A-ha's Morten Harket shares emotional statement after Parkinson's diagnosis
Morten Harket, the iconic frontman of 80s band A-ha, has announced that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.
The Norwegian band released a statement that read: 'This isn't the sort of news anyone wants to deliver to the world, but here it is: Morten has Parkinson's disease.'
In an interview about the diagnosis on the band's official website that serves as Harket's statement on the matter, the 65-year-old said: '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 elaborated: '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.'
Later, when asked if he can still sing, he responded: '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.'
A-ha is a Norwegian synth-pop band formed in Oslo in 1982, consisting of Morten Harket (vocals), Magne Furuholmen (keyboards), and Pål Waaktaar-Savoy (guitar).
They rose to international fame with their 1985 debut album Hunting High and Low, which featured the iconic hit Take On Me, known for its innovative animated music video and Harket's falsetto vocals. More Trending
The song became a global success, reaching number one in multiple countries, and remaining one of the most recognisable songs in the world to this day.
While often associated with the 1980s, a-ha continued to release music and tour into the 21st century, building a loyal fanbase and evolving their sound.
Notable later work include albums like Memorial Beach, Lifelines, and Cast in Steel. Despite several breakups and reunions, a-ha remains an influential and enduring act in pop music history.
Harket has six children, three with his former wife Camilla Malmquist Harket, whom he divorced in 1998, a daughter with former girlfriend Anne Mette Undlien. and another daughter with his current partner Inez Andersson.
This is a breaking news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates.
If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
For more stories like this, check our entertainment page.
Follow Metro.co.uk Entertainment on Twitter and Facebook for the latest celeb and entertainment updates. You can now also get Metro.co.uk articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here.
MORE: Talking Heads fans feel 'gaslit' after rumoured 50th anniversary announcement is finally revealed
MORE: Arnold Schwarzenegger tried to rewrite one of the most famous lines in movie history
MORE: Famous Hollywood couple shattered after learning they can't move to Ireland permanently
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
an hour ago
- Metro
Alison Hammond shuts down bizarre pregnancy claim in best way possible
Alison Hammond has shut down speculation that she's pregnant in the most hilarious way possible after false rumours spread online. The Great British Bake-Off and This Morning host, 50, has reportedly been the subject of false AI-generated stories that are claiming she's with child. Alison has one child – her son Aidan who was born in 2005 – but she appears to be determined not to have any more if her latest comments are anything to go by. Naturally, Alison has responded to the pregnancy rumours with good spirit and humour, taking to social media to deny them in the best way possible. Posting to her Instagram account, which has 1.7 million followers, she said: 'Lots of AI stories online about me being pregnant, I can confirm I am not having a baby.' She continued: '[I'm definitely not pregnant] as I'm not sure my 50-year-old womb could take it. However, I do think we should all dance like Meghan.' To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The statement was accompanied by a video of Alison dancing around her living room after stuffing her dress with a giant pillow to mimic a pregnant belly. Referencing the already famous video of Meghan Markle dancing while heavily pregnant with daughter Princess Lillibet, Alison busted a move or two while waving her hands in the air like she just didn't care. In the video, which was taken four years ago, the heavily pregnant Duchess of Sussex is shown dancing in a hospital room to the sound of Starrkeisha song Baby Momma. Meghan posted on her Instagram to celebrate Lili's fourth birthday on Wednesday, writing: 'Four years ago today, this also happened. 'Both of our children were a week past their due dates – so when spicy food, all that walking, and acupuncture didn't work – there was only one thing left to do!' The happy video has (of course) drawn some criticism on social media after Meghan was seen to twerk at one point, with online users criticising her behaviour. For Metro, Kirsty Ketley argued back: '[The video] shows something powerful: joy. A woman, supported by her partner, using music and laughter to cope with one of the most intense moments of their life.' Commenting on Alison's video, Bryony Gordon called Alison 'our queen' while Lisa Snowden applauded, celebrated, and laughed at the clip with a group of emojis. More Trending Scottish radio presenter Jenni Falconer commented saying 'You are just brilliant' and added three big love hearts in her message to Alison. Alison's son Aidan, now 19, was born in 2005 when the Big Weekend presenter was engaged to Noureddine Boufaied – the couple split in 2014. She confessed, 'I felt that failure with [Noureddine] when we broke up, but he moved on and has three other kids now and they are part of our life,' but revealed that they have successfully co-parented over the years. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Six methods people claim will induce labour, rated by a midwife MORE: King Charles serenaded by Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's wedding singers at SXSW London MORE: Conor Maynard addresses The Traitors paternity scandal in first live TV interview
Wales Online
an hour ago
- Wales Online
Welsh star opens new local skatepark in Cardiff
A new 'destination' skatepark has opened in Llanrumney, with Dirty Sanchez' Matthew Pritchard cutting the ribbon at the long awaited facility and taking the first skate. Plans for the project were first announced by Cardiff Council three years ago as part of the council's Skateboard Amenities project that will see the city filled with new skateparks across the city over the next ten years, subject to funding. Work started on the new park in December 2024 and finally opened today - Friday, June 6. The East Side park in Llanrumney, next to the Eastern Leisure Centre, has multiple obstacles including ledges, rails, hubbas, manual pads, stairs, banks as well as a quarter pipe making it both fun and challenging for those looking to learn or hone their skating skills. The local skateboard community worked with consultants, VDZ+A and Newline Skateparks, to design the 1,000m2 skatepark. Never miss a Cardiff story by signing up to our daily newsletter here It has been designed to be suitable for skaters of all ages and abilities, and is built from concrete, providing a higher quality, lower maintenance and lower noise facility than the old timber-framed skatepark it replaces. Dirty Sanchez star and Welsh skateboarder, Matt Pritchard joined skaters to open the facility. He said: "It's what we need in Cardiff. I'm 52 now, and when I first started skateboarding, we had nothing in Cardiff, so to have facilities like this is amazing. "It's really good for the kids as well, especially now that skateboarding is in the Olympics and is being taken seriously. Fair play to Cardiff Council, they've done an amazing job, and it's nice to see them investing in skateboarding in Cardiff." Cabinet member for culture, parks and events, Cllr Jennifer Burke, said: "This is the first skate park to be built as part of our new skateboard strategy and it's already proving to be a real hit with the city's skate community. "The skate scene in Cardiff is really vibrant and diverse – you've got young children and teenagers, all the way through to older skaters who are now introducing their own kids to what is now an Olympic sport. The new East Side skate park is part of our long-term strategy to support and grow the skateboard community for years to come." Here are pictures of the new skatepark in Llanrumney.
