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S'pore bands mark milestones with gigs: Silver Strings at 60, Mel & Joe at 55 and Lovehunters at 40

S'pore bands mark milestones with gigs: Silver Strings at 60, Mel & Joe at 55 and Lovehunters at 40

Straits Times17 hours ago
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(Clockwise from left) Brothers Mel and Joe, members of Silver Strings and members of Lovehunters.
SINGAPORE – For Singapore music acts Silver Strings, Mel & Joe and Lovehunters, age is nothing but a number.
Veterans and trailblazers in the home-grown music scene, all three are staging concerts to mark milestones in their music careers.
Silver Strings will stage a 60th anniversary concert – likely to be their last gig – Mel & Joe will celebrate their 55th year with a show, while Lovehunters' upcoming concert marks their 40th year anniversary.
The Straits Times catches up with the three local music stalwarts to find out more about their plans for their landmark shows.
Silver Strings at 60: Saying goodbye with one last show
Silver Strings played their first public show opening for British icons The Rolling Stones in 1965.
PHOTO: SUPREME MUSICAL CONNECTION
Six decades after they made their debut, Singapore band Silver Strings are calling it a day.
The rock band , which played their first public performance in 1965 – the same year Singapore gained independence – will stage their final concert at RELC Hotel International on Sept 6.
Band leader and bassist Audie Ng, the only member from the group's founding line-up who is still performing, tells the Straits Times: 'I'm already 83 years old and I don't foresee being able to perform another five years from now. Silver Strings typically do concerts every five years, so at my age, I feel this will likely be my last major performance with the band.'
Besides Ng, the current line-up of Silver Strings comprises singer Percival De Silva, 80; lead guitarist Johnny Yeow, 76; keyboardist and vocalist Nicholas Stravens, 70; drummer Michael Cheng, 68; and rhythm guitarist and vocalist Andrew Fleury, 62.
The multi-act concert, featuring opening sets by fellow seasoned acts such as Jerry Fernandez and Neu Faces, will last 3½ hours.
The Silver Strings' headline set will be two hours long and will feature covers of pop and rock hits from the 1970s to the 1980s, including evergreen songs by acts such as British bands Queen and The Kinks.
They will also perform two originals released in the 1960s – You're The Boy (1965) and I'll Remember Today (1967). Both were sang by their former lead singer Shirley Nair, who moved to the United States and died in the 1980s.
The four original band members – Ng, lead guitarist David Chan, rhythm guitarist Merlin Lim and drummer Danny Boy – had the same music teacher, the late Harry Martinez, and first played music together in 1963 as teenagers.
They made their debut public performance at a major show – an opening set for English rock icons The Rolling Stones at the Singapore Badminton Hall in 1965. In the same year, they also performed in front of their largest audience – 20,000 people at the 1965 Miss Universe Malaysia pageant.
They would go on to secure regular gigs at local venues such as the now-defunct National Theatre as well as in Hong Kong and Malaysia.
'I remember we were treated like superstars by the local audiences wherever we played,' Ng says.
Silver Strings also wrote the theme song for 1964 Malay comedy Mat Tiga Suku, produced by film company Cathay-Keris Studio and starring veteran comedian Mat Sentol. The band members had cameos in the film.
The band's fluid line-up through the years included many singers, including entertainment icon Anita Sarawak, who first sang with the group when she was 16.
Ng says one thing that made Silver Strings stand out from their peers is their versatility. 'We were not the No. 1 band, but we can play all kinds of music. We can play songs by The Shadows, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks.'
The band split up in 1971 after Ng decided to focus on the business side of music, such as organising shows, managing bands and running an instrument rental company.
Over the years, Silver Strings have reunited several times for standalone shows, including gigs, also at RELC International Hotel, in 2014 and 2019.
Ng takes pride in maintaining connections with the band's fans throughout the years. For example, instead of using a ticketing agency, those who want to buy tickets to their upcoming show have to message him on his personal number and meet him to collect their tickets.
