Essex vicar Rev Matthew Simpkins creates song from cancer scanner

The Rev Matthew Simpkins says being able to write a song inside the MRI machine while undergoing treatment for stage four cancer helped him cope

A vicar undergoing treatment for stage four skin cancer has made a song from the sounds of an MRI scanning machine.

The Reverend Matthew Simpkins, of Lexden in Colchester, was first diagnosed with the disease in 2019.

In 2021, the cancer returned and the 44-year-old, who is the priest-in-charge of Lexden, has had months of treatment and various scans.

"I thought the way I am going to get through this is by writing a song during this scan," he said.

"When the machine started, I thought I've got a choice here - either I'm going to lose it or I'm going to have fun with it, if that makes sense?

"I'm in a difficult situation with stage four cancer, but again, you've got a choice and this song is a good example of that - how you can take something up into song and live."

Ben Brown, from Manningtree band Dingus Khan, helped create the song with the Rev Simpkins and the pair will bring out an album later this year

Mr Simpkins, who grew up in Ipswich and Sudbury, carried on working as the vicar of St Leonard's Church during a year of "intense treatment".

In 2019, he was diagnosed with acral lentiginous melanoma - a rare form of malignant melanoma - and had a toe removed.

Having been given the all-clear by doctors, the cancer came back in late 2021 leading to a year of immunotherapy during which he had five biopsies.

The patient, a veteran of local bands including Fuzz Face and Rev Simpkins & The Phantom Notes, said music had provided him with both relaxation, comfort and a way of coming to terms with his diagnosis.

He said the sounds of the scanner showed music could be found everywhere.

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The married father-of-two worked out which keys the machine's sounds were in and created some accompanying harmonies in his head while laying in the scanner.

He then recorded the MRI's noises - downloaded from the internet - before layering them digitally to create the track.

"It was like being in some bizarre nightclub - these deafening sounds, but they were groovy sounds," said Mr Simpkins.

"Being creative, sharing that with your family and friends and making the best of the hand you've been dealt - that is how I've coped with it every time I've gone in."

Matt Simpkins and Ben Brown will release their track, called Spooling, via streaming platforms on 24 March

The track, called Spooling, is the first release by Pissabed Prophet (named after a colloquial term for a dandelion) - a band the vicar has formed in collaboration with Ben Brown of well-known local groups Dingus Khan and SuperGlu.

It is being released on Ipswich-based Antigen Records and is being followed up with a full album in May.

Mr Simpkins added: "It would be great if people who are feeling nervous about a scan might hear the track - maybe it will be a bit less scary when you see a hairy vicar sing a song about it."

Mr Brown said: "The year of making this record has been one of the best of my life - musically and striking up a friendship in such a short amount of time with a real intensity.

"I hope [people] find it and enjoy it."

Mr Simpkins has undergone MRI scans as part of his treatment plan

Matt Simpkins performing with his former group Fuzz Face in Ipswich in 2006 at the Drum & Monkey (since demolished)