News / media
No boundaries to success for Enham musician Martin Skidmore
7 December 2009
Martin Skidmore from Enham is a songwriter and drummer and he has recorded his first CD single “C for Change” under the stage name of “Bloody Itch.”
His song “C for Change” has a strong message and it is about the positive change and rights for disabled people and about civil rights movements, and refers to Martin Luther King and others who have made a real difference. The CD was produced at the Orpheus Centre (a performing arts and visual arts centre set up by Richard Stilgoe) during Martin’s last stay there in the Spring for its Rock Week festival, along with the help of Herbie Flowers of T-Rex amongst others. Martin contributed to the lyrics, the bassline and tune. Martin says:”Working with Herbie Flowers was fantastic – he made us work really hard!” Martin got his unusual stage name “Bloody Itch” from the friends he made at the Orpheus Centre, being a play on the name of his favourite drummer Buddie Rich.
Martin has cerebral palsy and is a perfect example of someone who lives life to the full and doesn’t let his disability get in the way. He says “Music is my life. I want my song to make a difference. I would like people to wake up and realise we are all the same inside.”
Now 35, Martin became interested in music from an early age when his mother started him playing with spoons and cake tins. “But then at the age of 9 I was watching Top of the Pops and a guy called Ginger Baker came up with a song called “Classic”. I watched it and I thought “yeah, I would like to do that.”” He got his first drum kit at about the same time: “It was plastic and metal with plastic sticks, I think it lasted about a fortnight!”
At Enham we focus on what disabled people want to achieve and the steps needed to achieve their aims. Roma Nichol, Arts and Drama Tutor at Enham comments: “Music is such an enjoyable and powerful medium to channel creativity, self-expression and confidence, so we make it as accessible as possible for our clients.” And adds “We could see that Martin so clearly has talent and with the help of funding from The Test Valley Arts Foundation, provided the opportunity for him to go to the Orpheus Centre, so that he could really flourish. Now he wants to go back there of his own accord and raise his own money to finance it.”
As one success often leads to another, the performance of the song “C for Change” was recorded and uploaded to You Tube and it was picked up by “Heavy Load” - a Brighton punk-rock band made up of musicians (some with learning disabilities), who raise money for charities. The single has now been included on Heavy Load’s second compilation album featuring disabled artists from around the world entitled “Wild Things - Sounds of the Disabled Underground – Volume 2” , which was released on 1st October. The sale of this album including Martin’s track, will be donated to the “Stay Up Late” Campaign – which helps disabled people access late night entertainment.
Martin is using his CD single to raise the money he needs to go back to the Orpheus Centre, where he will have the opportunity to work with professional musicians and make new friends.
Martin’s CD is available to buy (via a donation) here online C for Change CD single, from the Resource Centre at Enham Head Office or from Shopmobility in Andover Town Centre.
Picture top right shows cover CD single
