Frontman of '80s synth pop band reveals Parkinson's diagnosis at 65
Morten Harket, frontman of the famous Norwegian band A-ha, has Parkinson's disease.
The 65-year-old singer opened up about his diagnosis and treatment in an article on the band's website.
'I've got no problem accepting the diagnosis,' Harket said. '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.''
Parkinson's disease is an age-related degenerative brain condition in which parts of the brain start to deteriorate, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The incurable condition typically starts to develop in individuals 60 and older. It is also slightly more common in men. Symptoms include slowed movements, tremors and balance problems.
Harket had kept his diagnosis mostly private except for some people close to him, until now.
'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,' he said.
The singer traveled to the United States in June 2024 for brain surgery at the Mayo Clinic, which 'led to a dramatic improvement in his symptoms.'
The surgery involved implanting electrodes in the left side of his brain that are connected to a device under the skin on his chest that sends electrical impulses to the electrodes for deep brain stimulation. Later, in December, he had the surgery on the right side of his brain.
While Harket's symptoms improved, he still has to cope with the daily trials of the degenerative disorder.
'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,' Harket said. '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.'
However, Harket isn't letting his symptoms stop him from making music.
'I don't expect to be able to achieve full technical control,' he said of his singing voice. '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.'
A-ha is best known for the group's international synth-pop hit, 'Take On Me,' as well as 'The Sun Always Shines on T.V.'
The former topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1985 and its accompanying whimsical music video, which saw Harket and the band enter an animated drawing, has 2.1 billion views on YouTube. In 1986, the band was nominated for the Grammy for best new artist.
The band released studio albums in 1986, 1988, and 1990, with single hits including 'Hunting High and Low,' 'The Living Daylights,' 'Stay on These Roads' and 'Crying in the Rain.'
A-ha went on hiatus after their fifth studio album, 'Memorial Beach,' failed to match the commercial success of their previous albums. The band later reunited in 1998 and has released eleven studio albums, several compilations and four live albums to date.
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