Chicago musicians encourage injured teen guitarist

Musicians in Chicago are offering Rylan Wilder open invitations to jam whenever he’s ready.

Rylan, 15, was finishing up his shift at a music store in the city’s Northwest Side on Nov. 19 when he was shot by a police officer chasing a bank robber. His arm was badly damaged. The teen is frontman for Monarchy Over Monday, who performed at Chicago’s RiotFest last summer.

Alex White of White Mystery said she met Rylan when he was 11 and attending School of Rock. A few years later, Rylan asked if her band would play a show with his. In return, White asked Rylan’s band to play for her brother’s birthday.

Rylan’s story has resonated with older musicians who recognize the passion they had as teenagers, White said.

Blues musician Joe Moss was in a situation similar to Rylan’s over 30 years ago after getting shot in the left arm. As soon as he could hold a guitar, he began to teach himself to play again.

Moss said he hopes Rylan can be inspired by other musicians who have fought through trauma. “I always believe where there’s a will, there’s a way,” he said.

Rylan’s band was scheduled to play a show at Martyrs’, a music venue on the North Side. The show will go on and the other bands scheduled will donate the proceeds to help with medical bills. The family’s GoFundMe recently topped $60,000.