Paying homage to Rev Rebel

If you've spent much time in Atlanta's music scene, you probably know Billy Fields from his days spent greeting shoppers and checking bags at Junkman's Daughter in Little Five Points. Or you may know him from playing in bands like his most recent project, Rev Rebel, or with Seek, or even touring with Arrested Development and the Indigo Girls on occasion. If you've been in Atlanta for a long time, you know him from his days spent playing keyboards with H.R. of Bad Brains and with old-school ATL punk-funk rockers Follow For Now, and even writing songs for soul singer Dionne Farris. He's an Atlanta fixture and a work-a-day professional musician who has been behind the scenes making music his way since the '80s.

On Oct. 3 at around 1 a.m., Fields was robbed at gunpoint in the West End, across the street from Miniplex, a warehouse/art collective space where he was running sound. During the robbery he was shot at point-blank range. One bullet passed through his bottom jaw on the right side and exited through his opposite cheek. It took some teeth with it and caused damage to his tongue and upper jawbone. "I'm pretty sure it was a 9 millimeter," Fields says. "I turned to run and that's when he shot me. It happened so fast that it was almost like a getting a piercing. As soon as I heard the gun, the bullet had already gone through me."

No arrests have been made in the case, and since then he's been laying low after being discharged from Grady Memorial Hospital, where he underwent a handful of surgeries, including some plastic surgery. He now has a metal plate holding his jaw together, and more stitches than he'd care to count.

When he talks, he slurs words that end with "s," and his frame is a bit skinnier than it used to be, which is probably due to the fact that he's still not able to eat solid food. But his spirits are high, and he seems no worse for the wear. "I don't really mind the liquid diet, or just eating apple sauce and things like that," he says. "But commercials come on TV for Applebee's or the Olive Garden, that's when I just think, 'Oooohhhhh yeah.' And Outback Steakhouse, they do a really good job of making you want to eat their food. As soon as I can eat again, I'm going there."

Needless to say, Fields' medical bills are adding up, and like most musicians, he doesn't have insurance. To help cover these expenses, the El Caminos, Tiger! Tiger!, AM Gold, the Seventh Ring of Saturn, Pink Pompeii and the Fingers are playing a benefit show at the Earl on Nov. 27.

It comes two weeks after another benefit held at Apache Café on Nov. 12, which featured performances from Dionne Farris, Newberry Jam and several others. "The outpouring of support from so many people has been absolutely overwhelming," Fields says. "I have a lot of people to thank after this, and it really restores my faith in humanity."