Shared from Within Reach Magazine Winter 2025. Read it now!
Brothers Keith and Stu Alexander formed the band in 2006 after moving into a flat together and immersing themselves in writing and recording. That creative spark became Xander and the Peace Pirates — and the rest, as they say, is history.
Quickfire questions:
- Describe yourself in 3 words: Open, kind, authentic
- First riff you ever learned? Smoke On The Water
- Most underrated guitarist of all time? Robben Ford.
- Your ‘must-have’ for a gig? My guitar pedals including my volume pedal and always wear a hat.
- You’re most proud of…? Being a dad to my daughter Esmee. She’s learning to play bass and I’m always proud of all her achievements. She’s my inspiration and joy.
Thanks for joining us Keith! How did you come to know of Reach?
We were members when I was a child and attended events. I even played guitar at a couple. Back then Jeremy Beadle was a Patron of Reach, he was mocking my mum and said, “Oh no, not a proud mum!” 🤣 I then played to a backing track on a crappy keyboard and played lead guitar over the top, I was playing an Epiphone SG going through a little amp called a Crate Chorus.
An essential part of living in a world designed for two hands is problem-solving… When it came to learning to play, did you find it easy to adapt?
“It’s all about determination and perseverance, and that’s driven by a passion to create or express in some way.
When learning to play I was so driven by that passion that I was simply determined to create the sounds I dreamt to make by emulating my heroes like Robben Ford, Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, BB King and many others.
I couldn’t have chosen otherwise, and although highly challenging, the music took over – I was lost in music.
It’s been my best friend and guide. Music can carry precious messages and I truly believe music makes the world a very beautiful place. It’s infinite unconditional power to bring people together in unity is astounding and should never be underestimated.
It was challenging at first when practicing the precision to accurately strike the strings to create a pleasing tone and rhythm. It came with frustration. But the key was to not give up and keep playing and enjoy progressing and learning. The fruit is in achieving what was once not possible, and seeing the beauty in the potential and possibility, and allowing it to drive you deeper into the passion of whatever it is that wish to create or express.”
Did you ever doubt your ability to play professionally?
I never doubted myself, but there were times I lost motivation, but I always knew, through perseverance I could achieve the level of playing I was inspired by.
I enjoyed the challenge of overcoming limitations through the sheer determination to sound better, to be the best I could be and not compare myself to others and only see others as an inspiration to improve, encourage and develop my skills. Inspiration is everywhere, and just like Roald Dahl said, “Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it”.
Do people ask you about your limb difference and what’s your ‘go-to’ response?
People often ask what happened or how did I lose my arm, and did I play before or after I lost my arm, and my response is always the same, ‘I was born with a missing right arm below the elbow, and so I have never known any different’.
One doesn’t miss that which they have never had. I don’t know any different so don’t feel I had any greater obstacle to overcome. The main obstacle is usually our thinking habits and attitude. Without trust and a willing to go through the discomfort of the struggle of learning we simply cannot grow, and that’s coming from someone who is naturally quite lazy and laid back. But passion always prevails!
The choice is made by the magnetic draw of passion to learn and practice but the fruits of discovering ease and dexterity in the expression of art and creativity is the reward. We get out what we put in. It sounds cliché in a way, because it’s true.
Growing up, did you ever struggle with your confidence?
I felt self-conscious when people stared; starting a new school was a challenge, being the new kid and being different as had an electric arm, but I changed to the hook as a teenager, as I found the electric arm too heavy and uncomfortable.
So yes, I did struggle but as I matured I came to understand that people are just curious. I don’t get the sense people are ever unkind, even if they shout, “heeeeyyyy, Captain Hook”, mostly people seem to give the impression it’s cool and like it. Kids at school weren’t unkind, but some were scared, and that did upset me. I got good at helping people see I was nothing to be scared of, but it did serve me in senior school if a bully was scared of me [Haha].
Did you know of anyone else with an upper limb difference?
I didn’t meet many growing up. But now I know of a couple of musicians who have similar upper limb differences to myself who play guitar; Max Runham from the U.K, and I met Leftie Williams from the U.S; both talented singer-songwriters who play with their stumps.
If teen Keith had seen someone with an upper limb difference playing the guitar, how might that have changed his early experiences?
Seeing anyone overcoming limitations is an inspiration to me. If I had seen anyone playing with one arm it would have definitely inspired me. But it is more about the ability to play, not the apparent disability.
Someone can have a so-called disability and not be very good on the instrument. I never wanted to fall back on just being a one-armed guitarist and getting a pat on the back for having a go.
I wanted to master the instrument, because I love it. So, if I saw someone who was truly gifted through putting in the hard work, that would have truly inspired me. But their physical appearance or disability makes no difference. Some people don’t even notice I play with a hook.
Has your limb difference influenced your style or the music you play?
Playing with a hook definitely shaped the way I play. It influences the overall sound when I strike the strings and has forced me to play more legato with my left hand when fingering the strings on the fretboard.
I don’t alternate my picking much with the split hook I use, mainly due to the angle of the pick, this causes me to play mainly down strokes and I compensate with the left hand to create more complex phrases and rhythms using hammer-ons and pull-offs.
How has music shaped your identity on and off stage?
Music has built my confidence and encouraged me to be authentic and relaxed within myself.
Playing in front of audiences has allowed me to learn to relax and let go in environments where I otherwise might feel tense and self-conscious. So, facing the fear of not being good enough has allowed me to push through the discomfort of making mistakes and growing musically.
Off-stage I have a sense of satisfaction and joy about what life has gifted me with. I have been gifted the opportunity to uplift and inspire others and play what I love, which is extremely enriching.
What keeps you grounded or motivated when the going gets tough— creatively or personally?
Walks in nature, meditation and mindfulness have been a key when things have got stressful and I’ve been filled with doubt. As soon as I come home to the present, the mind comes to an indescribable, reasonless peace. But like everything, even peace can become a practice to improve the natural flow of life.
What’s next for Xander and the Peace Pirates?
We’re writing new songs ready to record a new album in the Motor Museum in Liverpool. And we won an Award! My brother entered our band into the Danny Music Awards and we had the opportunity to play our song, ‘Searching for the Light” in The Town Hall in Times Square, New York. It was a beautiful experience and has opened doors to new opportunities and some very talented disabled musicians. The Daniel’s Music foundation is a charity that supports disabled musicians and we’re blessed to have connected with them.
What legacy would you like to leave behind?
My legacy is to leave good, inspiring music for future generations. Even if only a few hear it. The message within that legacy is to not give up and to simply be yourself, don’t try to be anything else. Be at peace and believe in yourself and your dreams can come true. If you can imagine it, you have the potential to create it.
But truly there is no need to be remembered, but if anyone who does celebrate the memory of Keith Xander and the peace pirates, then may they be inspired and uplifted and be filled with faith and wonder.
Read it now in Within Reach Magazine Winter 2025!
