A Father’s Loss Leads to Epilepsy Awareness with Joey’s Song

It’s a tragedy no parent should have to endure. Michael Gomoll’s son Joey died due to epilepsy in 2010. The Madison area father’s loss leads a movement for epilepsy awareness to ensure others don’t face a similar heartbreak. He amplifies education during National Epilepsy Awareness Month in November. But Gomoll also started a benefit concert he calls “Joey’s Song.” It has grown from an annual one night tribute show to a multi-day music festival scheduled in January of 2025. Gomoll joined the hosts of the Max Ink Radio music show to share why this expansion is so special.

“I’m describing this as the next chapter for Joey’s Song,” Gomoll explains. “We are calling it Freezing Man, and modeling it after the famed Burning Man festival. Freezing Man will bring together celebrated musicians from bands like Garbage, the Goo Goo Dolls, Cheap Trick, and many more. It will be several days of music with the purpose of raising funds for epilepsy awareness and research.” 

LISTEN to the full interview about the Freezing Man Festival here:

The festival will also offer more than music by partnering for the first time with the Epilepsy Foundation of Wisconsin. Gomoll calls it an opportunity to promote seizure first-aid training. 

“A lot of people know what to do if someone breaks an arm or stops breathing, but seizures are misunderstood,” Gomoll says. “The training, which takes just 75–90 minutes, equips participants to recognize and respond to seizures calmly and effectively.”

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-Michael Gomoll, Joey’s father

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And there’s an incentive, too. Those who complete the training before late December can earn free admission to the festival’s Saturday night show.

“It’s a win-win,” he says. “We want 500 new people certified to help in a seizure emergency. If rock and roll can make that happen, let’s do it.”

Gomoll’s son Sam is a Beloit College student and budding musician. He is also part of the Joey’s Song legacy and joined his dad in the studio. Reflecting on his own passion for music, he shares how those involved inspire him to use his creative potential for good. 

“The music, the community, the improvisation. It’s all about freedom and expression,” Sam says. “And to have these artists be willing to help by sharing their talents every year is amazing.”  .

And while the festival is growing, Joey’s Song remains rooted in its purpose of turning grief into action.

LISTEN to the full interview about epilepsy seizure training here:

“Every note played, every person trained will bring light to other families navigating the challenges of epilepsy,” Gomoll says. 

For more information on Joey’s Song, Freezing Man, and seizure first-aid training, visit EpilepsyWisconsin.org.

DID YOU KNOW:

• Epilepsy impacts people of all ages, from infants to the elderly. 

• Epilepsy impacts more people than multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and Parkinson’s disease, combined.

• Epilepsy claims more lives than breast cancer every year.

• 500,000 children in the U.S. have epilepsy.

• 1 in 10 people will have at least one seizure during their lifetime.

• Epilepsy research receives less than half a percent of NIH’s $30 billion annual medical research budget.