You are cordially invited to view the Support Life And Music’s 2026 SLAM Awards honoring the music industry’s mental health superheroes! This star-studded, blockbuster first-of-its-kind online event features music, presentations, acceptance speeches, and more! We’re paying tribute to music industry stars and VIPs who’ve inspired mental health positivity through advocacy, action, social media, writing, music, and/or just through their own personal stories.
Come and see the show.
The music mental health crisis is real and documented. The SLAM Awards recognizes the people who are making the music life better and safer for everyone.
Hosted by superstar Cathy Rankin, the 2026 SLAM Awards show released on August 27, 2026 through Support Life And Music’s YouTube channel. (Subscribe while you’re there! We have so many great conversations coming up!)
S.L.A.M. is proud to present trophies to an incredible class of honorees, music industry VIPs of the spotlight and sidestage. The full list includes:
- Michael Alago (Legendary record label executive and artist. Subject of the acclaimed documentary: “Who the F**k is That Guy?”, author of “I Am Michael Alago.”)
- John Bambino (VP Artist Management for In De Goot Entertainment)
- Dani Cutler (Scene Mom Says, ex-KWSS Radio DJ)
- Rob Halford (Hall of Fame singer for Judas Priest, author of “Confess” and “Biblical”)
- Amy Sciarretto (Trendsetting music publicist, founder of Atom Splitter PR)
- Darryl “DMC” McDaniels (Rap/Hip-Hop pioneer, author of “Ten Ways to Not Commit Suicide”)
- Pamela Parks (Headity Artist Management)
- Jason McMaster (Iconic singer from Dangerous Toys, co-host of Talk Louder podcast)
- Dr. George Musgrave (aka Context, a Rapper who’s worked with Rihanna, Ed Sheeran, others. He co-wrote a groundbreaking clinical paper on musician mental health)
- Dr. Dorian Lamis (Psychologist, author, and professor who co-wrote the clinical paper, “Musicians, the music industry, and suicide: epidemiology, risk factors, and suggested prevention approaches,” with George Musgrave.)
- Marc Lopes (Singer with Let Us Prey, ex-Metal Church)
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Quick, non-show-related detour:
We were only able to hand out 11 trophies in 2026, but the music world is actually full of people doing great things. No, really. It is. We want to recognize more of these heroes below for their positive mental health deeds. Some are as monumental as starting a foundation to benefit mental health, others as minor-but-significant as publicly, selflessly apologizing to a bandmate for a past wrong. We couldn’t spotlight this huge list of names during the SLAM Awards show, so we’re mentioning them right here, right now. Listed in alpha order by first name:
- Alice Cooper
- Anna Murphy – Cellar Darling
- Ari Jacobson – Backline
- Ariel Hyatt – CyberPR
- Ariel Jean
- Billie Eilish
- Billy Corgan
- Bootsy Collins
- Brad Cole – Backline
- Brian Pulido – Coffin Comics
- Burton C. Bell
- C.C. Chapman
- Cathy Rankin
- Chappelle Roan
- Chris Hathcock – The Reticent
- Cynthia Bissett Germanotta – Born This Way Foundation founder
- Debbie Watson – Nuci’s Space
- Devin Townsend
- Dobber Beverly – Oceans of Slumber
- Dolly Parton (RIP)
- Dr. Demento
- Elizabeth Zharoff – The Charismatic Voice
- Erika Lynn Schautz
- Francisca Pulido – Coffin Comics
- Hal C.F. Astell – Apocalypse Later
- Henry Rollins
- Hilary Gleason – Backline
- Holly Watson – Akashic Books
- Jacob Givens
- James Hetfield
- Jarvis Leatherby
- Jennifer Batten
- Jerry Cantrell – Alice in Chains
- Heather Freeman
- Jon Freeman
- Jonathan “JJ” Jacobs – Rawkstars
- Joseph “DJ Dimension” Mercado
- Kevin J. Anderson
- Lady Gaga
- Larry Jones
- Lisa Cyr – AZ Bike Week
- Marc Shapiro – Ipecac Records
- Melissa Erickson – The Funding Studio
- MetalWalt – MetalMayhemROC
- Mikael Akerfeldt – Opeth
- Mike Brandvold – Bravewords
- Mike Patton – Faith No More
- Mike Silvers – MIM Musical Instrument Museum
- MJ Bradley – Born This Way Foundation
- Monique Powell – Save Ferris
- Neil Giraldo – Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo
- Neil Peart (RIP)
- Pat Georgides – All Access VIP Adventures
- Pauline Serra
- Peter Hook – New Order
- Professor Elemental
- Randy Spencer – Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Center
- Roddy Bottum – Faith No More
- Sarah McLachlan
- S.C. Mendes
- Scott Ian – Anthrax
- Sheryl Crow
- Sorah Suhng
- Stevie Wonder
- Tina Farris – MITC
- Todd La Torre – Queensryche
- Tori Amos
- Trent Reznor
- Victor Wooten
- Vincent Desiderioscioli
- Whitney O’Malley – MITC
Some of these people have questionable incidents in their pasts. We know. This ain’t about that. All of these people need to be celebrated for actions that have bettered the mental health of those in the music world around them.