He says: 'We've become friends. Even those from 50 years ago, I'm still in touch with them.'
Book it/Silver Strings 60th Anniversary Final Concert
Where: Auditorium, RELC Hotel International, 30 Orange Grove Road
When: Sept 6, 7pm
Admission: $60. To buy tickets, send a WhatsApp message to Audie Ng on 9818-4198
Mel & Joe at 55: Nostalgic trip to decades past
The Ferdinands brothers Joe (left) and Mel published a self-penned coffee-table book about their life in music, I Play & Sing, in 2011. The photo was taken the same year.
ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN
When Mel & Joe first made their public debut on television in the 1971 Talentime singing competition, older sibling Mel Ferdinands was 12 while younger brother Joe was only nine.
More than half a century later, their musical bond is stronger than ever, the duo known for English cover versions tell ST in a Zoom interview.
Mel, 66, says: 'What makes it interesting about Mel & Joe is this understanding we have when we're on stage. W e don't even have to say anything . I give Joe one look and he knows what we're doing for the next line or who's doing the harmony, stuff like that.'
On Aug 23, the brothers will celebrate Mel & Joe's 55th anniversary with a show at the Esplanade Concert Hall.
It will be a nostalgic trip for their audience, with covers of popular hits from past decades, from country and Western tunes to songs by classic pop and rock acts such as Bee Gees, Eagles, Fleetwood Mac and Chicago.
'The idea is for the people who lived through that era with us to rewind those years. And for the younger audience, it's also an introduction to some of the great stuff we used to have,' says Mel.
Even though they are cover songs, the duo will put their own distinctive spin to their versions. Joe, 63, says: 'You do a little bit of different things here and there, you don't lose sight of who you are. That's the most important thing.'
The 90-minute show will focus on different periods in their career, including the 1980s and 1990s when they were part of popular rock/pop/country band Gypsy, whose line-up included older brothers Dixie and Don.
The gig will be a family affair.
Don, who now lives in Perth, Australia, will fly in for a tribute performance for their brother Dennis, who died of cancer at the age of 69 in 2024. Mel's daughter Gabby, who is in her mid-30s, will sing at the show.
Mel, who teaches guitar, keyboards and other instruments at a local music school, is grateful to have spent much of his life making music and entertaining audiences all over Singapore.
'We've performed to crowds of up to 50,000 at the Padang and the old Police Academy. We had our own television specials. It's been a great 55 years and I'm looking forward to another 55,' says Mel.
One thing that has not changed in the last five decades, Joe adds, is their dedication to their stage craft. 'I think Mel would agree with me on this, that when we perform, even if it's just to one person in the audience or a 50,000 crowd, everyone matters. They all deserve to be entertained and that's what we've always believed in.'
Their concert is part of A Date With Friends 2025, an annual series by the Esplanade that highlights artistes and music from the past. It includes performances by Rock Rosettes at Esplanade Annexe Studio on Aug 22, Hanafie Warren at Esplanade Recital Studio on Aug 24 and a tribute concert to Hong Kong music and film icons Leslie Cheung and Anita Mui at Esplanade Concert Hall on Aug 24.
Book it/Mel & Joe Ferdinands' 55th Anniversary Party
Where: Esplanade Concert Hall, 1 Esplanade Drive
When: Aug 23, 7.30pm
Admission: From $28 via Sistic (go to
www.sistic.com.sg or call 6348-5555)
Lovehunters at 40: Back with a bigger sound
Singaporean band Lovehunters' (from left) Yazid Abu Bakar, Salahuddin Mohamad and Saharudin Jalil will perform with an extended line-up that includes classical and traditional musicians.
ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
To mark their 40th anniversary, Singaporean rock stalwarts Lovehunters are attempting something they have never done in a live show before.
Their concert at The Theatre at Mediacorp on Sept 13 will see the band – best known for their Malay songs – boost their usual three-piece line-up with classical and traditional musicians.
