Valient Thorr Singer To Donate Kidney To His Father
Friday March 28, 2008 @ 06:00 PM
By: ChartAttack.com Staff

Valient Himself

Valient Thorr frontman Valient Himself may look like a bloodthirsty Viking, but he's really a pussycat who loves his dad. And pops will receive much more than a Father's Day Card from the singer this spring — he'll get his kidney.

The Chapel Hill, N.C. hard rock band will postpone all of their engagements from April 15 through June 10 to allow Himself to donate his kidney to his ailing father. The group will resume their European tour on June 13 and will play across the U.S. starting in July. Himself is making his sacrifice public to increase awareness of the U.S.-based National Kidney Foundation's work, and to motivate other people to take this same step.

"If I can go from a hospital bed to playing in front of a crowd of 75,000 at the U.K.'s Download Festival in just eight weeks, people out there might consider becoming organ donors as well," says Himself. "If they have family members who need a kidney, it's definitely something to think about; and if not, they can still learn about designating themselves as organ donors on their driver's license."

"We are delighted that Valient Himself has decided to take his donation story public," says National Kidney Foundation transplant services program director Catherine Paykin. "We hope that it serves to shed light on the lifesaving power of organ donation and encourages others to get involved. We wish him and his father a speedy recovery."

ChartAttack's news editor isn't sure how long his sole kidney will last, so readers who are feeling charitable and generous should keep him in mind.

Valient Thorr recently added guitarist Voiden Thorr to a lineup that already included Himself, guitarist Eidan Thorr, drummer Lucian Thorr and bassist Nitewolf. The group's new Immortalizer album will be released on June 17 by Volcom Entertainment. Their fourth LP in five years (all recorded while they average close to 250 performances annually) was recorded in Seattle with producer Jack Endino (Nirvana, Hot Hot Heat). A DVD is also in the works.