
Episode #148
9/11: Music and The Bogmen Help Heal & the Legacy of Ray Pfeifer E148
The hardest part about 9/11 isn’t only the day itself. It’s the long echo afterward, when grief collides with everyday life and you don’t know what’s allowed to feel normal anymore. We start by revisiting the way music showed up in those first months, from America: A Tribute to Heroes to the Concert for New York City, and why certain performances hit like a hand on your shoulder. For us, it’s the contrast that matters: solemn moments that honor the loss, and loud moments that give people four minutes of breath. Then we’re joined by Billy Campion of The Bogmen, a band rooted in New York whose world was shaken on a personal level. Billy talks candidly about the group’s breakup, addiction, and fractured relationships, and how 9/11 snapped priorities into focus. The Bogmen reunite to play benefit shows for a community that lost friends, fans, and family, including Brendan’s wife. We also dig into the documentary We Will Go to Them Tonight, the idea of music as something spiritual and communal, and how the band’s mission shifted toward service, charity, and staying connected to the people in the room. The second half moves from concerts to consequences: 9/11 illnesses, toxic exposure, and the fight for first responder health care. Kathleen Aspenleiter and Joe Pfeifer share the story of their brother, FDNY firefighter Ray Pfeifer, from working the pile to facing cancer and taking the battle to Washington alongside allies like Jon Stewart. We close with what the Ray Pfeifer Foundation does right now for families who need help immediately, not after a form is processed. If this matters to you, subscribe, share the episode with someone who should hear it, and leave us a review. Learn Something New or Remember Something Old Please like and follow the Music in My Shoes Facebook and Instagram pages Reach out to us at musicinmyshoes@gmail.com Thebogmen.com Theraypfeiferfoundation,org Send us a one-way message. We can’t answer you back directly, but it could be part of a future Music In My Shoes Mailbag!!!






