Bridget Doyle and Jenn Zimmerman
TribLocal reporters
Although their first single “Iain’s Song” was a sort of requiem, local suburban high school band Ten and Counting hopes the dedication will have a lasting influence on other troubled teens looking for help.
“Bullying is happening and people aren’t seeing it,” said Glenbard West Junior PJ McCloskey, guitar player in the five-member band. “If Iain hadn’t died, I wouldn’t have noticed it was happening either.”
In June of 2009, Lyons Township High School freshman Iain Steele committed suicide just before school was to let out for the summer. His death came as a shock to the community and brought a sad awareness to the deep effects of teen bullying.
That awareness, along with the memory of the friend who they met through guitarist Matt Brooks, was something members of Ten and Counting didn’t want to fade.
So, they turned to their music.
“The main reason I wrote the song was to find a way to accept his death,” said Brooks, a junior at Lyons Township. “Later I approached the band and asked if we could record it. It wasn’t necessarily a Ten and Counting song from the beginning, but we wanted to help others facing depression get through their own situation.”
Following a successful performance at Steele’s memorial concert and overwhelming positive feedback, the band released “Iain’s Song” on iTunes in mid-December.
McCloskey said although it is a tribute of sorts to Steele, it is also meant to bring a message to other victims of teen bullying that they are not alone and help is available. He also hopes it will open more teenagers’ eyes to the lasting and fatal effects it has on their classmates.
“It sucks because I had to realize it in the worst of ways,” he said.
Brooks said the band plans to donate all proceeds to Erika’s Lighthouse, a Winnetka-based group focused on raising awareness about teen mental health and depression.
They will perform “Iain’s Song” during the organization’s benefit concert Friday. Ten and Counting also will perform on April 15 at Night of the Noise, a show in honor of the Day of Silence, an event meant to bring awareness to the gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender community.
“We know that organization has had countless troubles with suicide, and were hoping that they will be able to see the song and realize that people are trying to make a difference,” McCloskey said.
“Iain’s Song” is available on iTunes for $1.99. Information about upcoming shows can be found at Facebook.com/tenandcounting.
In addition to McCloskey and Brooks, Ten and Counting is made up of Glenbard West juniors James Gould, Stephen Ilhardt, and David Hahne.
For more information about Erica’s Lighthouse, go to erikaslighthouse.org. Watch the Ten and Counting perform here:
