ZRock

ZRock Music News and Videos

  • Home
  • News
  • Videos
  • Artists
  • Concerts
  • Interviews
  • Photos
  • Contact
  • Submit News
  • Requests

Given To Live : Tom Pugh Interview

April 24, 2018 by Angelica Atkinson

Share34
Tweet
More
34 Shares

given to live

Music has been a safe haven for millions of people since its beginning—a place to escape hardships, a place to hold memories, a place to be whoever you imagined yourself being. The importance of music is often underestimated by most, but that’s not the case for Given To Live Founder, Tom Pugh. We’ve been following the organization’s story and all he’s doing for disabled music fans all the way in the UK, even going so far as to bring them to the US to give them a chance to see their dream concerts and meet their idols. We’re big fans of all he’s making happen, which prompted us to go to the man himself and ask some questions.

Q: What’s the most rewarding part of what you do?


A: It’s a toss up between the smile on the face of the person we’re taking or the person who applied for them. It means so much to both—receiving something so special and also seeing someone you care about receiving are both very powerful. Also, the impact being that special person can have huge impacts on those with mental health issues, especially depression. Knowing someone is in a better place is hugely rewarding.

Q: What are 2-3 of your most memorable concerts?

A: I’ll always remember the first. The Foo Fighters and taking a young girl, Kayleigh. At the last minute, a meet & greet got organised and as wonderful as it was for Kayleigh, I felt very out of my depth. Couldn’t afford business cards let alone GTL tees so I’m passing my number on a scrap of paper wearing a Pearl Jam shirt. Although I’d love to have done some things differently the most important person was Kayleigh and she had the time of her life.

Taking Joshua to see Pearl Jam was special for me. Pearl Jam is my (favorite) band and GTL exists out of my love for their music and activism, so to take someone to their show was very special. Joshua has Cerebral Palsy and music, Pearl Jam, is his comfort, expression and often his safe place. He loved it, and towards the end of the show he was standing for a few moments unassisted for the first time in his life. And Eddie Vedder gave him and Given To Live a shout out before playing Joshua’s favourite song, Love Boat Captain.

Download ’15. We took, Kelvin, a wonderful young man, to see Slipknot and meet Corey Taylor. Since then we’ve done another Slipknot and a Stone Sour, and Corey has been so generous to GTL and the people we’ve taken. I can’t mention Corey without also mentioning Michelle from Cosa Nostra PR who has given GTL so much help and support; she’s a superstar!

Q: What’s the biggest struggle you face with running this organization, especially doing it all on your own?

A: Funds and contacts. When I started GTL I knew no one in the industry, today my contact list isn’t much longer than that. Getting tickets is often a struggle and of course reaching the bands themselves. I’m very aware neither I nor GTL are names with clout and we’re only four years old next month. In June, I’m walking 150 miles to Pearl Jam’s London show to raise funds and on the day of the show there’s 46 people climbing The O2 Arena raising funds as well which will help.

Q: What prompted you to start GTL?

A: In ’06 I overdosed and if someone hadn’t been with me I wouldn’t be writing this. Alcohol and drugs had been my go to to manage anxiety and trauma since I was young. That was summer ’06 and I quit in the October and have stayed clear of alcohol and drugs since. Years of therapy and other personal development have allowed me to face the issues that I needed to, rather than pretend they don’t exist. In the summer of ’13 I had a deeply moving realisation that I am alive listening to Pearl Jam’s Alive. It hit me deeply that I escaped death and this needed to be honoured rather than be a fact. So I gave myself my dream holiday and went to the States to see Pearl Jam 5 times.

At the last show, on my 46th birthday, I heard about a young fan who had been mugged early in the day and lost everything. I knew I needed to help so I bought her the show poster and used the tube as a collection box and went down the GA line raising some money to help her out. I realised how lucky I am to be able to work, to go to a show. I’d been doing it since my first show as a 15yo and only hadn’t when I’d been a mess using or my mental health wouldn’t let me. So I thought, “I want to help others who aren’t so fortunate, who struggle to face the day and need to feel special and create something that could make this happen.”

Q: What is your biggest fear when it comes to GTL?

A: That it stays where it is and doesn’t grow. There’s so much I’d like to do with GTL as a vehicle for change in people’s lives, but funds limit the work we can do. A band supporting the work we do would help, a chance to sit down with people in the industry and show them what their funding could do would be my biggest dream. I’ve had emails and messages thanking me for saving a life, saying I’ve stopped self-harming and I have something to live for. I know, given the chance, there is so much Given To Live can do. I have dreams, I just need a little help to dream them into living.