These include gamelan players from arts group Telung Turonggo, an eight-piece string section and a percussion ensemble led by percussionist and National Arts Council's Young Artist Award recipient Riduan Zalani.
Lovehunters might have made their name through their hard-hitting live repertoire, as well as rock ballads that have become Malay radio staples, but the band have always had a bigger musical vision, they tell ST in a sit-down interview.
Says singer and bassist Yazid Abu Bakar, 62: 'Lovehunters aren't just a rock or metal band. We've always considered ourselves in the 'world music' category because we play a lot of different kinds of music – we have funk, a bit of jazz and reggae. There's rap too.'
Adds drummer Saharudin Jalil, 62: 'We've added elements like orchestral music in our recorded songs, but we've never had the chance to replicate them live. The fans will finally get to hear the songs the way we recorded them in the studio.'
Set to run for more than two hours, the set list will comprise at least 20 songs. The concert shares the same name as their 2005 album, Renaissance: 1987 Till …, which mostly comprises re-recorded versions of their hit songs.
Some arrangements in the show differ significantly from the original studio versions that fans are familiar with. For example, Demam (Fever), a reggae song from 1993 album Terima Kasih (Terima Kasih), will be fused with gamelan music, just like it was in the re-recorded version found in Renaissance.
The concert will also feature the return of Salahuddin Mohamad, 51, in place of founding guitarist and long-time member Moliano Rasmadi, who will not be playing at the concert due to personal commitments. Salahuddin played guitar on the Renaissance album.
And while the members have been gigging individually, the upcoming concert will be the first full concert by Lovehunters since 2011, when they played a sold-out show at the Esplanade Concert Hall.
The band also performed at The Ground Theatre @ *Scape in 2014, but that show mostly comprised covers of classic rock songs.
Lovehunters first came into prominence in the mainstream Malay music scene here and in Malaysia with the release of their 1987 debut album, Sehari Dalam Hidup (A Day In The Life), which included radio hit Ku Ukir Nama Mu (I Carve Your Name).
Prior to releasing the album, the band were active in the local club scene. While all three members have been playing in different rock, blues and funk outfits in the nightclub scene since the 1970s, they started playing together with two others as a quintet, which went by various names such as Jukebox and Mirror Mirror, only in the early 1980s.
In 1985, two of their members left and they carried on as a trio under the name Lovehunters, inspired by a 1979 album and song by English rock band Whitesnake.
Over the years, they racked up more hits such as Berpindah Minda (Moving Minds) from 1991 album Blues Untuk Rakyat (Blues For The People) and Sambutlah Kasihku (Receive My Love) from their 1999 album Kembali (Return). They released one English album in 1995, which produced Angel In The Night. The song won the Favourite Local Song award on Mediacorp radio station Perfect 10, now known as 987FM.
Saharudin recalls that in their early days, rock music was often portrayed in a bad light and associated with vice activities such as drug abuse. But the members of Lovehunters have always avoided perpetuating typical rock stereotypes, and include socially conscious and anti-drug abuse messages in their songs.
He says: 'In all our albums, there isn't a single song that glorifies negative values. With every lyric that we write, we try to promote a positive message.'
The band are eager to reconnect with their fan base. Yazid says: 'It won't be just our fans from Singapore at the show. Our fans from Malaysia and Brunei have also told us that they will be there for the concert as they have not seen us perform live in a long time.'
And while he acknowledges the band's longevity and ability to outlast their peers from the 1980s, the frontman is not comfortable when he hears fans describe them as icons or legends in the local rock scene.
'For me, music is about expression and honesty, not titles.'
Book It/Concert Lovehunters Renaissance
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S'pore bands mark milestones with gigs: Silver Strings at 60, Mel & Joe at 55 and Lovehunters at 40
S'pore bands mark milestones with gigs: Silver Strings at 60, Mel & Joe at 55 and Lovehunters at 40

Straits Times

time17 hours ago

  • Straits Times

S'pore bands mark milestones with gigs: Silver Strings at 60, Mel & Joe at 55 and Lovehunters at 40

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox (Clockwise from left) Brothers Mel and Joe, members of Silver Strings and members of Lovehunters. SINGAPORE – For Singapore music acts Silver Strings, Mel & Joe and Lovehunters, age is nothing but a number. Veterans and trailblazers in the home-grown music scene, all three are staging concerts to mark milestones in their music careers. Silver Strings will stage a 60th anniversary concert – likely to be their last gig – Mel & Joe will celebrate their 55th year with a show, while Lovehunters' upcoming concert marks their 40th year anniversary. The Straits Times catches up with the three local music stalwarts to find out more about their plans for their landmark shows. Silver Strings at 60: Saying goodbye with one last show Silver Strings played their first public show opening for British icons The Rolling Stones in 1965. PHOTO: SUPREME MUSICAL CONNECTION Six decades after they made their debut, Singapore band Silver Strings are calling it a day. The rock band , which played their first public performance in 1965 – the same year Singapore gained independence – will stage their final concert at RELC Hotel International on Sept 6. Band leader and bassist Audie Ng, the only member from the group's founding line-up who is still performing, tells the Straits Times: 'I'm already 83 years old and I don't foresee being able to perform another five years from now. Silver Strings typically do concerts every five years, so at my age, I feel this will likely be my last major performance with the band.' Besides Ng, the current line-up of Silver Strings comprises singer Percival De Silva, 80; lead guitarist Johnny Yeow, 76; keyboardist and vocalist Nicholas Stravens, 70; drummer Michael Cheng, 68; and rhythm guitarist and vocalist Andrew Fleury, 62. The multi-act concert, featuring opening sets by fellow seasoned acts such as Jerry Fernandez and Neu Faces, will last 3½ hours. The Silver Strings' headline set will be two hours long and will feature covers of pop and rock hits from the 1970s to the 1980s, including evergreen songs by acts such as British bands Queen and The Kinks. They will also perform two originals released in the 1960s – You're The Boy (1965) and I'll Remember Today (1967). Both were sang by their former lead singer Shirley Nair, who moved to the United States and died in the 1980s. The four original band members – Ng, lead guitarist David Chan, rhythm guitarist Merlin Lim and drummer Danny Boy – had the same music teacher, the late Harry Martinez, and first played music together in 1963 as teenagers. They made their debut public performance at a major show – an opening set for English rock icons The Rolling Stones at the Singapore Badminton Hall in 1965. In the same year, they also performed in front of their largest audience – 20,000 people at the 1965 Miss Universe Malaysia pageant. They would go on to secure regular gigs at local venues such as the now-defunct National Theatre as well as in Hong Kong and Malaysia. 'I remember we were treated like superstars by the local audiences wherever we played,' Ng says. Silver Strings also wrote the theme song for 1964 Malay comedy Mat Tiga Suku, produced by film company Cathay-Keris Studio and starring veteran comedian Mat Sentol. The band members had cameos in the film. The band's fluid line-up through the years included many singers, including entertainment icon Anita Sarawak, who first sang with the group when she was 16. Ng says one thing that made Silver Strings stand out from their peers is their versatility. 'We were not the No. 1 band, but we can play all kinds of music. We can play songs by The Shadows, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks.' The band split up in 1971 after Ng decided to focus on the business side of music, such as organising shows, managing bands and running an instrument rental company. Over the years, Silver Strings have reunited several times for standalone shows, including gigs, also at RELC International Hotel, in 2014 and 2019. Ng takes pride in maintaining connections with the band's fans throughout the years. For example, instead of using a ticketing agency, those who want to buy tickets to their upcoming show have to message him on his personal number and meet him to collect their tickets. He says: 'We've become friends. Even those from 50 years ago, I'm still in touch with them.' Book it/Silver Strings 60th Anniversary Final Concert Where: Auditorium, RELC Hotel International, 30 Orange Grove Road When: Sept 6, 7pm Admission: $60. To buy tickets, send a WhatsApp message to Audie Ng on 9818-4198 Mel & Joe at 55: Nostalgic trip to decades past The Ferdinands brothers Joe (left) and Mel published a self-penned coffee-table book about their life in music, I Play & Sing, in 2011. The photo was taken the same year. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN When Mel & Joe first made their public debut on television in the 1971 Talentime singing competition, older sibling Mel Ferdinands was 12 while younger brother Joe was only nine. More than half a century later, their musical bond is stronger than ever, the duo known for English cover versions tell ST in a Zoom interview. Mel, 66, says: 'What makes it interesting about Mel & Joe is this understanding we have when we're on stage. W e don't even have to say anything . I give Joe one look and he knows what we're doing for the next line or who's doing the harmony, stuff like that.' On Aug 23, the brothers will celebrate Mel & Joe's 55th anniversary with a show at the Esplanade Concert Hall. It will be a nostalgic trip for their audience, with covers of popular hits from past decades, from country and Western tunes to songs by classic pop and rock acts such as Bee Gees, Eagles, Fleetwood Mac and Chicago. 'The idea is for the people who lived through that era with us to rewind those years. And for the younger audience, it's also an introduction to some of the great stuff we used to have,' says Mel. Even though they are cover songs, the duo will put their own distinctive spin to their versions. Joe, 63, says: 'You do a little bit of different things here and there, you don't lose sight of who you are. That's the most important thing.' The 90-minute show will focus on different periods in their career, including the 1980s and 1990s when they were part of popular rock/pop/country band Gypsy, whose line-up included older brothers Dixie and Don. The gig will be a family affair. Don, who now lives in Perth, Australia, will fly in for a tribute performance for their brother Dennis, who died of cancer at the age of 69 in 2024. Mel's daughter Gabby, who is in her mid-30s, will sing at the show. Mel, who teaches guitar, keyboards and other instruments at a local music school, is grateful to have spent much of his life making music and entertaining audiences all over Singapore. 'We've performed to crowds of up to 50,000 at the Padang and the old Police Academy. We had our own television specials. It's been a great 55 years and I'm looking forward to another 55,' says Mel. One thing that has not changed in the last five decades, Joe adds, is their dedication to their stage craft. 'I think Mel would agree with me on this, that when we perform, even if it's just to one person in the audience or a 50,000 crowd, everyone matters. They all deserve to be entertained and that's what we've always believed in.' Their concert is part of A Date With Friends 2025, an annual series by the Esplanade that highlights artistes and music from the past. It includes performances by Rock Rosettes at Esplanade Annexe Studio on Aug 22, Hanafie Warren at Esplanade Recital Studio on Aug 24 and a tribute concert to Hong Kong music and film icons Leslie Cheung and Anita Mui at Esplanade Concert Hall on Aug 24. Book it/Mel & Joe Ferdinands' 55th Anniversary Party Where: Esplanade Concert Hall, 1 Esplanade Drive When: Aug 23, 7.30pm Admission: From $28 via Sistic (go to or call 6348-5555) Lovehunters at 40: Back with a bigger sound Singaporean band Lovehunters' (from left) Yazid Abu Bakar, Salahuddin Mohamad and Saharudin Jalil will perform with an extended line-up that includes classical and traditional musicians. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI To mark their 40th anniversary, Singaporean rock stalwarts Lovehunters are attempting something they have never done in a live show before. Their concert at The Theatre at Mediacorp on Sept 13 will see the band – best known for their Malay songs – boost their usual three-piece line-up with classical and traditional musicians. These include gamelan players from arts group Telung Turonggo, an eight-piece string section and a percussion ensemble led by percussionist and National Arts Council's Young Artist Award recipient Riduan Zalani. Lovehunters might have made their name through their hard-hitting live repertoire, as well as rock ballads that have become Malay radio staples, but the band have always had a bigger musical vision, they tell ST in a sit-down interview. Says singer and bassist Yazid Abu Bakar, 62: 'Lovehunters aren't just a rock or metal band. We've always considered ourselves in the 'world music' category because we play a lot of different kinds of music – we have funk, a bit of jazz and reggae. There's rap too.' Adds drummer Saharudin Jalil, 62: 'We've added elements like orchestral music in our recorded songs, but we've never had the chance to replicate them live. The fans will finally get to hear the songs the way we recorded them in the studio.' Set to run for more than two hours, the set list will comprise at least 20 songs. The concert shares the same name as their 2005 album, Renaissance: 1987 Till …, which mostly comprises re-recorded versions of their hit songs. Some arrangements in the show differ significantly from the original studio versions that fans are familiar with. For example, Demam (Fever), a reggae song from 1993 album Terima Kasih (Terima Kasih), will be fused with gamelan music, just like it was in the re-recorded version found in Renaissance. The concert will also feature the return of Salahuddin Mohamad, 51, in place of founding guitarist and long-time member Moliano Rasmadi, who will not be playing at the concert due to personal commitments. Salahuddin played guitar on the Renaissance album. And while the members have been gigging individually, the upcoming concert will be the first full concert by Lovehunters since 2011, when they played a sold-out show at the Esplanade Concert Hall. The band also performed at The Ground Theatre @ *Scape in 2014, but that show mostly comprised covers of classic rock songs. Lovehunters first came into prominence in the mainstream Malay music scene here and in Malaysia with the release of their 1987 debut album, Sehari Dalam Hidup (A Day In The Life), which included radio hit Ku Ukir Nama Mu (I Carve Your Name). Prior to releasing the album, the band were active in the local club scene. While all three members have been playing in different rock, blues and funk outfits in the nightclub scene since the 1970s, they started playing together with two others as a quintet, which went by various names such as Jukebox and Mirror Mirror, only in the early 1980s. In 1985, two of their members left and they carried on as a trio under the name Lovehunters, inspired by a 1979 album and song by English rock band Whitesnake. Over the years, they racked up more hits such as Berpindah Minda (Moving Minds) from 1991 album Blues Untuk Rakyat (Blues For The People) and Sambutlah Kasihku (Receive My Love) from their 1999 album Kembali (Return). They released one English album in 1995, which produced Angel In The Night. The song won the Favourite Local Song award on Mediacorp radio station Perfect 10, now known as 987FM. Saharudin recalls that in their early days, rock music was often portrayed in a bad light and associated with vice activities such as drug abuse. But the members of Lovehunters have always avoided perpetuating typical rock stereotypes, and include socially conscious and anti-drug abuse messages in their songs. He says: 'In all our albums, there isn't a single song that glorifies negative values. With every lyric that we write, we try to promote a positive message.' The band are eager to reconnect with their fan base. Yazid says: 'It won't be just our fans from Singapore at the show. Our fans from Malaysia and Brunei have also told us that they will be there for the concert as they have not seen us perform live in a long time.' And while he acknowledges the band's longevity and ability to outlast their peers from the 1980s, the frontman is not comfortable when he hears fans describe them as icons or legends in the local rock scene. 'For me, music is about expression and honesty, not titles.' Book It/Concert Lovehunters Renaissance

