Maryland Rockers Turn It Up to Help Others Recover
Maryland rock ‘n roll musicians Shannon Larkin (also below), Brian Forsythe, Brad Divens, Bob Paré.
By Charles Jeffries
When some of Maryland’s most successful rock ‘n roll musicians gathered for a benefit concert in Hagerstown earlier this year, it wasn’t to celebrate their own sobriety but to help others with theirs.
Guitarists Brian Forsythe (KIX, Rhino Bucket), and Bob Paré (KIX, Ever Rise, Sun Dogs), drummer Shannon Larkin (Wrathchild America, Back Alley Gators, Godsmack) and bassist Brad Divens (KIX, Wrathchild America, Back Alley Gators) performed a two-hour set at the Maryland Theater and raised more than $60,000 for Ladders to Leaders, a Washington County sober-living organization.
Alicia Divens, president of the board of directors of Ladders to Leaders, spearheaded the concert. Her husband reached out to three of his friends. All four have struggled with addiction and all are now sober (Paré and Larkin for eight years, Divens for six and Forsythe for 26 years).
“When I had the idea for the benefit, I thought it was important to have hometown musicians with lived experience to encourage our community to celebrate recovery and to show that change is possible,” Alicia Divens said.
Ladders to Leaders was founded in 2015 with the opening of one men’s sober living home. In 2021, Eva Kelley became the executive director and has since expanded the organization by opening an additional men’s home and adding a woman’s home.
“Eva strengthened the L2L program by offering intensive peer-based case management and access to outside professional resources, while still providing a safe, sober living environment,” Alicia Divens said. “She has also established a donation collection program in which hygiene supplies, cleaning supplies, and food are distributed to the sober living homes and other community organizations.“
The musicians all donated their time and were happy to do so.
“One of the things that brings joy to my life is to help others during their journey with sobriety,” said Paré. “Whenever I feel like I’m in a rut or just get down on myself, I turn to helping others in need. I’m beyond blessed to be in a position to do so. That has been one key ingredient to the success of my journey. I learned during recovery that it is imperative to surround myself with positive people and positive situations, and that’s not always possible for some.
“Unfortunately, the disease of addiction is far more difficult for some than others. When the opportunity to perform at the Ladders to Leaders benefit concert presented itself, I didn’t hesitate. I got to play music with my friends, raise awareness for our local community, and raise funds for a program that is extremely meaningful to a lot of people in need.”
The theme of the evening was Recover Loudly, and that hit home with the musicians.
“It was a great feeling to support Ladders to Leaders by celebrating sobriety and recovery,” Brad Divens said. “The money raised from this event will make a difference. Everyone’s story is different, and the journey is not easy. No stigma, no shame. Recover Loudly, to keep others from dying quietly.”
From Addiction to Achievement
The mission of Ladders to Leaders is dedicated to helping people transition from alcoholism and addiction, with concern to domestic violence, homelessness, incarceration, and related mental illnesses into productive member of society by offering housing, employment opportunities, intensive peer-based case management, peer support, access to outside professional resources, and a safe environment.