Published: Aug. 25, 2017
Getting past last year’s tragedy
Second annual Rockin’ for Heroes fundraiser promises to be
an emotional day
By NICHOLAS DETTMANN
ndettmann@conleynet.com 262-306-5043
Former 3 Doors Down guitarist and founding member Matt
Roberts was found dead Aug. 20, 2016, at the Hampton Inn in West Bend.
Roberts, 38, was in town to play for the inaugural Rockin’
for Heroes fundraiser, which aimed to raise money for the Stars and Stripes
Honor Flight program.
It was later determined Roberts died of a prescription
drug-related overdose.
For the several weeks that followed, Nick Pari, a member of
the band The Nix, and the event organizer, continuously thought he was
responsible for
what happened to Roberts.
“I felt a little guilty,” Pari said. “I was one of the
people that brought him here.”
Unfortunately, he didn’t have many opportunities to get his
mind off of it because he spent nearly five months with limited to no mobility
recovering from a broken leg he suffered a week before last year’s event.
Most of the The Nix’s band members thought the same thing
and it nearly spelled the end for The Nix.
“Our band almost disbanded,” Pari said, adding “The whole
band was in a funk. ... We were besides ourselves.”
That so-called guilt the band and Pari had was erased with
the help of a friend of Roberts.
“His friend said Matt was looking forward to coming to
this,” Pari said. “He wanted to do something for the troops.”
That, along with the addition of an energetic and upbeat
personality with a fresh perspective behind the drums, has helped The Nix get
back on their feet, play music again and give Rockin’ for Heroes a second try.
On Saturday night at Our Place, 4721 Highway 33, West Bend,
the second annual Rockin’ for Heroes benefit concert will take place with
proceeds benefitting the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight program.
“Most of the planning is done,” Pari said. “Now we’re just
waiting for the day to come.”
And frankly, the day, which Pari promised will be emotional,
can’t get here soon enough.
That was such a dark cloud over last year,” Pari said.
Not only is it a benefit to thank those in the military, a
cause close to Pari’s heart, but also an important step in the healing process.
“We had a lot of long talks,” Pari said about how close the
band came from disbanding.
Two things brought them back together.
“The love of music and the love of playing together,” Pari
said. “We had a lot of soul searching.”
The Nix took their semi-comeback slowly.
It started with the search for a new drummer after Pari said
the previous drummer didn’t want to do it anymore, mostly because of what
happened with Roberts.
So Pari searched the web for a drummer and came across a
woman named Pamela. Pari declined to provide Pamela’s last name, per her
request.
At about the same time, the group’s agent contacted Pari and
told them about a drummer. It was the same person.
“We said if Pamela works out then we’ll see how it goes,”
Pari said.
They had no idea what was about to happen next.
“We just clicked,” Pari said, adding Pamela’s playing meshed
with the band’s right away.
“It was like we’d been playing together for 20 years,” he
said. “It’s been a terrific decision ever since.”
The band’s first performance after Roberts’ passing was in
May. Since then, the reception and support has been nothing short of fantastic,
playing in front of nearly capacity crowds at every gig.
Pamela is one person The Nix owe a thank you to.
“She’s amazing,” Pari said. “She’s our little powerhouse.
She’s always pumped up. She bred new life into our band.”
❑❑❑
Saving Abel joins the event
In addition to The Nix, a West Bend-based group that plays
songs by Styx, REO Speedwagon and 3 Doors Down, international touring band
Saving Abel will also perform.
Saving Abel has seven top-15 hits to their credit, including
the No. 1 hit “The Sex is Good,” released in 2010. Their first single,
“Addicted,” got to No. 2 on the U.S. rock charts in 2008.
Scott Bartlett, rhythm guitarist, backing vocals and the
band’s tour manager, said the group is eager to help out this year’s Rockin’
For Heroes event.
“When it comes to any branch of the military, we’re always
all in,” he said.
Bartlett added his father was a doctor in Vietnam.
“We’re happy we can be a part of this,” Bartlett said.
The band’s involvement is also a tribute to Roberts, a man
the band called a role model and a friend.
“We grew up listening to their music,” Bartlett said.
When they heard of Roberts’ death, it caught their
attention. Bartlett said it was “heart wrenching.”
“We knew he was struggling,” he added. “We knew he was
trying to find his way. What I remember most about him is his heart. He was a
goodhearted lover of people and music.”
❑❑❑
Roberts’ memory remains
There were positive memories Pari and The Nix took from the
brief time they spent with Roberts.
He arrived in West Bend and at Pari’s house shortly before
dinner time Aug. 19.
“We had a meal catered for him and his dad,” Pari said.
“Super nice guy, really engaging.”
After dinner, The Nix and Roberts rehearsed for the
following evening’s show. They were up until about 1 a.m. Aug. 20.
“He just said he was super tired and wanted to get some
sleep,” Pari recalled.
Looking back on it now, Pari thought of how neat it was to
be in the same room, playing with a man the band admired.
“It was kind of surreal,” Pari said. “I’ve been listening to
3 Doors Down for years and I’m sitting across from him, playing with him. It
was a good feeling.”
He added it was neat to play 3 Doors Down’s “Kryptonite”
with the man who helped write the song in the room. “Kryptonite” was the band’s
debut single and was a No. 1 hit in 2000.
Pari said he admired Roberts’ warm heart, but also his
ability to know when it’s time to get serious on stage.
“He was very business-like when playing,” Pari said
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