"Ketamine Queen", Jasveen Sangha, to Plead Guilty in Matthew Perry Overdose Case
"Ketamine Queen", Jasveen Sangha, to Plead Guilty in Matthew Perry Overdose Case

International Business Times

timea day ago

  • International Business Times

"Ketamine Queen", Jasveen Sangha, to Plead Guilty in Matthew Perry Overdose Case

The "Ketamine Queen," 42-year-old Jasveen Sangha, has agreed to plead guilty to federal charges related to the overdose death of Friends star Matthew Perry. She is the last of five defendants charged in the case, and she has agreed to a plea with prosecutors rather than going to trial, whose date had been set in September. Jasveen Sangha X In her signed plea agreement, Sangha also confessed to five charges, distributing the ketamines directly blamed for Perry's October 2023 death. She is owning her conduct, aggressively answering those questions," said her lawyer, Mark Geragos. Perry, who found international fame playing Chandler Bing in the hit US sitcom Friends, was discovered unresponsive in the hot tub of his Los Angeles home. An autopsy confirmed that the immediate effects of ketamine were the cause of death. According to prosecutors, Sangha was at the helm of a North Hollywood "stash house," in which she stored and distributed drugs, including ketamine, methamphetamine, and other substances. She provided 51 vials of ketamine to an intermediary, Erik Fleming, 55, according to officials. Fleming ultimately handed the vials to Perry's assistant, 60-year-old Kenneth Iwamasa, who then injected the actor several times, records show. Detectives said it was the doses from Iwamasa that killed Perry, who was found dead in the jacuzzi by Iwamasa. Sangha pleaded guilty to one count of maintaining a drug-involved premise, three counts of unlawful distribution of ketamine, and one count of distribution resulting in death or serious bodily injury. She also admitted she sold ketamine to someone else in August 2019, who died of an overdose just hours later. While she had originally been facing nine criminal charges, prosecutors had, as part of the plea deal, agreed to reduce that number to five. If found guilty, she could be sentenced to as much as 65 years in prison. She is expected to plead formally in the coming weeks. Four other defendants in the case have reached plea agreements. They consist of two doctors who sold ketamine—Salvador Plasencia and Mark Chavez; Erik Fleming, a man who received drugs from Sangha; and Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry's assistant, who not only bought the substance but also injected the actor with it. All five defendants knowingly provided Perry with ketamine, using his addiction to turn a profit, federal officials said. The dual U.S.-British citizen was a familiar Hollywood name. Friends and acquaintances said she partied with celebrities and attended events, including the Golden Globes and the Oscars. Her social media accounts depicted a life of glamour, featuring pictures from luxury parties and trips to places including Mexico and Japan. Her public persona versus her charges has made for a striking juxtaposition that has caught the attention of many. In March 2024, authorities raided her home and found over 80 vials of ketamine, in addition to significant amounts of methamphetamine, cocaine, and Xanax. Federal authorities have said Perry's death has brought attention to the escalating misuse of ketamine in Hollywood. Although the drug does have legitimate medical applications, as an anesthetic or to treat depression, experts warn that using the drug as a party drug rather than under a doctor's care can be dangerous and that it can kill.

