Frankie Valli on Broadway in New York City, 2012-10-27

Credit: SolarScott

Graham Nash believes Frankie Valli shouldn’t still be performing amid health worries

Mon 28 October 2024 14:52, UK

Graham Nash has unveiled his opinion on Frankie Valli after videos emerged which appeared to show the legendary singer lip-synching at concerts.

Over the last few months, many videos of Valli performing have gone viral for the wrong reasons as fans worry about his health. Valli, who is now 90, still regularly plays concerts despite appearing to be less mobile than he once was.

Furthermore, many viral posts on X and Tik-Tok have accused those in charge of Valli’s welfare of elder abuse for allegedly making him perform despite his alleged health issues. Due to the accusations, Valli felt compelled to issue a statement earlier this month to deny he was being forced to play live against his will, and claimed he was in good health.

Valli said to People: “I get a chuckle from the comments wondering if someone forcing me to go on stage. Nobody has ever made me do anything I didn’t want to do.”

While he did confess that he doesn’t sing all of the vocals, and relies heavily on his bandmates in the new iteration of the Four Seasons, Valli said that this has “always” been the case, stating, “The Four Seasons sound was always about layering vocals and instruments. I sing, I have singers who sing, great arrangements….everything,” Valli insisted.

The singer continued: “I know there has been a lot of stuff on the internet about me lately so I wanted to clear the air. I am blessed to be 90 years old and still be doing what I love to do and as long as I am able, and audiences want to come see me, I am going to be out there performing as I always. I absolutely love what I do. And I know we put on a great show because our fans are still coming out in force and the show still rocks.”

Additionally, Valli shared his desire to remain gigging for as long as he could physically do so, continuing, “I plan to be doing shows as long as I can, delivering that great Four Seasons sound.”

Now, The Washington Post has now spoken to Valli who once again declared that he’s not lip-synching despite speculation, admitting, “If I say I’m not, you either believe me or you don’t.”

The publication also reached out to Graham Nash, who gave his opinion on the matter, alleging, “Frankie Valli is not singing. He’s just lip-syncing badly to a tape. As a musician, if you’re not singing, you shouldn’t be onstage.”

Furthermore, Nash used Joni Mitchell as an example of an artist who has adapted her voice with age, and implied that Valli should attempt to follow in her footsteps if he’s to continue, “She certainly doesn’t have the top-end range that she used to have. But, at the same time, there is a beauty. What we are getting instead of a top range is incredible phrasing in a lower range.”

Elsewhere in the piece, Heart’s Ann Wilson reacted to a clip of Valli performing, saying, “Oh, my God. His face is completely still. He looks like he’s not even there. I suppose he’s not.”

Wilson also said that as an artist, “you really have to look at your morals” and question whether it’s worth selling tickets to an event if you are not providing an authentic performance.

Despite the accusations made by Wilson and Nash that Valli is miming rather than singing, the Four Seasons star maintains his innocence.