A Terry Fox secondary student is sharing the playbill with some well known bands for an upcoming benefit concert in his honour.
The Dec. 2 show at the Terry Fox Theatre will feature headliner Hey Ocean, the Greg Drummond Trio, Rock the Fox alumni band Royal Oak and Jack Thomas' band Family Reunion (a cheeky nod to one of his favourite bands, Blink 182) in an effort to raise funds for Thomas, a Grade 12 student who lost his right arm above the elbow in a workplace accident on Sept. 4, and his family.
"As soon as I found out about Jack's accident we started talking about a benefit concert," said Fox music teacher Steve Sainas.
At a MusiCounts event, where Sainas was asked to speak about the power of music education, Thomas' story inspired members of Hey Ocean. The band, which sells out venues like the Vogue and the Commodore, were quick to jump on board for a benefit concert at the decidedly more intimate Fox Theatre, which has just 336 seats.
As word spread the playlist grew; Rock School alumni Alanna Pearce, a drummer for the Greg Drummond Trio, signed the band on and fellow Rock School grads Royal Oak were also keen to help out the determined young drummer.
Thomas himself will be playing a Blink 182 set with his band, Family Reunion, and has no qualms about sharing the stage with the music pros.
"It's exciting, it's a big opportunity," Thomas said, not only for his own dreams of a future music career but also for his family, who have been struggling since his accident. "I know the focus is a benefit concert for me but I hope it…can also be one of hope and fun and celebration."
One thing Thomas is looking forward to celebrating is the prosthetic arm he'll be receiving in the next couple of weeks, as well as surgery next year that will allow him to wear a myoelectric arm with a movable hand.
But first, he's itching to get behind a custom-made electric drum kit courtesy of Roland Music that was designed with some important tips from Jeff Diffner, the drum technician for Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen.
The hybrid kit will feature both acoustic and electric components that will allow Thomas — whose feet are already as quick as his hands once were — to operate a full drum set using a series of foot pedals.
"That's the great thing about playing drums," Thomas said as he mimicked the movements on an imaginary kit, "you've always got a set."
• The Jack Thomas Benefit Concert is on Wednesday, Dec. 2 at the Terry Fox Theatre (1260 Riverwood Gate, PoCo); doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 until Nov. 30 and $25 after that, available at www.eventbrite.ca. Terry Fox students who present a valid GoCard can purchase tickets for $10.
spayne@tricitynews.com
@spayneTC
