By David Nesham
Pudsey amputee Stephen Swales is again playing his guitar with local group The Variants.
Stephen learnt to play guitar during his school days and whilst he enjoys all popular music has become very much influenced by punk.
2021 saw the birth of The Variants and unfortunately the start of Stephen’s medical issues. At first he was having problems holding the plectrum and subsequently noticed a lump in the middle of his right hand which continued to grow.
Stephen said: “The middle of my hand was looking like a dog’s pad and after numerous tests my consultant said there is a chance it could be a tumour.”
After further tests it was finally diagnosed as a rare grade 3 soft tissue tumour.
Major procedures then followed including radiotherapy, chemotherapy and a visit to the specialist unit at the Royal Marsden in London.
None, however, proved successful and did not negate the risk of the disease spreading.
In January 2023 Stephen took the traumatic decision to have his lower arm removed. Whilst his guitar playing days appeared to be over he continued with The Variants as singer, song writer and playing the harmonica.
Local Variants’ fan and guitar repairer Mick Bean became aware of Stephen’s predicament and had the idea of making a prosthetic with an attached plectrum which Stephen was keen to pursue.
A combination of steel rods, velcro and a plectrum produced a prototype and after further modifications Stephen was back playing his guitar.
Mick said: “When I invited Stephen round to try out the prototype I didn’t really know what to expect but after a couple of minutes I was astonished to see and hear him strumming rhythms on his guitar”
Stephen added: “Mick, bless him, made me this prosthetic and I was back playing rhythm again. I think punk is an attitude, the fact that I get up and play guitar with one arm is more punk than having a Mohican”
Stephen is now looking to the future and hopes to progress more with the group.
They already have engagements as a support act in Wakefield and Bradford and have plans to hire studio time to record four of their own songs so that CDs can be distributed to promoters and also sold at gigs.
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