Artist, designer, and photographer Keith Perks has become an important contributor and good friend to NEPA Scene over the past two years, though he has been an integral part of the local scene for much longer than that.
As Rich Perry explained in a column back in 2014, Perks was diagnosed with cancer, specifically Ewing’s sarcoma, in 1995, but by his last chemotherapy treatment on Nov. 20, 1996, he had beaten it with the support of friends and family. That date was later immortalized in 1120 Studios, his creative company founded in 2003 that produces photos, graphic design, CDs, clothing, and shows like XIXX: 20 Years and Counting on Saturday, Nov. 19 at The Other Side in Wilkes-Barre.
“I held these [XXIX] shows for me to celebrate, but it was more for just the basic fact of getting friends together and creating music and memories. This year is no different. I do not want it about me; I had cancer, whatever…. yada yada yada. It’s about us, about the scene, about the art and music we create,” Perks said before the 20-year anniversary concert.
“I haven’t done one in a while and thought this would be a very good excuse to get everyone together again.”
He didn’t just get musicians together – he got bands like Empire of the Sea, Machine Arms, and Auxilia to reunite after years apart, along with Tusko, Super Snake, and Terry Childers, for a special night of progressive, experimental, hardcore, and psychedelic rock music…
…and plenty of shots when the clock struck midnight. Here’s to 20 more years of creativity and living life to the fullest. Fuck cancer.
Photos by Keith Perks/1120 Studios
