Victims of Success...

The legendary Roberta Flack has been diagnosed with ALS, and is no longer able to sing. She's 85 

Florence Welch managed to break her foot during the opening night of Florence and the Machine's new tour, leading to the postponing of the rest of it 

misery guts wrote:Former UK X Factor winner James Arthur told of how he'd had a major health issue lately; not coronavirus, though, it was a gall-bladder problem 

James Arthur - Out Of Our Minds
He relates his story, as he moves his family back up to his hometown of Redcar, which improves his mental health. He was in a very bad place when he got the original X Factor audition, which likely saved his life. He talked to a doctor and a therapist about the treatment of mental health, and to his family about a trouble upbringing. He was between tour spells, having had a panic attack at one gig, and worried he might find it affecting his career. But by the end, he seemed to be coping for now.

Singer Tony Christie has been talking this week about being diagnosed with dementia. He said he first noticed problems a few years back, and became concerned enough to get checked out. He'll be 80 in April.

The Big Interview - Nick Cave
The Aussie rocker talked to Kirsty Wark about a book he'd co-authored called Faith, Hope and Carnage, and about the death of his son Arthur. He spoke that spirituality was an idea that meant more to him than religion, though he was raised in a Christian church. He had an online Q&A format called The Red Hand Files. His mother died at 93. He was asked about his long friendship with Kylie Minogue too.

Canu Gyd Fy Arwr - Mike Peters
Rhys Meirion fronts a show where ordinary people are given the chance to sing with their heroes. Rhys took the opportunity to work with his own choice - legendary Welsh frontman from the Alarm, Mike Peters. However Mike had a relapse of his leukaemia. Rhys spoke to Mike's wife Jules about the charity they set up, the Love, Hope, Strength Foundation, and Rhys joined her on a fundraising walk. She and Mike had been married 40 years. Mike improved enough to join Rhys (and Rhys' son) in his studio which is based in an old chapel. The Alarm were around from 1976, and made their TotP debut in 1983. Mike was first diagnosed in 1995. Mike and Rhys did a version of the Alarm number Love, Hope, Strength, translated into Welsh.

Man Down
A look at the very many men in the music business who've experienced mental health issues, some caused by the very business and their time with it. Also projects to help cope. Rag n Bone Man, plus members of Portishead and Idles, were some of the more recognisable inclusions, and many had left altogether to pursue other avenues.

Therapy: Tough Talking
Rapper Kema Kay tries therapy with someone called Hayley. Talking over his issues soon leads him to confront sad troubles from his childhood, particularly losing touch with the mother he was close to. Though sceptical about the value of therapy, he did realise it was doing him good. He was surprised that the producer he was also working with, Andy, revealed he was in therapy as well. I hope it continues to prove successful for them.

Lewis Capaldi has taken a short hiatus, and cancelled/postponed a number of shows, though he makes clear he expects to be back in time for his Glastonbury appearance at the end of the month.

Katie Waissel, a UK X Factor contestant from 2010, has again reiterated that she felt badly treated on the show by the crew. As part of the current mental health climate, and particularly as ITV are currently facing many accusations about toxic culture, her story might get a better hearing than it has done before.

Bebe Rexha was attacked on stage by someone in the crowd who thought it would be "a laugh" to throw their mobile at her. It must have been a hell of a shot because it struck her on the side of the head, and she had to go off.

And by coincidence, Ava Max has also suffered an on-stage invasion which she says "scratched her eyeball" which is pretty drastic 

And in a different degree of pain, Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme has let on that he's been battling with cancer, though he has perhaps understandably not gone into too many details.

Paula
A 2-part look at Paula Yates, presenter of legendary 80s show The Tube, and ex-wife of Sir Bob Geldof, and other half of late INXS frontman Michael Hutchence. Journalist Martin Townsend tapes some interviews with her before she died, which formed the hinge of this new look back. Sananda Maitreya (fka Terence Trent D'Arby) and Robbie Williams were among those singing her praises, whilst confidant Belinda Brewin was her most personal advocate. In some respects, Paula was ahead of her time, but suffered awful tabloid abuse, and it broke her in the end.

Matt Willis: Fighting Addiction
He's 1/3 of UK boyband Busted, and married to successful presenter Emma, but he's had bad times with drink and drugs in the past, and tried to understand what made him turn out this way, ahead of Busted returning to touring in the Autumn (his last relapse came the last time they were on tour, making him understandably anxious). He spoke to his brother, to bandmate Charlie, to other sufferers, and to his old counsellor at the "Provy" where he first got cleaned up. He seemed to find comfort from his quest, and hopefully all will remain well when the gigs start.

misery guts wrote:Lewis Capaldi has taken a short hiatus, and cancelled/postponed a number of shows, though he makes clear he expects to be back in time for his Glastonbury appearance at the end of the month.

