Tulio Fuzato

Location: Rio de Janeiro

Challenge: Double Leg Amputee

Website: facebook.com/TulioFuzatoAmputeeDrummer

Tulio Fuzato came from a very musical family. His father played guitar and his mother sang.

He grew up listening to the Beatles and Hendrix, but his passion was the Classic English Hard Rock with bands such as Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Uriah Heep, and America's Grand Funk Railroad But he also confesses that he loves Progressive Rock with bands such as Genesis, Pink Floyd, Yes, ELP, Jethro Tull, and European Bands such as Eloy, Nektar, Jane Le Orme, PFM, and others.

As a child, Tulio learned to play guitar with his father, but he always loved the swing, rhythm, and the power hit of a drum.

Tulio's first contact with drums was at a July party at School in 1967 when he was 10 years old.

Tulio started playing music at nights in pubs and clubs, while being a graphic designer by day.

Tulio says "I became a double leg amputee in July, 2003. Like alot of people, I had lost my job, ended a relationship, and went into depression. I had rent to pay, and lots of difficulties, including health problems; but I didn't seek help.I had very low self-esteem and at this time I was battling an addiction to barbituric: (anti-depressants and tranquilizers). I ended up in a terrible accident with a train and as a result, had to fight for life against death, good against evil, and an attempt at daily self-will. Fortunately, this kind of amputation allowed me to still play the drums relatively easy with the use of prosthetics."

With the use of prosthetics Tulio can still take control of his bass drum pedal. Tulio says "I discharge the right knee weight on the bass drum pedal and allow a very tight spring tension to give me immediate return and rebound."

Tulio uses a toe-stop in order to keep his foot centered on the pedal. The hi-hat, however, Tulio has control over due to his left leg and knee have a contracture and it can't bend completely. Tulio uses the hi-hat in two positions, either open or closed completely.

Tulio says "I want to show through my story, the human beings ability to get overcome any obstacle. To overcome them and be back on his or her feet after a tragedy which may happen to any of us. I also want to show how much music can be a wonder possibility to all of us and how in my case, it ultimately made me decide to take action. "Determination" is my motto."

Tulio hopes that his example gives inspiration to those who may have lost hope in life.

BE AWARE THAT YOU HAVE LOST A LIMB, HAD A PART OF YOUR BODY AMPUTATED, BUT YOU HAVEN'T HAD YOUR HEART AND YOUR LOVE FOR LIFE, YOU HAVEN'T HAD YOUR INTELLIGENCE, FEELINGS, SKILLS!!

Tulio Fuzato Documentary (english subtitles)