Like most of us, guitarist Raymond Meade had a slow and quiet summer in 2021. The pandemic had halted live touring with Ocean Colour Scene, with whom he had played since 2016. And without recording studios, he was unable to continue his successful solo career. But there was a further obstacle for the bassist, who has been playing since his school days.
“I’d started to get these really intense pins and needles in my hands. It was like throwing a snowball and then running your hands under hot water afterwards. It’s really painful and hot.” “And then it spread to my feet.”
In August of that year, he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), which affects the central nervous system. “It was almost a relief to have the diagnosis because it allowed me to make the necessary adjustments and get on with my life.” But he was also concerned that his professional career might be over.
“The day they told me I had MS, I thought I was done. I wasn’t even 40 at that point and I thought I’d have to sell my guitars and find some other way to make a living. But the neurologist said, ‘Give it time.'”
Within two months, he was on a new treatment and ready to leave the hospital. Ocean Colour Scene had just announced their first tour in almost two years – and Meade was eager to be part of it. “My hands didn’t work. I couldn’t tie my laces. I couldn’t do a zip up – I was dropping everything.” “To have something to aim for was important.”
He called the other band members – Simon Fowler, Steve Cradock, and Oscar Harrison – and told them what had happened.
‘An Outpouring of Emotion’
“I said I was aware that I might not get back to the level of being able to perform live, but they just said, ‘Get fit, see you in December.'” The gig in the band’s hometown of Birmingham was an emotional one for them and the audience. But Meade was focused on getting through the set.
“I had a stool hidden behind an amp, and I thought if I can get through this without sitting down, I’ll be doing okay. In the end, I didn’t need it. And there was this outpouring of emotion. It was such a terrible time, and it was a release to get back to playing live music.” “We all had a hug when we came off stage.”
Having returned to live touring, Meade had another challenge to face: making his own music. “I couldn’t hold a pen – which means I can’t do my crossword either. My head was just scrambled with too much information. I made the mistake of googling MS and I was just swamped with information.” “The thing to remember is that no one – with my brain – has ever had this before, so I needed to find out what’s right for me.”
He started to train his brain with games like chess, and slowly the songwriting abilities returned. The result is
