Gobsmacked by Godsmack
Nine-year-old lives out a dream with his heavy metal idols
REGINA — Not many nineyear-olds get a chance to sing a duet with the lead singer of their favourite heavy metal band.
But on Monday morning, Kieran Howden made his way backstage at the Brandt Centre and rocked out a tune with Godsmack before the U.S. band’s evening show. Kieran was wearing a Godsmack headband (and an Iron Maiden T-shirt).
“They made him feel so welcome. And their generosity, it was remarkable — they had everything set up,” said Camille Howden, Kieran’s aunt, on Wednesday. “He just went right in and was comfortable with everything and made himself at home.”
Kieran, a Grade 4 student at McLean School with Down syndrome, has been a Godsmack fan since he was two.
They made him feel so welcome. And their generosity, it was remarkable — they had everything setup. CAMILLE HOWDEN KIERAN’S AUNT
The family also insists the first two-syllable word he spoke was “Godsmack.” The band’s influence has also been helpful with Kieran’s language development. Kieran’s mom Candace Brucker explained that Kieran knows most of the lyrics to several songs, and practises his language skills when he sings.
But, since it was going to be a late night, Kieran wasn’t able to go to the concert. So, the family did the next best thing.
To arrange the backstage visit, Camille contacted a Regina radio station promoting the concert and asked what they could do to help. From there, the Brandt Centre got involved and the visit became a reality.
When Kieran heard that he was going to meet the band, he jumped up and down on the family couch with excitement, said Camille.
During the 40-kilometre drive to Regina from McLean, Kieran repeatedly asked if he was going to be able to sing a song with the band. Camille didn’t know.
But in the band’s dressing room, Kieran quickly got his answer. Lead singer Sully Erna asked Kieran what he wanted to sing. Kieran shouted out the name of one of his favourite Godsmack songs — Speak.
“He just rocked it out,” said Candace.
Candace and her brothers were able to see the show. For her, it was the third time she’s seen Godsmack in Regina since the band formed in 1995.
She was impressed with how nice the band members were to her son, even noting that their generosity shows that metal bands have “a soft side.”
That generosity left Kieran with a new, black Godsmack jacket, an autographed drum top, drum sticks and a guitar pick.
Of the different bands Kieran heard growing up in the family home and driving in the car, Godsmack caught his ear.
“Among all the bands that he’s listened to, for some reason he just picked them and that was it,” said Camille. Besides Speak, Kieran also likes Godsmack’s songs Whatever and Voodoo.
At one point, the family tried to get him to change his favourite band — introducing him to Megadeth and Pantera. But Kieran remained loyal to Godsmack.