one of those people you want.”

Author and musician Joel Gausten (PIGFACE/ ELECTRIC FRANKENSTEIN/ EFFECTIONHATE), who first crossed paths with Popa in 2006 while conducting research for a Killing Joke-related project, echoes Atkins’ sentiments.

“Lee Popa is one of the most open, helpful and brutally honest people I’ve ever encountered in the music business,” Gausten says. “He’s also one hell of a storyteller – even though I’ll have to take most of what he’s told me about certain bands to my grave! Lee is a rare friend to many in an industry full of charlatans and creeps, and he deserves much better than these unfortunate circumstances.”

Popa, who calls his partial transplant his “window of opportunity,” has issued the following statement:

“Both Jolee and I want to thank Musicares, KROQ, Daily KOS and everyone worldwide who has supported us with emails, calls and positive vibes. Special thanks go to my long-time friends in Chicago and our more recent friends in Japan. We opted not to list individual names out of respect for your privacy, but you know who you are. We can never thank you enough.

The help I need now is for you to help me find a living donor by posting this information on your website, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc.

If you or anybody you know would like to be a donor (A or O blood type. It doesn’t matter if it is positive or negative) or would like further information on being a living donor, contact:

Janelle Newkirk

Living Donor Transplant Coordinator

USC University Hospital

Los Angeles

TEL: 323-442-7403

EMAIL: janelle.newkirk@health.usc.edu

Or, you can look at the hospital’s information website here.

I am looking forward to getting back to rockin’!"

Positive vibes,

Lee

For more information, please visit SaveLeePopa.com.