I’ll never give up or give in

With a new single out, the singer proves again that he’s defined by music, not disabilities

FORT William singer Skelf has overcome disability to support the likes of Biffy Clyro and Editors.

He then gave others a helping hand putting bands on at the town’s famous Crofter Bar. Now Skelf, 39, is returning to making music.

He released his solo debut single Conditional Love in August, and new follow-up Looking Back To See Where I Come From is out next Friday. He’s aiming to find success as one of the UK’s few artists with a disability.

Tell us about your condition?

I was born with a condition called diaphragmatic hernia, which is basically being born without a functioning diaphragm that holds all the internal organs in place – one lung and no lower left leg.

I was flown all over Scotland on the day I was born, from Fort William to Inverness, then Edinburgh where I had several life-saving operations. I wasn’t expected to live much more than a week.

Through my life I have been in and out of hospital, in wheelchairs.

It has been quite a struggle but music was always there to help me through.

What’s your music history?

It’s not your average journey. I started playing music in high school. My friend Jim’s band had a gig and their singer wasn’t going to make it, so I volunteered.

I’d never sung before and had no aspirations to. I dunno why I said I could do it, but glad I did!

I’ve been a musician for 24 years, firstly in a rock band supporting the likes of Biffy, Editors, Dogs Die In Hot Cars, to name a few.

Then I broke my hip in 2004 and had to get plates and screws in there to hold it together, on the same side as my prosthetic leg.

I stopped playing and went on a bit of a spiral. I eventually got myself back on track and played in a covers band. But once my knees and hip couldn’t take the strain of doing three-hour gigs any more, I transitioned to promoting bands in 2013, where I was happy until I suffered a mild stroke in 2019.

Subsequently they discovered I have a broken neck, the left side of the C6 and C7 section completely collapsed and is not operable.

Did it make you want to make music again?

This gave me the shock I needed to get myself together.

Then the pandemic happened and I started thinking that, even if I couldn’t physically gig again, I should still release music.

None of us knew how long this would last so it really opened my eyes up at the possibility of writing, recording and releasing music.

So I got to it, writing seriously for the first time in over a decade.

I’ve always been determined. I’ve had more than my fair share of knockdowns, but I’ll always get back up. It takes me a lot longer to do that these days. But I refuse to give in.

Who are you musical inspirations?

Ian Dury is a massive influence, once I discovered his music and story. But musically, I’m influenced by the world’s greatest songwriter Phil Collins, Prince, A Flock of Seagulls, The Cure and Bruce Springsteen.

I went to see his show at Hampden in 2009, he came through the crowd with Big Clarence on a buggy, the crowd parted and there he was driving straight towards me, I had to dive out the way and he stopped and asked “hey, you OK?” I just looked up at him and shouted “BRRRRUCE!” He just laughed and drove on.

Upon reflection I should’ve