Rockers Unite to Save Slick Aguilar

Even though he has contracted Hepatitis C, underwent a 16 hour liver transplant, and now takes 34 pills a day to survive, Starship guitarist Slick Aguilar tells Mark Di Ionno of NJ.com how lucky he is. 

There will be a benefit concert this Friday for Slick, with Lou Gramm and Marty Balin at the NJPAC thrown by developer Steve Silverman.

"He is my angel," Aguilar said. "I had doctors who saved my life. Friends who help me. There is a God, and he has blessed me. I've been very, very lucky."

Aguilar has been lucky enough to meet David Crosby, who heard his guitar work and wanted to check him out and take him on the road. He was also asked by Marty Balin to join as new band that would become the Starship.

Aguilar met his wife Maureen while playing the Count Basie theatre. They both live in Long Branch with their son Mark. He has played with Carlos Santana, Jimmy Buffett, KC & the Sunshine Band, among many others.

As Aguilar was getting sick, he met developer Steve Silverman when playing a yearly backyard party for him in Monmouth Beach. Silverman said he always hires bands "that supplied the soundtrack of our lives. He's had Dave Mason, Felix Cavaliere, Mark Farner of Grand Funk, Paul Rogers from Bad Company, Don Felder from the Eagles, Lou Gramm of Foreigner, Starship and Little Feat.

The show will be at NJPAC's Victoria Theater, at 8 p.m. Friday. You can click here for tickets.