Given To Live is an incredible organization with an insane amount of heart behind what they do. Tom makes dreams come true for those who would otherwise not get to experience things that we take for granted. As amazing as it is, they can’t do it all alone. If you’d like to help, please consider making a donation to Given To Live.

To learn more about Given to Live, please visit giventolive.com.

Share34
Tweet
More
34 Shares

Filed Under: Foo Fighters, Interviews, News, Pearl Jam, Slipknot, Stone Sour

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

ZRock Featured Videos

ZRock Featured Videos

George Thorogood

The Original George Thorogood

WINGS OF STEEL Bring Back Classic Heavy Metal with Eponymous Debut EP!

DOYLE Announces ABOMINATE THE WORLD AS WE DIE TOUR 2022 Spring Dates!

George Thorogood

George Thorogood Interview: Stay Healthy Stay Happy Keep Rockin’

SHE MADE ME DO IT Releases Official Music Video for “Love’s Demise”

THEM GUNS RELEASE OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO FOR “FIREWORKS”!

THE CLAY PEOPLE To Join OTEP & One Day Waiting on Select Dates of THE ART OF DISSENT TOUR

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

WIN FREE TICKETS AND SHIT

Join the ZRock VIP Z List to get news about your favorite artists and be eligible to win free shit like concert tickets and music

Popular Posts

PAUL JOSEPH BLUES PROJECT (Feat. Former Members of 100 WATT VIPERS & IRON BUTTERFLY) Releases Official Music Video for Bluesy Rock Single, “Cold Rain Falling”PAUL JOSEPH BLUES PROJECT (Feat. Former Members of 100 WATT VIPERS & IRON BUTTERFLY) Releases Official Music Video for Bluesy Rock Single, “Cold Rain Falling”
Lisle Engle Takes on Lockdown Stressors with Official Music Video For “Disengaged”!Lisle Engle Takes on Lockdown Stressors with Official Music Video For “Disengaged”!
HUXLEY Releases Official Lyric Video for “Second Chances”!HUXLEY Releases Official Lyric Video for “Second Chances”!
OHP Twists AMY WINHOUSE Pop Classic “Rehab” into Heavy Metal Anthem!OHP Twists AMY WINHOUSE Pop Classic “Rehab” into Heavy Metal Anthem!
SOCIETY 1 Releases Official Music Video for New Single, “I Never Saw You”!SOCIETY 1 Releases Official Music Video for New Single, “I Never Saw You”!
BLACKTOP MOJO Introduce Fans to New Concept Theme with Animated Video, “Jealousy/Make Believe”BLACKTOP MOJO Introduce Fans to New Concept Theme with Animated Video, “Jealousy/Make Believe”
HUXLEY Reveals Official Music Video for Intimate New Single, “Flesh and Bone”!HUXLEY Reveals Official Music Video for Intimate New Single, “Flesh and Bone”!

CONNECT WITH ZROCK

Facebook

Like

Instagram

Follow

Twitter

Follow
Tweets by zrockmusic

Recent Rockers

  • DYMBUR Release Official Music Video for Explosive New Single, “Child Abuse”!
  • OHP Proves that Being “Sweet But Psycho” isn’t Just for Pop!
  • A FITTING REVENGE Release Official Music Video for “The Overthrow“!
  • RAYGUN ROMANCE Reveals Official Music Video for New Darkwave Lament, “Adore You”
  • HUXLEY Reveals Official Music Video for Intimate New Single, “Flesh and Bone”!
  • OHP Twists AMY WINHOUSE Pop Classic “Rehab” into Heavy Metal Anthem!
  • DAWN OF ASHES Releases Unsettling, NSFW Video for “EMDR”!

RSS ACOUNTRY MUSIC NEWS

  • ACL 2022 Lineup Announced
  • Outlaw Music Festival 2022 Lineup
  • 25th Anniversary of Shania Twain’s Come On Over
  • 2021 CMA Country Christmas Performers
  • 2021 CMA Awards Performers
  • 2021 CMA Awards Predictions Part Two
  • 2021 CMA Awards Predictions

submit news & photos
merch - tickets
privacy - contact - advertise - requests
©2003-2022 zrock.com