Help HELIOS CREED get a phone, cane, rent, life, medical....

Hi, I'm Michael Dean, I've been friends with Helios since 1986.

Helios Creed doesn't have a phone, a computer, a CD player, or a TV, and can't use his musical gear where he is. He's feeling very isolated, and bored out of his skull. He had a friend where he lives, but the friend died. He sees his sister occasionally, she's 79.

(The photo below is him using my laptop at my apartment, checking his MySpace. Note the red Netflix DVD envelopes on my desk. Was 2005.)

He's also got a lot of health issues, and can't afford the place he's staying.

I'm doing a fundraiser to get him in order: a cane, a phone (with lots of minutes), a CD Walkman / radio, and anything over that will go directly to him for living expenses.

If anyone has a laptop they don't need, I can help you get it to him.

Helios Creed (real name Barry Johnson) has been hugely influential in underground / space rock / industrial music since his was in Chrome in the late 70s. He influenced the Butthole Surfers and played on an album of theirs. Helios was the guitarist for Nik Turner on albums and live shows. (Nik was a member of Hawkwind)

Helios solo and with Chrome influenced Nine Inch Nails, Jesus Lizard, Prong, KMFDM, Ministry, Skinny Puppy, Killing Joke, Pavement, and MGMT. They've all named Helios and/or Chrome as an influence.

I run the closest thing to a Helios Creed fan club, the Facebook page "HELIOS CREED, CHROME, and Other Music for Uplifting Gormandizers."

I was in the San Francisco band Bomb (1986-1993), we played with Helios a bunch and have kept in touch over the years. Helios says I named the song he wrote called "Martian Sperm And Bagpipes", but I don't remember doing that. But that was the 80s in San Francisco. Now BipTunia is my music project.

Helios will be 72 in November. He's in poor health. He's living in a home for adults with physical health issues. He's beat cancer twice.

He is in the hospital as I type this, he fell down because he stood up too fast and his heart doesn't pump enough blood. He has heart issues (Congestive heart failure), he also broke a hip. Hopefully he'll be back home in a day or two.

He's also beyond broke, can't tour anymore, gets very little in royalties anymore, and has lot of bills.

We talked for about 30 minutes today, and had a good time catching up.

He's very isolated not having a phone.

He usually does NOT get messages on the main phone at the place he lives. Krystal (from Helios sister band Galaxy Chamber) and I have been trying to keep in touch with him. We generally have to call 7 to 10 times to get ahold of him once, and messages do not get passed on to him.

He was in fairly good spirits today despite all this. He knows I'm doing this fundraiser, happy about it, and fine with putting in this much detail.

I've set up this fundraiser as "Automated goal setting" which means if it goes over the goal, the goal will go up. I'm trying to get this great guy as much as possible.

A NOTE ABOUT THE "TIP" asked for when donating:

That Tip is not for Helios, it's not for me, it's for GoFundMe who already take 2.9% of the donation amount + $0.30 per donation.

The "TIP" IS ENTIRELY OPTIONAL, you don't need to do it. You can if you want. Just adding this info since several people have asked me about it. Thanks!