Fans really are the unsung heroes of this and any music scene. They are the metaphoric 6th man - the backbone that keeps everything going and frequently goes uncredited.  Mike Haines was one of us; he was a dedicated fan.  Many of us remember the horrific news story this past February, when Mike, an armored car driver, was murdered by his partner. The story was covered extensively by local and national media outlets, reporting every detail of the heinous crime.  But what they failed to mention in their coverage, was the multi-faceted individual that Haines was, and his impact on the music scene in Pittsburgh.


To those that knew him, Haines was an avid fan.  He loved this city and the talented musicians that called it home.  Even more importantly, to local band, Identity X, he was a close friend and supporter.  In fact, Haines was the mastermind behind the band's moniker. 

While it's one thing to simply 'like' a band on Facebook and say you're a fan, it requires a further level of dedication to attend their live performances and show your support, especially with consistency.

"He attended just about every show from the beginning," said Identity X front man Dave Toole, "If he couldn't make it, I always had a message from him on my phone after the show asking how it went."


Haines attended concerts to show his support for local musicians, and this Saturday, local musicians will be throwing a concert to show Mike that they were a fan of him as well.  In honor of Haines and his tireless dedication to the music scene in this city, the bands Identity X, Downplay, The Morning After, and Model Class Citizen will be performing at "Rock to Remember".  They will unite behind the music that Haines loved to help raise money for the Michael R. Haines Memorial Scholarship at RMU, where he was an active member of the student community. 


Rock to Remember will be held at Altar Bar this Saturday at 5:30 PM. Tickets are $10 online at TicketFly and $12 at the door. Proceeds will go to the scholarship's creation.

**NOTE: If you can't attend the show and would still like to contribute, you can donate directly at www.rmu.edu/haines



- via Identity X



Official promo video for the event:





Official statement via idxmusic.com:

"On Saturday, September 1, 2012, the alternative rock band, Identity X, will be hosting an all ages fundraiser performance called, "Rock To Remember: A Tribute To Mike Haines" at the Altar Bar. All of the proceeds from ticket sales will go to the Phi Delta Theta/Michael R. Haines Memorial Scholarship. Supporting acts include Downplay, TheMorning After, Model Class Citizens, DJ DNAPPS, and more! Tickets can be purchased online at Ticket Fly.

For those who are unfamiliar with Mike Haines, he was a Founding Father of the Pennsylvania Pi Chapter of Phi Delta Theta at Robert Morris University. Mike (Bond #0017), truly believed in the Fraternity's three cardinal principles and lived with these values every day. Mike's life was unfortunately cut short in February 2012 as a result of an armored vehicle heist where he was the armored vehicle driver shot during a robbery. Mike's life may have been cut short, however his memory and the values and motivation that he brought to the Brothers of Pennsylvania Pi, his family, and friends will always live on.

Mike Haines was an incredibly strong supporter of Identity X. Not only was he front and center at the first show, he was responsible for coining the name of the band! The members of Identity X feel compelled to directly memorialize Mike's legacy with one of his favorite things, music."