(James Lee’s unfortunate accident caused him to give up his everything- his bass guitar. He is overcoming his physical pain and emotional despair through his passion for music.)
“Rock Band Royal Pirates” James Lee Stands Again after Overcoming Tragedy
Rock band Royal Pirates (RP) member James Lee (27). An unknown name and face. The man who came to play bass guitar for his band is now immersed in two kinds of pain.
In the midst of preparing for their comeback last June, James suddenly found himself with excruciating physical pain from an injury that was so severe doctors considered amputation. More than anything else, the despair he felt at being unable to hold the bass guitar he had considered his life for thirteen years was even greater.
The day he fell into this turmoil was June 10. James recalled that day with difficulty.
“I was meeting with a friend for dinner, so I went to this famous place in Seoul. It happened in the moment after I opened the front door, entered, and was looking around for my friend. The frame and glass of the entry door came crashing down. The debris from the glass hit my head, and the steel frame that went flying hit my left shoulder and wrist.”
After losing and regaining consciousness James went into an eight hour surgery. The medical staff say that even though the severed nerve was saved, he may suffer for the rest of his life, and though they advised the amputation of the hand and use of prosthetic, James shook his head. During the accident and in the subsequent surgery that followed he had lost a lot of blood, and suffered through the process of receiving transfusions until the swelling of the blood vessels subsided. James was subscribed medication for the pain, and many months passed that way. However the excruciating physical pain and post-traumatic stress still remain.
What hurt more than this though, was the pain of being unable to hold his bass guitar, and at the encouragement of current producer Jung Jaeyoon, James took on the keyboard. Despite this, James still afflicted himself with relentless despondency.
We met with James recently at Gwanghwamun, and the wound and stitches on his left wrist were starkly visible. We were told his sensory perception will not return. James explained, “It feels like I’m being cut with a knife.” Expressing his emotional anxiety and with shining eyes, he revealed, “I can’t forget the nightmare of that day.”
Regarding James’ accident, his agency Apple of the Eye reveals, “After the accident the restaurant hired a lawyer and has attempted to come to an amicable agreement. However we are now faced with the question of how compensation for the future of a musician who only knew music can be paid. Though we held off while considering how the injury would affect his musical activities, we are now considering taking legal action. ”
With a great height of 190cm James is an all-around sportsman who does boxing, water polo, basketball, and etc. With his friendly appearance that anyone would want to look at and superior physical condition he has also been the model for Lafuma, Mate Tea, and many other CFs.
(The yellow rubber ball is full of dark fingerprints.)
With the accident six months behind him, James is currently overcoming his pain through his love for music. He never misses a single daily rehabilitation appointment, and in an effort to regain sense in his hand he is tirelessly exercising with a rubber ball.
To him, this is his “Ball of Hope.”
