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MySpace Editor zazim.comDredgeseven Vocalist and Lead Guitarist loses battle with Kidney Disease."D.J." Douglas Alan Arau Jr., 34, died peacefully in his sleep July 23, 2009, at his Anchorage home. He was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease in 2006 and was told by his doctor that he had most likely had it since birth. Visitation will be from noon to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at Kehl's Legacy Funeral Home, with burial afterward at Anchorage Memorial Cemetery. Dress is casual. A celebration of life will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Aug. 16 at the Mat-Su Resort in Wasilla. D.J. was born Jan. 15, 1975, in Fairborn, Ohio. He and his family came from the Boston area to Alaska in 1983. His family wrote: "Growing up in Wasilla, he spent most of his time rocking out with his friends. D.J. loved his family, friends, bands, songwriting and the music. He was a professional musician, songwriter, and audio technician. He released one C.D. with his band 'Dredgeseven' and was working on a second." He is survived by his mother, Bonnie Thayer; father, Douglas Arau Sr.; brother, Darrin Arau; sister, Hannah Battles; daughter, Dustie Flanders; gradmother, Janet Marchisio; grandmother, June Thayer; and several loving aunts, uncles and cousins.
Whatever happened to Dredgeseven???What happened to the band that had MTV success, phenomenal CD sales, national exposure and 13 years under their belt? It’s a sad story, but one that needs to be told to bring closure (and hopefully a new beginning and open new doors) for the fans and friends of Dredgeseven.In 2005 DJ pursued and was signed by an East Coast independent record label, Landry Records, Inc. in Massachusetts, With contract in hand, he began the journey back home to Alaska. The band started touring and was constantly in high demand in the Alaska club scene. However, shortly after the tour began, and their fan base was growing by the second, Kendall injured himself, which forced the band to into an eight week hiatus. After Kendall healed, the band once again tried to pull itself back together. They planned an east coast tour with a schedule of shows booked from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts. Unfortunately, due to confrontations and professional differences, and many attempts to make it work, the band ultimately decided after 13 long years of playing together that it would be best to go their separate ways.With Dredgeseven in disarray, the band’s future was grim if not finished. However, that was not going to stop front man DJ Arau whose determination and drive gave him the will to move forward. He had written Dredgeseven’s second record, however with no band members to record and studio dates already booked, it looked as if this would be his debut solo project. In mid-July 2007, after returning from recording on the east coast, DJ was preparing to go into the studio in Alaska, and tragedy struck once again. At a routine doctor’s appointment, DJ was sent to the ER due to excessively high blood pressure. After many tests, he was admitted, and it was determined that DJ was suffering from IGA Nephropathy (Kidney Disease) and that he was already in ESRD (End Stage Renal Disease). At that point, it was determined that the only option for DJ was dialysis and ultimately a kidney transplant. DJ immediately started medication in preparation for surgery to implant dialysis catheters into his heart and kidneys, however, while awaiting the surgery DJ had lethal complications from his medication and nearly lost his life.It has been six months since his diagnosis; DJ is doing 9 hrs of dialysis per day, but is now more determined than ever to complete the second record. Music is the only thing that is going to keep DJ going, knowing that he can complete this project and get it out there for the world to hear.When speaking with DJ, he stated “Music is the only thing I have to live for, it’s the only thing I have ever wanted to do with my life and now more than ever, I know that I have to do this. Its funny to me now, how much I took for granted, the freedom to come and go as I please, touring and day to day things in life that most people don’t even think twice about.†So what’s next for DJ Arau? “Although touring is out of the question until I have the kidney transplant, There will be a extended period of reflection upon events happened in the the past 4 years and Hopefully will be a comeback but for now the band is deceased until a better time. Dj is fallen for the worst and is going to have to continue with his health for now. I apologize to anyone ofended by my decision...till the end........