After his mishap at Glastonbury, he's further postponed dates until he is properly recovered.

misery guts wrote:
Katie Waissel, a UK X Factor contestant from 2010, has again reiterated that she felt badly treated on the show by the crew. As part of the current mental health climate, and particularly as ITV are currently facing many accusations about toxic culture, her story might get a better hearing than it has done before.

Further tales from UK X Factor this week as 2012 contestant Lucy Spraggan, promoting her imminent autobiography, Process, has revealed her exit from the show, blamed on illness at the time, was in fact down to being raped by a hotel porter  She's also 32 tomorrow.

It Happened Here - Tupac & Biggie
From c.2012, the well-worn story of how two rappers came through, briefly befriended each other, then one got shot and things went downhill from there, and soon both were dead. 

Yo! MTV Raps Classic - Notorious BIG Tribute
Curious repeat in the season marking 50 years of Hip-Hop, this 1996 edition was briefly intro'd by Bill Bellamy, but featured a handful of clips of Biggie introducing videos, and some of his own videos.


In more modern news, Sufjan Stevens has been afflicted by Guillain-Barre syndrome, restricting his movements badly.

misery guts wrote:It Happened Here - Tupac & Biggie
From c.2012, the well-worn story of how two rappers came through, briefly befriended each other, then one got shot and things went downhill from there, and soon both were dead. 

Bizarrely, there has been an arrest made over the Tupac murder, a mere 27 years late.

Out Of Shape
The story of Matias Fernandez Burzaco, a 25 year old rapper from Argentina, who suffers with hyaline fibromatosis syndrome, which leaves him relying on a motorised wheelchair, and the support of his family. But he was able to make his live performance debut to a packed (and seemingly sympathetic) audience, and he also does some acting. Good luck to him.

Untold: Konan - Trapped in Trauma
He had troubles when younger. His father died when he was 5, but it was the death of his stepfather that left a deeper mark, perhaps partly because it could, maybe should, have been Konan copping it. He used rapping to help him cope. He spoke to a therapist, who encouraged him to face his fears. Along the way he talked with three other PTSD sufferers, and fellow rapper Backroad Gee. He seemed to make some progress as the documentary concluded.

Arts Uncovered: Paraorchestra
How Sky Arts ponied up funding for a bursary, and a couple of those who have benefitted from the opportunity, as well as conductor Charles Hazlewood talking about the importance of the project and the band.

misery guts wrote:

misery guts wrote:Lewis Capaldi has taken a short hiatus, and cancelled/postponed a number of shows, though he makes clear he expects to be back in time for his Glastonbury appearance at the end of the month.

After his mishap at Glastonbury, he's further postponed dates until he is properly recovered.

Helpfully updating on this, Lewis has said he's continuing his break rather than rushing back.

Michael Bolton has also had to postpone dates because he needed an operation for a brain tumour 

Singer James Morrison has been left sadly widowed by the unexpected death of his wife. They had been together a long time 

Neville Staple, legendary member of the Specials and Fun Boy Three, has had to cancel his tour dates because of a negative health report 

Del Amitri frontman Justin Currie has announced he's been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease 

misery guts wrote:Del Amitri frontman Justin Currie has announced he's been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease 

He gave an interview further to this, in which he acknowledged that the illness will spell the end of his performing career in time 

Kid Cudi has had to cancel some shows as a result of breaking his foot whilst boisterously jumping about during a gig.

Kim Petras has also had to cancel tour dates and festivals for the summer, through some unspecified reason.

Look Away
Named after an Iggy Pop track, rather than Big Country, this sobering documentary talked to some of the victims of a predatory music business. There were 4 strands - Rodney Bingenheimer's English Disco (he denied accusations and wasn't interviewed) - Steven Tyler as guardian for a teenage girl who got pregnant (at which point the record company made her have an abortion, and she was sent back home to her mother) - Axl Rose being ill-behaved (and displaying somewhat dangerous split personality disorder) - and Kim Fowley treating one of the Runaways to a drug-induced assault. The victims were present to be heard, and there was very brief footage of Tyler, Rose, Fowley and others seeming rather glib about their situations. A sad round-up, and leaves a sense that this was the tip of an iceberg, which may well still be ongoing, given the age of some starlets in the business.