GoFundMe Campaign Launched for Todd 'Toddzilla' Austin

Over the last 15 years or so, Todd "Toddzilla" Austin has become something of a Music City icon, with his ferocious guitar playing, flamboyant Morris Day-inspired wardrobe and his party-in-the-front, party-in-the-back hairstyle. The uninitiated may chuckle to see him walking down the street, but as soon as they see him leading one of his bands, like the super-sized JonesWorld or the more compact Funkhammer, the doubtful are usually converted. 

According to WKRN, Austin was not at his East Nashville home on Thursday night, but his house sitter called 911 around 2 a.m. to report a fire. The blaze was thought to be extinguished, but it reignited around 4:30 a.m., causing extensive damage to musical equipment, memorabilia and "Betty," Austin's 1964 Corvette Stingray. The cause hasn't been determined but is currently thought to be faulty wiring. According to a Facebook post by Austin, only one of his seven cats is known to have survived the fire. 

If you'd like to help, friends of Austin have organized a GoFundMe campaign. At press time, it had already exceeded its initial goal of $8,000.