MICHELLE MELDRUM: PayPal Fund Set Up To Help Family With Expenses

May 24, 2008

A fund has been set up for donations to the family of late MELDRUM/PHANTOM BLUE guitarist Michelle Meldrum, who passed away on May 21 as a result of a cystic growth on her brain that had restricted oxygen and blood flow to her brain, rendering her braindead. This money will be used initially to help the family with expenses, and will then go towards an education fund for Michelle's son, Jake Thomas Norum (father is EUROPE guitarist John Norum).

Donations can be sent via PayPal to [email protected].

A private memorial service for Michelle will be held tonight (Saturday, May 24) in Laguna Beach, California.

At the time of her death, Michelle had just completed writing and recording MELDRUM's soon-to-be-released third album with drummer Gene Hoglan, along with the group's latest additions, Michele Madden (vocals) and Laura Christine (bass). The surviving bandmembers plan to release the CD later this year in tribute to their fallen bandmate.

Michelle Meldrum was born on September 28, 1968 in Detroit, Michigan to a family of musicians and actors, and moved to Los Angeles, California at the age of 13. She started her career in music by forming the thrash metal band WARGOD with drummer Gene Hoglan (DARK ANGEL, DEATH, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD),then moved on to become both co-founder and lead guitarist in PHANTOM BLUE. PHANTOM BLUE released its self-titled debut album on Shrapnel Records in the U.S. (Roadrunner in Europe and Japan) and eventually landed a major label deal with Geffen.

While her career flourished, Michelle married EUROPE guitarist John Norum and moved to Sweden to form MELDRUM. After many successful tours with such acts as MOTRHEAD and BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, she reunited with Gene in 2006 when he appeared as a guest on MELDRUM album and events. Inspired to once again collaborate, Michelle moved back to America where she and Gene began writing the third MELDRUM album together.

Reality Check TV has put together a video tribute to Michelle Meldrum to help celebrate her life and remember her as she lived shredding on her guitar. Watch the 10-minute clip below.

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