Jack Thomas thought he'd "never be able to play again" after an accident...
Five years ago, American drummer Jack Thomas was involved in an accident at work which resulted in the loss of his right arm. Since childhood, he'd dreamed of and worked towards becoming a professional musician, a dream suddenly thrown into doubt. "As a drummer," he noted, "that's kind of career ending."
Well fuck that. Last week, Jack uploaded a video of himself playing along to Slipknot's Duality, and it's absolutely incredible. Check it out below.
"I was working on a conveyor belt and I tripped out," explains Jack of how he lost his limb. "Before I even had a chance to fight for myself, my arm was severed. I had to go inside and get myself some help, which is where I was told, 'Sorry buddy, your arm is gone.' Hearing those words as a human being is not something you know how to react to. We're supposed to get through our life with all our limbs. [As a drummer] You kind of need all the limbs you have to play the instrument you play. Now throw into the mix that I was only 17-years old..."
A mighty salute to you, sir. Think of Jack the next time something seems impossible. As he says himself, "If I can play 'Duality' by Slipknot with just one hand, what's your excuse?"
