Blind Melon founder member Christopher Thorn has designed a fully functional recording studio for The Ranch PA, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility based in Hanover, Pennsylvania. Thorn knows from bitter experience, having lost his friend and co-founder of Blind Melon Shannon Hoon to a drug overdose in ’95, how this kind of amenity can help addicts on their path to recovery, especially in the artistic community. The center, which was founded by Thorn’s sister Robin and her husband Justin Daniels, offers a personalized holistic approach to the treatment of addiction utilizing a range of cognitive and experiential therapies including Music Therapy. Says Christopher Thorn: “With the creation of the studio at The Ranch PA, my hope is that musicians will be able to (continue to) use their talent to find peace and as a tool of self-discovery on their path to long lasting recovery.” Justin Daniels, who founded The Ranch PA following his own struggle with addiction, added, “We welcomed Christopher’s offer to design a recording studio for our facility. It’s a great asset and also fits perfectly with our multi-sensory approach to treating and getting to the root cause of each of our clients addiction.” Nick Rowe, who is the resident Music therapist explained, “Music therapy can work for people of any musical ability ranging from professional musicians to someone who just enjoys listening to music. Now, with the full studio here, we can really offer professional musicians and artists a creative outlet whilst they find their path to recovery and help them understand how their musical creativity can be a positive part of that recovery not a trigger for their addictive behavior.” The Ranch PA also works with MusiCares®, a nonprofit Foundation established at The Recording Academy® in 1989 that provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need. “Integrating a recording studio into an addiction treatment center is a very innovative move and will be of critical importance to musicians in recovery,” said Kristen Madsen, Sr. Vice President, MusiCares®. “Making music again can be a crucial aspect of any musicians’ recovery and it can help ease their transition back into the business of making a living.” Christopher Thorn is currently back on tour with Blind Melon and is also playing shows and recording with breakout alternative rock outfit Awolnation. The Ranch PA is licensed in the state of Pennsylvania. It provides in-patient treatment for up to 17 clients at any given time. It is staffed by a fulltime doctor who is also a qualified addictionologist, leading addiction therapists and nurses and it is committed to providing clients a program that exceeds the standards for the treatment of addiction. Photo: The Ranch PA Records
