PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Philadelphia firefighter injured on duty is getting the chance to open for a big-time festival with his band this Memorial Day weekend.
Randy Ballinger has played bass with his South Jersey-based band, Jersey Calling, on and off for about 20 years. On May 27, they’ll be called to the stage of Atlantic City’s Adjacent Music Festival, featuring huge punk rockers like Paramore, Blink-182 and Jimmy Eat World.
Normally, Ballinger is jumping and rocking out with his friends, but at a practice Wednesday night, he was playing from a wheelchair. In February, Ballinger — a firefighter with Ladder 13 in Southwest Philly — fell from a roof of a home and was left with serious injuries, including a compound fracture in his leg.
“Thankfully, through this process, my head, neck and back and arms have all been intact,” he said. “All my injuries were from the pelvis down, so I didn’t have to worry about my playing ability.”
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Global entertainment operator Live Nation heard about Ballinger’s story and got them on the lineup. Originally, Jersey Calling was scheduled to perform only on one day, but now they are set to open for the big headliners, too.
“People are really going to sit there and feel like it’s part of them that’s on stage, opening up for their heroes,” added Live Nation Regional President Geoff Gordon.
The Adjacent performances will be the biggest stage Jersey Calling has played on so far — until the next gig, Ballinger quipped. His bandmates say they are overwhelmed but thrilled at the opportunity — and excited to get Ballinger back to full health.
“I can’t wait until he can walk again,” said lead singer Josh Kates. “He loves doing this kind of thing, and he’s the most active member on stage. He’s jumping around, he’s kicking things. He’s really the life and heart of this band.
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“We throw around the word ‘hero’ a lot when it comes to firefighters and other first responders. Randy — he will never call himself that,” Kates continued, “because his bar is so high for that term. You know, I’m not going up on any roofs to fall off of. That’s heroic to me.”
Ballinger said he’s eager to get back to his firefighting duties, but until then, they’re ready to rock.
“Music is so much more than just a hobby for me,” he said. “It’s an outlet. It’s therapy.”