In addition to all of those names, We also need to celebrate every single guest who’s appeared on the SLAM: Music Survival Guide, whether in season 1 or season 2.
/End detour.
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On with the show.
The 2026 SLAM Awards show is more than just 11 acceptance speeches. It also features music videos and performances from:
Chuck Tomasi – Technorama
Garrett James and the Wanderers – Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Center
Jack Mangan – S.L.A.M.
Cathy Rankin
And guest presentations from:
Jose Mangin – SiriusXM
Todd La Torre – Queensryche
Mark Pruett – The Whiskey Network
Michael Stackpole – Author
David Ellefson – Kings of Thrash, ex-Megadeth
Burton C. Bell – Solo artist, ex-Fear Factory
Dobber Beverly – Oceans of Slumber
Ben Wells – Black Stone Cherry
Monte Conner* – Nuclear Blast Records
Evo Terra – Simpler Media
Dr. Sheila Dee – Simpler Media
“Metal Dave” Glessner – Talk Louder
Jonathan Jacobs – Rawkstars
Ari Jacobson – Backline
Hilary Gleason – Backline
Debbie Watson – Nuci’s Place
Rob Dukes – Exodus
*Monte Conner’s testimonial read by Jack Mangan
The host segments were primarily filmed at Technorama Studios, engineered by Chuck Tomasi, with post-production by Vincent Desiderioscioli of YoVinny Productions. The 2026 SLAM Awards Show is sponsored by All Access VIP Adventures.
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Partners, friends, and organizations who’ve been cool:
Arizona Eastern Star Foundation
All Access VIP Adventures
Backline
Rawkstars
Headity
Scene Mom Says
AZ Bike Week
Akashic Books
Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Center
MIM – Musical Instrument Museum
Yo Vinny Productions
Atom Splitter PR
Chipster PR
In De Goot Entertainment
Freeman Promotions
Asher Media
Skateboard Marketing
Born This Way
Honey Creek Studios
The Funding Studio
The Scribbled Hollow
MetalAsylum.net
MetalMayhem ROC
The Whiskey Network
Simpler Media
PHXMF
The Support Life And Music (S.L.A.M.) nonprofit was founded in 2025 by veteran journalist, Jack Mangan, to fight back against music industry tragedies from substance misuse, depression, and suicide. S.L.A.M. is saving music lives through storytelling, media, research, expertise, and inspiration.
S.L.A.M. has made a powerful impact in its first 20 months:
Season 1 of the “SLAM: Music Survival Guide” podcast featured 55 episodes of conversations with musicians of all levels, music industry VIPs, authors, and more. Season 2 will be even more exciting, launching on August 27 with the SLAM Awards episode!
In its first 20 months, S.L.A.M. published 43 articles, essays, reviews, and thinkpieces, including 7 D.R.E.A.M. (Data, Research, Education, Awareness, Music) reports.
S.L.A.M. has had official appearances at numerous in-person events, including Arizona Bike Week, Phoenix International Jazz Festival, MIM’s Celebrate Soul, and more.
Support Life And Music is here to improve musician mental health and seriously reduce music industry tragedies.