----Interesting story that was posted on the message board a few days back. Michael Hubbard aka "The Living Doll" Michael Anthony seems to have booked some bands for a charity concert. But, the kicker is the bands were not told and the charity does not exist. Anthony was part owner and booker for Mid-South Wrestling with Killer that ran in Dresden, TN and Gibson, TN. Many of the guys in this area have worked for him.
Bands Say No To Charity Concert
Some area musicians say their names are being used to promote a concert. Problem is, they have no plans to appear.
Posters are showing up all across western Kentucky that promise a charity concert to help abused women and children.
NewsChannel 6 has learned some of the bands aren't going to be there and women's advocates say they've never heard of the charity.
"We absolutely have never heard about this until you guys let us know about it," said Jeff Shipp.
Jeff Shipp is a member of the band London Calling. It’s one of dozens of bands scheduled to play a benefit concert with proceeds going to the Mercy Foundation.
The problem? Shipp knows nothing about the concert until we told him.
"Pretty surprised. Definitely don't want any kind of bogus info related to our band. Especially since our singer has been in London for the last few weeks. So, be kind of hard to play a show without a singer,” said Shipp.
London Calling isn't the only group surprised to hear about their involvement in the benefit. NewsChannel 6 has learned several bands featured on this flyer have no knowledge of the concert and have not*agreed to perform.
Music shops around western Kentucky pulled the flyer from their store windows after bands contacted them.
“It seemed fishy at the time so I told him I didn't want anything to do with it," said Hooper of Hooper Booking & Promotion.
An area music promoter was asked to get involved. He called the Kentucky Office of Charitable Gaming to check out the Mercy Foundation.
“We called that office after speaking with the county attorney and getting his suggestions to do so they do not have him on file or record at all," said Hooper of Hooper Booking & Promotion.
Other women's advocacy groups in the area also say they've never heard of the Mercy Foundation.
We did contact Michael Hubbard, a Mercy Foundation contact. He sent an e-mail and says he personally does "emergency rescue missions to remove abused women and/or children from the abusive homes and transports them to safety."
Hubbard says people who question his motives, specifically this fundraiser are quote "an abuser and/or batterer themselves."
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