Photo: David Hopkins, Hop On A Cure
John Driskell Hopkins often tells people, “if I’m still singin’ it, I’m still bringin’ it.”
The acclaimed vocalist and multi-instrumentalist continues to perform with Zac Brown Band, as he pledged to do when he publicly announced in May 2022 that he’d been diagnosed with ALS (“God willing, I plan to be rocking with these amazing people for many years to come,” he said at that time). Hopkins — also known as “Hop” — was diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) in December 2021, and quickly established the Hop On A Cure Foundation, aiming to raise awareness and funds for research to find a cure for the disease.
ALS is defined as “a neurological disease that affects the nerve cells that control voluntary muscle movement (the muscles we have conscious control over). The disease is progressive, meaning the symptoms get worse over time,” reads the Hop On A Cure Foundation. It also notes that, though the “uncommon disorder” that’s increasing in occurrence can affect people of all ages, it often develops between ages 55 and 75 — Hopkins is 52 — and it’s more prevalent in men. Hopkins encourages others to learn about the disease, and visit his organization’s website for ways to support research. There is currently no cure or effective treatment to stop or reverse ALS.
However, “we believe that the disease is not incurable, but massively underfunded,” Hopkins, a founding member of Zac Brown Band, told iHeartCountry. “So, we are hopeful that we can continue to raise awareness and funding to put the money into the hands of researchers that can help us find treatments and a cure.”
Now, he has a new way to benefit his organization in an effort to support ALS research at the Harley-Davidson 120th anniversary event in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Photo: David Hopkins, Hop On A Cure
How To Bid On Hop's One-Of-A-Kind 2014 CVO Road King
The Grammy Award-winning artist has also been a motorcycle rider for about 15 years. He’s often taken bikes out while on tour with Zac Brown Band, riding in a pack of 15 to 20 riders from one city to the next in between tour dates.
“It’s great,” he said of hitting the road with his motorcycle. “I don’t really feel confident enough right now to ride a bike, so I’ve sort of put that on the back burner until a time when I might be able to control this 750-pound beast.” He added later, as he reflected on the days of riding bikes while touring with the band: “It’s a bummer (to not ride anymore), but I do look back on that time with a lot of fond memories and a lot of great stories.”
Hopkins opted to auction off his personally-owned and modified bike at Harley-Davidson’s 120th anniversary celebration in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It’s described as a one-of-a-kind, mint condition 2014 CVO Road King. The retrofitted motorcycle is complete with an upgraded exhaust system via Vance & Hines and a custom Georgia Rattlesnake Corbin seat, nodding to Hop’s home state. The bike only has 1,000 miles on it, and Hopkins said, “my loss is your gain!”
The Hop On A Cure bike is available to bid beginning on Friday (June 23), and the auction will remain open until July 15, when the Harley-Davidson 120th Anniversary celebration comes to an end. Bids will be accepted in person and online throughout the celebration, and bidders do not need to be present to cast a bid for Hopkins’ bike or other items. A four-day festival is slated for July 12 through July 16, welcoming riders and motorcycle enthusiasts “for a huge celebration,” per Harley-Davidson. Hopkins' bike will be on display at the anniversary celebration in Milwaukee. Bids on Hopkins’ 2014 CVO Road King start at $15,000, the auction shows.
“We invite everyone, riders, non-riders and fans around the world, to join us in Milwaukee next summer for the Harley-Davidson Homecoming where we will celebrate 120 years of our incredible brand,” said Jochen Zeitz, Chairman, President and CEO of Harley-Davidson, in a statement. “This will be the first in a series of unforgettable annual events in Milwaukee. Stay tuned for more details in coming months, and we look forward to celebrating with you in 2023.”
Photo: David Hopkins, Hop On A Cure
Touring With Zac Brown Band: 'Very Grateful...Very Blessed'
Aside from the auction that’s underway, Hopkins — a husband and a father of three young daughters — is focusing on enjoying his time with his family and touring with the band. Zac Brown band is set to kick off the “From The Fire Tour,” with stops in dozens of cities, at the end of this month. Find the list of tour dates below.
“Everything’s a balance. I’m still singing and playing,” Hopkins said. “I like to tell people, ‘if I’m still singin’ it, I’m still bringin’ it.’ So, I’m out there on tour with Zac Brown Band this year, and very grateful for the opportunity. And as long as I can continue to contribute to the band, then I’m gonna keep on doing it. So, I think part of that has been a bit of a motivation to persevere and I have to assume that some of that is keeping my progression slow. I’m very blessed, I think, a lot of other people who get this diagnosis progress a lot more quickly than I have.”
Photo: Danny Clinch
2023 TOUR TOUR DATES:
Friday, June 30, 2023 – Columbus, OH – Nationwide Arena+
Saturday, July 1, 2023 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium+
Friday, July 14, 2023 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
Saturday, August 5, 2023 – Canton, OH – Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium#
Sunday, August 6, 2023 – Indianapolis, IN – Ruoff Music Center+
Friday, August 11, 2023 – Syracuse, NY – St Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview^+
Saturday, August 12, 2023 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts^+
Sunday, August 13, 2023 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center^+
Saturday, August 19, 2023 – Boston, MA – Fenway Park+
Saturday, September 2, 2023 – Gilford, NH – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion+
Sunday, September 3, 2023 – Gilford, NH – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion+
Saturday, September 16, 2023 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater+
Sunday, September 17, 2023 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater+
Thursday, October 5, 2023 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek~+
Friday, October 6, 2023 – Baltimore, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion#~+
Saturday, October 7, 2023 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center~+
Thursday, October 12, 2023 – Denver, CO – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre#+
Friday, October 13, 2023 – Denver, CO – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre#+
Saturday, October 14, 2023 – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre+
Friday, October 20, 2023 – Irvine, CA – FivePoint Amphitheatre+
Saturday, October 21, 2023 – Irvine, CA – FivePoint Amphitheatre+
Thursday, November 2, 2023 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre+
Friday, November 3, 2023 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre+
Saturday, November 4, 2023 – Tampa, FL– MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre+
ADDITIONAL 2023 PERFORMANCE DATES:
Friday, June 23, 2023 – Milwaukee, WI – Summerfest 2023^*
Saturday, June 24, 2023 – Cadott, WI – Country Fest 2023*
Sunday, July 16, 2023 – Chicago, IL - Windy City Smokeout*
Sunday July 23, 2023 – Newton, IA - Hy-Vee INDY CAR Weekend*
#Non-Live Nation show
*Tickets on-sale now
+Special Guest King Calaway
^Special Guest Marcus King
~Special Guest Tenille Townes