A drummer whose love of music helped him through his teenage cancer battle is now touring the world in a chart-topping rock band.

Joe Emmett, who grew up in Totnes, is celebrating critical acclaim as part of indie quartet The Amazons - 13 years after he was diagnosed with life-threatening non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

The band, whose debut album reached number eight in the charts, recently announced dates for a UK headline tour - and are also supporting Muse on the international stage.

Joe’s passion for drumming helped him through six months of chemotherapy as he continued to play in a band while studying for his GCSEs as a 16-year-old.

He was given a £4,000 Ludwig Vistalite kit by children’s charity Make A Wish Foundation after completing his treatment, a replica of the one played by Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham.

Joe, 29, has been in remission for 12 years and is a father to twins, Jude and Edie, with wife Charlotte.

He said: "I was incredibly lucky with the chemo because I didn’t suffer from any sickness and I wasn’t bedridden.

"I don’t know why, but it could have been mind over matter. I tried to have a positive outlook.

“I thought I’m not going to let this get in the way. I’m going to carry on doing what I’m doing which was playing the drums."

The Amazons, whose songs have more than six million views on Youtube, will tour venues across the UK in November, including London’s Brixton Academy.

Their second album, Future Dust, peaked at number nine in the charts following the success of their self-titled debut record.

They supported fellow Devon rockers Muse on their Simulation Theory Tour last month in Helsinki and Cologne - and will join the trio again in Milan on July 12.

Joe, a former pupil at King Edward VI Community College, described moving closer to London to fulfil his dreams a year after being given the all clear.

He said: "When I was 18, I upped sticks because I thought I needed to be closer to London to make it in the music industry.

"I have subsequently learned it doesn’t matter where you are if you are in a good band.

"I moved to Berkshire and lived with my grandma for a few years.

"I worked in a supermarket and gigged in the evenings in Reading."

Joe was asked to join The Amazons, who played under a different name, in a few of their rehearsals - and he says they "never asked me to leave”.

The Amazons are signed to Fiction Records, home of Tame Impala, The Maccabees and the Kaiser Chiefs.

The label is best known for being the home of The Cure from 1978 to 2001.

Joe, who was taught by the same music teacher as Muse frontman Matt Bellamy, said: “It’s been great.

"We have managed to play some incredible festivals all over the world.

“We did Glastonbury in 2017, Fuji Rocks in Japan, have played all over Europe and we are currently supporting Muse in Europe.

"We supported them in Cologne at a 30,000 seater stadium, which was absolutely crazy."

Joe and his former bandmates in sixth form sent a demo to Teignmouth band Muse but did not receive a response.

He and Matt Bellamy were trained by music teacher Jill Bird, who taught at both KEVICCs and Teignmouth Community College.

Joe’s interest in drumming began aged seven when he was given his first kit.

He said: "My parents tell me I used to pull pots and pans out of the cupboard and play them.

"It’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do or was good at.

"I am very lucky, now I’m in a position to do that. It’s great because I get to travel the world with my best mates. It’s wicked.

"Sometimes, it does feel utterly ridiculous. Stuff goes past so quickly, and you have to remind yourself to look around and soak it all up.

"Touring and playing gigs becomes routine, but we do make time to talk about it and take stock of what’s happening because these amazing opportunities do not come around for most bands."

Joe hasn’t forgotten his roots though and finds time to come back to Totnes to visit his parents, Martin and Jane, who still live in the town.

"I do like coming back, it’s a breath of fresh air, and it’s a free holiday!" he said.