The Police investigation into the attack on The Growl bassist Marc Earley has reached a turning point.
As the West Australian rock band pointed out in an post on their Facebook page this afternoon, New South Wales Police have issued an image of a man “they would like to speak to in regards” to the incident that left The Growl musician to undergo emergency surgery on his hand, with a 50% chance of recovery.
Early this month, Earley was the victim of an allegedly unprovoked attack in the suburbs of Sydney in the early hours following The Growl’s slot at the Sydney Laneway Festival, in an Oporto fast food restaurant at approximately 3:30am on Monday 3rd February.
Following the assault, the bassist – who also teaches music, composes scores for film, and is an in-demand player in Perth’s jazz scene – was left with a broken ring finger and two fractures on the upper knuckle of his playing hand. New South Wales Police have issued an image of a man “they would like to speak to in regards” to the incident…
Earley was rushed to hospital while The Growl frontman Cameron Avery (also a member of fellow Perth band, Tame Impala) set up an online campaign to raise donations to foot the costs of medical surgery, with fans flocking to the band’s plight and raising over $20,000 in 24 hours for the injured musician.
NSW Police have now supplied a CCTV image to media in order to get in contact with the man, who they believe can assist with their investigation. He is described as being aged in his 40s, with an olive complexion, approximately 178cam tall with short brown hair.
Left: The man NSW Police would like to speak to. Right: The Growl bassist Marc Earley performing at the Melbourne Laneway Festival 2014 (Photo: Len Panecki)
Anyone with information are urged to contact Police at Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/.
Following the completion of The Growl’s Laneway commitments (with Pond frontman Nick Allbrook replacing Earley for the remaining dates), Avery thanked fans for their “overwhelming amount [of] support” in offering a tally of $28,250 in donations to aid in Earley’s rehab and medical bills after undergoing surgery earlier this month.
“As he’s already said it’s still very touch and go as to whether his treatment will allow him to keep playing,” says Avery, “but the ongoing support and donations will give him his best chance.” The Growl are also attempting to co-ordinate a benefit gig in Perth for the injured bassist where they where “we’re gonna play a whole bunch of [side-project] Allbrook/Avery tunes we haven’t played in a couple years.”
The injuries may also tragically leave The Growl bassist out of action for the band’s forthcoming trip to Austin, Texas as one of 55 Aussie bands playing SXSW 2014.
In related news, Police are also investigating a random attack on another Aussie musician, Timmy Henman, drummer for Sydney hard rockers Strangers.
Though he luckily came out better for wear than Earley, Henman was “beaten to a bloody pulp”, in the words of the band, after being “jumped by 8 men” in the Sydney suburb of Rozelle on Saturday 15th February at around 3:30am.
Despite it being the latest in a wave of rising street violence in the NSW capital, Henman believes that the State Government’s tough new measures to curb alcohol-related attacks – including 1:30am lockouts, 3am last drinks, and statewide closure of bottle shops from 10pm – are merely a “band aid” solution that won’t stem the issue, only harm the survival of already struggling live music venues.
“I don’t believe in the lockout laws and I never have… we struggle in Sydney as it is anyway for shows, to see local bands,” the Strangers drummer told Tone Deaf this week.
“The Annandale Hotel wouldn’t have anything like this [incident] happen inside – neither would the Oxford Art Factory, it’s all when you’re out on the street afterwards, mingling with other people that these things can get out of hand.”