The Independent
4 hours ago
- The Independent
Labour pledges to lower A&E waiting times and end NHS ‘corridor care'
The government has pledged to drastically reduce the number of patients facing long waits in A&E, with plans also set out to end "corridor care". According to the Department of Health and NHS England, almost £450 million will be invested in creating better care and more facilities, with an emphasis on caring for people closer to their homes. The new Urgent and Emergency Care Plan for England states that more needs to be done to drive down long waits, cut delayed discharges, and improve care for patients. An earlier version of the document said NHS trusts would need to show how, by this winter, systems will "improve flow through hospitals, with a particular focus on patients waiting over 12 hours, and eliminate corridor care". The later version does not commit to a timescale for ending corridor care, instead stating that systems must "improve flow through hospitals, with a particular focus on reducing patients waiting over 12 hours and making progress on eliminating corridor care". Ministers have also set an ambition for a minimum of 78% of patients who attend A&E to be admitted, transferred, or discharged within four hours, up from the current 75%, meaning "over 800,000 people a month will receive more timely care". There will also be a focus on seeing more children. The Government wants to slash the number of patients waiting more than 12 hours for a hospital bed – or to be discharged from A&E – so this occurs 'less than 10% of the time', according to the new document. Around 1.7 million attendances at A&E every year currently exceed this time frame. Further measures in the plan are intended to drive down delayed discharges from hospital, which occur when people are medically fit to leave but care in their homes or community has not yet been put in place. Local performance targets will be set to improve patient discharge times, and 'eliminate internal discharge delays of more than 48 hours in all settings', the plan said. Experts said A&E 'league tables' will be published to drive up performance. Those patients who need an overnight emergency admission will also have their overall stay reduced where appropriate – the average is 'currently nearly a day longer than in 2019'. The plan further sets out how ambulance waiting times for category 2 patients – such as those suffering stroke, heart attack, sepsis or major trauma – will be cut by more than 14%, from 35 to 30 minutes. A previous target of 18 minutes has been repeatedly missed. In the document, there is an aim to 'eradicate' last winter's lengthy ambulance handover delays by meeting a maximum 45-minute target for patients to be handed over to A&E. This should help 'get 550,000 more ambulances back on the road for patients', it says. According to the document, around 40 new same day emergency care and urgent treatment centres will also be established to treat and discharge patients the same day, avoiding unnecessary admissions to hospital. Almost 500 new ambulances will also be rolled out across the country by March 2026. The plan details 15 mental health crisis assessment centres, which are designed to ensure mentally ill people do not have to wait in A&E for hours for care. It comes after the NHS experienced a crisis over winter, with patients waiting hours for beds and regularly being treated in corridors – so-called corridor care. A&E waiting time targets have not been met for more than a decade, while the 18-minute target for category 2 ambulance calls has never been hit outside the pandemic. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: 'No patient should ever be left waiting for hours in hospital corridors or for an ambulance which ought to arrive in minutes. 'We can't fix more than a decade of underinvestment and neglect overnight. 'But through the measures we're setting out today, we will deliver faster and more convenient care for patients in emergencies. 'Far too many patients are ending up in A&E who don't need or want to be there, because there isn't anywhere else available. 'Because patients can't get a GP appointment, which costs the NHS £40, they end up in A&E, which costs around £400 – worse for patients and more expensive for the taxpayer. 'The package of investment and reforms we are announcing today will help the NHS treat more patients in the community, so they don't end up stuck on trolleys in A&E.' Under the plans, paramedics will play a bigger role in the community, with patients given 'more effective treatment at the scene of an accident or in their own homes from ambulance crews'. More patients will also be seen by urgent community response teams in their own homes to try to avoid hospital admission. The NHS is also pledging better use of virtual wards, where patients are monitored by hospital staff from their home, and there are plans to drive up vaccination rates among NHS staff to help protect patients. The Liberal Democrats claimed the Government had listened to their calls to end corridor care, but called on ministers to follow through on their promises. Lib Dem health spokesperson Helen Morgan MP said: 'Patients have heard these kinds of promises before only to be led up the garden path. 'We can't bear any more of the shameful neglect and failed delivery that we saw for a decade under the Conservatives. 'It's good to see ministers finally listen to Liberal Democrat demands to end corridor care but the misery in our A&Es will only be prolonged if they continue to move at a snail's pace on social care. 'Until they grasp this nettle, millions are at risk of dangerously long waits in A&E. 'They must see sense and conclude their review into social care by the end of this year.'
