Credit: Found On Internet

On 10 December 2005, Mika Bomb’s long-standing drummer Ergi Ahmed was rushed to hospital with septicaemia. Doctors declared the comatose sticksman unlikely to survive the night, as most of his organs had packed up, and family and friends gathered in a tiny waiting room at London’s Royal Free Hospital dreading the worst.

But Ergi did survive the night, the double-hard bastard. His heart came back, as did his lungs and kidneys. He awoke from his coma eight days later, in pain but very much alive. Sadly, the infection had caused pneumonia in his legs and they were beyond recovery. Doctors were forced to amputate both legs.

Ergi’s made an amazing recovery. He’s learning to use prosthetics, enjoying his family life and filled with the ludicrous humour and strength that has always characterised his personality (he’d like you to pretend he fell off a motorbike and into a crocodile-pit, incidentally). And on Monday 15 May, in one amazing night of rock’n’roll solidarity, Mika Bomb will play a benefit show with support from The Pipettes, The Boyfriends, Piranha Deathray and White Heat DJs.

Daniel Robson caught up with vocalist Mika Handa to get the skinny.

How did you feel when you heard what had happened to Ergi?
“I thought I was going to lose my best friend. I was shocked; I completely lost myself. I’d never had such a bad experience, I couldn't sleep and had a headache for a month. I just prayed for a miracle - I wouldn't be able to face it if he disappeared from this world and my life.”

Ergi's the longest-serving band member aside from you, right? How long has he been around? “He and I have played together for seven years. We’re like brother and sister.”

Obviously Ergi can't play at the moment. Did it make you think about ending the band? “When he was in intensive care, I couldn't even think about the band. Playing in a band is nothing compared with someone’s life. It took me a long time to start thinking about it. I wasn't sure if I wanted to continue after playing with him for seven years. But when Ergi got better, he was the one who said we should carry on. He wanted to see us play. It made me realise that I'm very lucky to play in a band - Ergi loved playing drums but he can’t do it anymore.”
 
So what can we expect from the benefit show? Anything new or different? “You'll see! Come along and find out...”