Lead singer of 80s band A-ha, Morten Harket, 65, has revealed he has Parkinson’s disease.
The Take On Me hitmaker, who appeared on The Masked Singer in 2021 as Viking, shared the news via the band’s official website.
Morten Harket announces Parkinson’s disease diagnosis
“This isn’t the sort of news anyone wants to deliver to the world, but here it is: Morten has Parkinson’s disease,” a statement read.
Morten directly said he wanted to keep the diagnosis private. However, has decided to tell fans as he doesn’t know if he could sing or even perform again.
“I’ve got no problem accepting the diagnosis. With time I’ve taken to heart my 94-year-old father’s attitude to the way the organism gradually surrenders: I use whatever works,'” he said.
“Part of me wanted to reveal it. Like I said, acknowledging the diagnosis wasn’t a problem for me; it’s my need for peace and quiet to work that has been stopping me. I’m trying the best I can to prevent my entire system from going into decline. It’s a difficult balancing act between taking the medication and managing its side effects. There’s so much to weigh up when you’re emulating the masterful way the body handles every complex movement, or social matters and invitations, or day-to-day life in general,” Morten continued.
While there is no cure for the disease right now, Morten has been taking medication and undergoing advanced brain surgery at the Mayo Clinic in the US, which has softened the impact of his symptoms.
Last June, Morten had a neurosurgical procedure where electrodes were implanted deep inside the left side of his brain. In December, he also underwent a similar procedure on the right side of his brain, which was also successful.
‘Don’t worry about me’
When asked if he could sing, Morten said he was unsure.
“I don’t feel like singing, and for me that’s a sign. I’m broadminded in terms of what I think works; I don’t expect to be able to achieve full technical control. The question is whether I can express myself with my voice. As things stand now, that’s out of the question. But I don’t know whether I’ll be able to manage it at some point in the future,” he said.
With a loyal fanbase around the world, Morten shared a message directly to them.
“Don’t worry about me. Find out who you want to be – a process that can be new each and every day. Be good servants of nature, the very basis of our existence, and care for the environment while it is still possible to do so. Spend your energy and effort addressing real problems, and know that I am being taken care of,” he shared.
Read more: The Chase star Paul Sinha updates his fans on living with Parkinson’s
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