19-year-old Marcus Klepacki learned to play an acoustic drum kit with one arm
Nineteen-year-old Phoenix musician Marcus Klepacki is preparing for his first official public performance with his new rock band, Third Man Factor, at Tempe’s historic Yucca Tap Room. What makes the performance unusual is not only the venue but also the way Klepacki plays. Born without a right arm and without a thumb on his left hand, the 19-year-old plays a standard acoustic drum kit without any major changes, using only one arm. According to reports from the Phoenix New Times and coverage published by Hoodline, Klepacki finds comparisons with Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen amusing, but says their approaches are very different. Allen lost his left arm in a 1984 car crash and later used a specially designed electronic drum system with foot pedals. Klepacki, however, plays entirely on acoustic drums, relying on physical skill and his own playing technique. "I think people need to know that Marcus, he's not good for having one arm; he's just good," Chuck Savale, a music instructor who coached Klepacki, told the Phoenix New Times.
Early health battles and musical training
Klepacki’s journey to the stage has followed years of serious health problems. He was diagnosed with scoliosis at age 3 and wore a corrective back brace from kindergarten until he entered high school. At age 7, he was diagnosed with leukaemia and underwent three and a half years of chemotherapy. In 2021, Dr Greg White, head of paediatric spinal surgery at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, performed surgery to correct Klepacki’s spine. White also plays bass in local cover band Central Line. In 2024, he invited Klepacki’s former music group to open for his band at Copper Blues Live in Desert Ridge. Throughout his medical challenges, his parents, Alex and Melissa Klepacki, made sure he could take part in normal childhood activities. His formal music education began at around age 10 when he started lessons at Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Centers, a Phoenix non-profit that provides free arts training to young people. Reports by the Phoenix New Times explain how Savale taught Klepacki by practising with only one arm himself. This helped him understand techniques that could produce a full and strong sound. Within a few years, Klepacki had learned difficult drumming patterns, including the famous "Purdie shuffle" created by legendary session drummer Bernard Purdie. The rhythm uses a half-time beat with triplet hi-hat patterns and soft snare notes. "It blew my mind when I saw Marcus do that," Savale told reporters, adding that the young drummer quickly moved beyond his own technical abilities.
Formation of Third Man Factor
Klepacki gained more performance experience by joining marching and concert bands at Shadow Mountain High School in Phoenix. He also played drums at around half a dozen showcases for Alice Cooper charity events. Third Man Factor’s lineup came together mainly through Arizona State University’s Bachelor of Arts in Popular Music programme at the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. Alongside Klepacki on drums are lead vocalist Fletcher Placko, guitarists Chris Sanchez and Ben Pakula, and bassist Noah Paz. Speaking to the Phoenix New Times, Placko praised Klepacki’s team spirit and natural ability. He said the other musicians quickly respected his talent when they played together during university classes. The band takes inspiration from 1990s alternative rock and grunge. Klepacki’s own drumming influences include Rush’s Neil Peart, Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham, The Police’s Stewart Copeland, Buddy Rich and The White Stripes’ Meg White.
Stage debut at Yucca Tap Room
The chance to perform at Yucca Tap Room came after the mother of the frontman of local band The Black Hole saw Klepacki play at an open-mic event at the Solid Rock Teen Center. She later offered him a place on the bill, according to Hoodline and Phoenix New Times reports. Open since the 1960s, Yucca Tap Room is Tempe’s oldest active live music venue. Over the years, it has helped launch and support independent rock and punk bands from across the East Valley. The Sunday afternoon show features Third Man Factor alongside a six-band lineup. The bill includes headliners The Black Hole, Band of Fools, the Hard Bop Group, Just About Halfway and Rino. Looking ahead, Klepacki hopes to build a long-term career in music. He is considering work as a touring performer, session musician or record producer. Reflecting on his experiences and future, Klepacki told the Phoenix New Times: "Part of my attitude is: I went through some of the hardest things people could go through early on."
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