A-ha singer Morten Harket diagnosed with Parkinson’s
A-ha singer Morten Harket has announced he has been privately battling Parkinson’s disease for several years.
The singer has been undergoing treatment at the Mayo Clinic in the United States, which has successfully managed to alleviate many of the symptoms, and Harket is feeling positive despite having to live with Parkinson’s for the rest of his life.
In a statement on the band’s website, he shared of his decision to go public: “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.”
Harket also admitted: “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.”
Last June, Harket underwent a neurosurgical procedure on the left side of his brain, which has led to many of his physical symptoms almost vanishing. Six months later, the singer had a similar procedure on the right side of his brain, which was also a success.
However, despite the physical symptoms disappearing, Harket is struggling with his voice, admitting, “The problems with my voice are one of many grounds for uncertainty about my creative future.”
When asked if he can still sing, Harket honestly admitted, “I don’t really know. 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.”
On the prospect of possibly releasing new music in the future, Harket said: “For a few years now I’ve been working on songs that I’ve got great belief in, and I feel the lyrics, especially, have something of a different aspect of me in them. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to finish them for release. Time will tell if they make it. I really like the idea of just going for it, as a Parkinson’s patient and an artist, with something completely outside the box. It’s all up to me, I just have to get this out of the way first.”
A-ha have not performed live since the conclusion of their world tour at the Hollywood Bowl in July 2022. During the concert, they performed their biggest hits, including the closing song ‘Take On Me’.
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out Music Newsletter
All the latest music news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.