Country bandParmalee, comprised of brothersMattandScott Thomas, cousin Barry Knox and life-long friend Josh McSwain, are feeling extra grateful these days.
“I always celebrate my second birthday on the 21st of September, since the incident,” says Scott, who was critically injured after being shot during an armed robbery back in 2010. “I had a 5% chance of living. These guys didn’t know if I was going to live or die,” he adds of his bandmates.
Scott Thomas, Matt Thomas, Josh McSwain and Barry Knox of Parmalee.Alysse Gafkjen
Alysse Gafkjen
Scott’s brother Matt still recalls the shooting with great detail.
“We were playing a club show on a Monday night, and two guys tried to rob us on our RV afterwards at gunpoint. [Scott was] shot three times. We had to go to the hospital that night. It was horrible,” he says.
The “craziest part,” the brothers add, was that the band was simultaneously on the verge of a record deal.
“It was about to happen and then just the train comes off the tracks,” says Matt. “Scott’s about to die, and all we could focus on was just getting him better because we had to go back to Nashville.”
The band also credits their fans, friends and family for helping them get through such a challenging period both emotionally and financially.
“They all raised money for us. Local bands, people in concerts so we could have a little money in the bank to pay the credit card bills we owed and to pay his hospital bills and get back and forth and that kind of stuff,” says Matt.
In fact, getting support from family is something that the band has been fortunate enough to have since the very beginning — Matt and Scott’s mom took out a second mortgage on her home to help Parmalee pay for the first recording of “Carolina.”
Matt and Scott Thomas with their mom.Courtesy Parmalee
Courtesy Parmalee
“She’s always supported us. She raised us as a single mom for a long time, but she just did everything. I’m sure the other ladies in the community thought she was crazy because we just couldn’t get it going and couldn’t make it,” recalls Matt. “We finally did.”
With the release ofFor You 2, and the band’s latest single “Girl in Mine” on its way to becoming their fourth No. 1 hit, the group is elated that they get to continue pursuing every day. They’re currently on tour withTrain, and in 2024,they’ll hit the roadwithKane Brown.
“We all have the desire to not go back to our old day jobs,” explains Barry Knox.
Adds Josh McSwain: “We’re just trying to play music for a living. That’s what we’re happy doing, so that’s just what keeps us going.”
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For Scott, the sentiment rings true, and it remains that much more special.
“I was talking to management, everybody’s like, ‘You realize that when the album comes out, it’s kind of like a birthday present,'" he says with a small laugh. “So, it really means a lot for this new album and the new songs to be coming out on the 22nd.”
source: people.com
