DAY HE’S BEEN DREADING ALMOST HAIR
MORE than a decade of memories and compliments are entwined with James Ex cell’ s dead locks, which extend more than a metre from his head towards the ground.
The Len ah Valley sound technician wills have his head at an event at the Brisbane Hotel on October 10 to raise funds and awareness for music industry workers battling with their mental health, whose problems have been compounded by the pandemic.
Mr Ex cell said he had been growing his dead locks about 12 years and regularly received compliments and “wows".
His $5000 fundraising target has been exceeded by more than $1300 with the funds togo to Support Act— a well being help line for the music and entertainment industry.
“They’ ve got a fundraising wing called Crew Care which deals directly with people like myself—roadies, sound and lighting techs and everyone involved in the back end of the industry ,” Mr Ex cell said.
“The state of the world at the moment and C OVID have hit the entertainment industry pretty hard. We were the first peopled own and we’ ll be the last people back (at work).”
Mr Excell said back-end workers were “always in black, working long weekends while everyone’ s out enjoying themselves ”.
“That can take a massive strain on you, physically and mentally, dealing with long and odd hours away from the people you love ,” he said.
“You’ re sacrificing a fair bit. It’s important, especially now, that we highlight the importance of mental health for all entertainment industry workers.”
Mr Ex cell said his hair had given people something to look at .“I used to play in a couple of metal bands so shaking the dreads around on stage head-banging looked pretty cool.”
The Facebook fundraising page is called “Shaved em D reads ”. Mr Ex cell is also running a competition for those who donate $7 or more to guess the weight of his locks with estimates so far ranging from 0.9 kg to 6 kg.
The Support Act Well being Helpline is a confidential, 24/7mentalhealth counselling service available to anyone working in Australian music
Freecall1800959500. patrick.gee@news.com.au