Madison Music Venue will Add AED after Cardiac Arrests On-Stage

The performers on stage are about to be joined by another “star” at a beloved live music venue in Madison. Kevin Willmott II plans to add a life-saving tool – an automated external defibrillator or AED – as part of the safety features at his business. And he has good reasons behind this important decision.   

Willmott owns Gamma Ray Bar on West Main Street, just off the Capitol Square. He’s also a musician but was still surprised when sudden cardiac arrests happened to artists while on-stage.

One involved Max Ink Radio music show host Rokker. He suffered a cardiac arrest while playing drums with his band last December. Rokker was revived by CPR from Willmott and others before first responders arrived with a portable AED. 

“You never expect it to happen,” Wilmot shares. “But when it does, you have to be ready.”

The other happened recently to community activist and hip-hop artist Rob Dz. He collapsed on-stage just after his performance there.

Luckily, both men are recovering and expected to be ok.

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HOW YOU CAN HELP: The venue is dedicating an upcoming show with hopes of raising awareness around sudden cardiac arrest, CPR training, and the importance of AED availability. Rokker will return to the Gamma Ray stage with his band Ironplow on Friday, December 26th. It marks exactly one year since his cardiac arrest. Find more information about it here.

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Willmott’s been CPR-trained since childhood. But he also believes emergency preparedness has to be part of the responsibility when running a community-focused venue. The AED is expected to be mounted and operational by the end of 2025. But even more importantly, he wants it to normalize cardiac safety at all small businesses.

This renewed focus on preparedness also comes as Gamma Ray continues its revival of live performances in a space that has been home to legendary venues including The Slipper Club and The Frequency. Willmott says he reopened the bar to provide a home for local artists and independent acts after more than a year without a dedicated music room in this part of the city. 

Gamma Ray is also becoming well known for its nightly karaoke. It begins after live shows and is free for all. Willmott describes it as a low-pressure way for the audience to move from spectators to participants.

“Karaoke brings people together in a really honest way,” he says. “It turns strangers into a room full of people singing the same songs.”

Overall, Willmott says his goal is pretty simple. It revolves around music, community, and safety.

“It’s a mom-and-pop operation,” he explains. “But Madison shows up for places that take care of people.”

Find more information about using AEDs in public places here.

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Listen to an interview with Willmott about AEDs here:

[podcast src="https://civicmedia.us/shows/max-ink-radio/2025/12/06/gamma-ray-bar-getting-aed-with-owner-kevin-willmott-ii"]