The Bay Area thrash scene is rallying around one of its founders. "Heal As One: A Benefit For Dennis Pepa" takes place on Sunday, January 24, 2027 at DNA Lounge in San Francisco, raising money for the DEATH ANGEL co-founder, who is fighting stage 4 duodenal cancer.
The centerpiece of the night is "An Evening With Friends", an all-star set featuring current and former members of EXODUS, SLAYER, DEATH ANGEL, TESTAMENT, FORBIDDEN, DRAIN, HEATHEN, NEVERMORE, VAIN, SACRILEGE B.C., SKINLAB and D.R.I. Fellow thrash veterans HIRAX appear as very special guests. More performers and a guest emcee will be announced in the coming weeks.
The evening opens with San Francisco punks P.O.S. (PRODUCT OF SOCIETY), fronted by Dennis's son Roman Pepa. Dennis's side project BIG SHRIMP will join them to close the set — two generations of the Pepa family on one stage.
Pepa, DEATH ANGEL's founding bassist and original vocalist, was diagnosed in early 2026, shortly after losing his longtime job. As we reported in October, he launched a GoFundMe to cover treatment and keep his family afloat. Proceeds from the concert will support Dennis, his fiancée Gemalyn and his sons Maddox and Roman.
The official poster carries original artwork by Bay Area artist Mark DeVito, known for his work with EXODUS, LEGACY (later TESTAMENT), METALLICA and MOTÖRHEAD, plus a hand-drawn Dennis Pepa logo by Ashley Mitchell of VAIN — the artist behind DEATH ANGEL's original logo.
The night will also feature benefit merchandise, auctions and a pop-up shop from Nomadic Inc., the venture Dennis runs with Gema. Fans who can't make it will be able to take part through merch, auctions and raffles, with details to come.
Support Dennis Pepa: GoFundMe — Help Dennis Pepa Beat Cancer