Local band Johnny 2 Fingers & the Deformities performing at TeleMiracle 47

Johnny 2 Fingers and the Deformities, a Moose Jaw-based ‘wrestle rock’ band slash pro wrestling performers, will perform for the Kinsmen Foundation’s 47^th annual TeleMiracle telethon event on Feb. 25 and 26.

TeleMiracle will be broadcast on CTV and livestreamed on TeleMiracle.com beginning with the Countdown at 6:15 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25. The main broadcast starts at 9 p.m. on the 25^th and goes straight through to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Feb. 26.

The Kinsmen Foundation Telethon began in Saskatchewan in 1977 after they were overwhelmed with requests for help from Saskatchewan residents.

That first telethon raised over $1 million. Since 1977, the event has raised over $153 million. Last year’s TeleMiracle 46 holds the individual fundraising record, having raised just over $8 million.

The Kinsmen Foundation uses its funds to assist Saskatchewan residents with special needs and mobility equipment including walkers, communication devices, in-home mobility aids such as lift chairs and power chairs, and vehicle conversions. They help with transportation, meals, and accommodation for patients travelling to receive organ transplants and other medical services.

The band has already recorded their TeleMiracle set, which went well, said guitarist, singer, manager, and frontman Johnny 2 Fingers.

“It’s all our original stuff, well, four out of our five songs are original,” Johnny explained. “It’s all been done. It was a really fun time, it was almost like a live show.

“‘Ring those phones!’ I didn’t actually get to say that. I wanted to say it, but they’re supposed to phone me and do a live Zoom thing during the event, so I will be live on TeleMiracle and I hope to god I’ll get to say, Ring those phones, guys!”

The two original members of the band, Johnny 2 Fingers and drummer Cannonball Kelly — who is also a pro wrestler for Prairie Pro and Ringside Wrestling — have been together since 2011, with bassist Travis ‘The Mind Splitter’ Geib joining them in the last few years.

The band name comes from the fact that Johnny really only has two fingers on his picking hand.

“I originally hated it,” he laughed,” because I thought, Oh my god, it’s so degrading, who would take us seriously? Then I thought about it for a few days and thought of all the classic blues singers … And they all had handles, you know? And I embraced it, I thought, oh, it’s actually pretty sweet.”

Johnny had to have surgeries as a child to make his hand more functional and to help him walk, and his parents and grandparents received help from organizations like the Kinsmen Foundation. He’s happy for the chance to participate and help out.

“I’m not ashamed of it, and I don’t get offended. … Obviously, I’ve made it my whole gimmick, because I’m making the best of my scenario, right? It’s the cards I was dealt.”

Asked if there’s a question he’d like to be asked that no one ever thinks of, Johnny humorously noted that his favourite dinosaur is either a T-Rex or a velociraptor.

The band describes themselves as a high-energy, guitar-driven, three-piece rock and roll group with blues influences, with a stage presence like AC/DC.

Catch them on TeleMiracle 47, Saskatchewan’s biggest charity event, and browse the full list of TeleMiracle performers on telemiracle.com/telemiracle-47-saskatchewan-talent/.