Teen pursues musical tribute for late big brother

Rock band to play first show Nov. 3

Middle school student Logan Kellerman, 14, of White Oak, is pursuing his dream of becoming a professional musician with his first band, Fatal Heaven. The band will hold its firstever concert on Nov. 3 at the White Oak American Legion.

“The name is a tribute to my older brother,” Logan said.

In June 2014, Logan’s older brother, Matthew, was killed in a car crash at the age of 18.

In 2015 at age 11, Logan wrote a song called “If I Saw My Brother’s Face” about Matthew.

That song went on to win the Pennsylvania PTA Reflections art competition that year.

Logan is in eighth grade at Founders Hall Middle School in the McKeesport Area School District.

As for the idea of starting a band, Logan said, “It all started when I was coming home from school and me and my dad were driving and we were talking about band logos and names.”

He said the band name “just came to me” as he got out of the car.

“I said what about Fatal Heaven,” he said and his father, Gus, ran inside and wrote it down on a piece of paper. Mr. Kellerman was able to get the name trademarked.

He also worked to design the band’s logo which is made up of four of Logan’s favorite guitars that form a cross.

The band is made up of six people including Logan’s mother, Lisa.

“My mom’s the singer and she’s awesome,” Logan said.

Logan plays guitar in the band, something he has done since age 8.

At the Nov. 3 show Fatal Heaven will play covers of rock and heavy metal bands like Guns ’N Roses, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith and Metallica.

Logan said his greatest guitar influence is Slash, the guitarist for Guns ’N Roses.

Logan said he and his mother are working on some original songs as well for a future album.

“After our first concert, we’re going to try to make our own music, which will be like a combination of just the regular heavy rock, and we might add some spiritual rock,” Ms. Kellerman said.

“I have three songs on the burner that are dedicated to my son,” Ms. Kellerman said.

As for Logan, he said he’s set on being a career musician. “This is definitely what I want to do,” he said.

Both Logan and his mother hope to do another show with Fatal Heaven sometime in the spring.

Doors for the show at the White Oak American Legion at 2813 Capitol St. will open at 7 p.m. Nov. 3, and the show will start at 8 p.m.

About 100 tickets remain for the free show and can be obtained by emailing aklk531@verizon.net with “Fatal Heaven” in the subject line.