‘Unexpected challenge': Actor Jet Li in hospital for operation
‘Unexpected challenge': Actor Jet Li in hospital for operation

Straits Times

time3 days ago

  • Straits Times

‘Unexpected challenge': Actor Jet Li in hospital for operation

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox There were concerns over actor Jet Li's health when he posted on Douyin a video of himself lying in bed in hospital with his eyes closed. Action movie star Jet Li has reassured his fans that he is doing fine after an operation in hospital. There were concerns over the 62-year-old's health when he shared on Douyin – the Chinese version of TikTok – on Aug 17 morning a video of himself lying in bed in hospital with his eyes closed. 'I've recently faced another unexpected challenge,' he wrote in English. The China-born Singapore actor then posted that night another video of himself being wheeled into the operating theatre. 'A few days ago, my hardware broke down, so I sent it back to the manufacturer for repair,' he wrote, without mentioning what his condition was. The following morning, he posted a video of himself completing the surgery, with a wound seen on his right neck. 'My team called me to a meeting while I was still in bed,' he said in the video, where he was seen sitting up in bed while using a tablet. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore NDR 2025 a rallying cry amid significant challenges facing Singapore, say analysts Singapore NDR 2025: The case for growing old at home in super-ageing Singapore Singapore WP urges Government to engage widely, explore all solutions following National Day Rally 2025 Opinion A 'we first' Singapore is the hardest policy for PM Lawrence Wong to deliver Singapore Age Well Neighbourhoods, job-matching by CDCs: 10 highlights from PM Wong's National Day Rally speech Singapore LTA, public transport operators join anti-vaping effort with stepped-up enforcement World Trump, tech and Texas: What's next for the US? Singapore Jail for man who tried to sneak childhood friend out of S'pore after his passport was impounded He was seen later in the clip standing up and using a mobile phone, as he said: 'I feel much better now. Let's tell the others that I'm fine.' The actor also posted on Chinese social media platform Weibo on Aug 18 a photo of himself eating a bowl of knife-cut noodles. Actor Jet Li posted on Weibo on Aug 18 a photo of himself eating a bowl of knife-cut noodles. PHOTO: JET LI/WEIBO 'I have left the 'factory' and am eating something delicious,' he wrote in Chinese, thanking fans for their concern and blessings. 'Wishing everyone good health and happiness.' Hong Kong film producer Tiffany Chen, who is a close friend of Li's, told Taiwanese newspaper China Times that the surgery was to remove a small benign tumour. Li had previously disclosed that he was diagnosed in 2010 with hyperthyroidism, a condition that can cause fatigue and weight loss. He keeps it under control with medication. Separately, the actor revealed on Weibo on Aug 8 that he had ordered a Luxeed R7 sport utility vehicle for his eldest daughter Li Si as her wedding gift. Li Si, 37, is his daughter from his first marriage to former actress Huang Qiuyan, 64. Jet Li and Huang have another daughter, Li Taimi, 36. Jet Li has been married to former actress Nina Li Chi, 63, since 1999. They have two daughters – Jane, 25, and Jada, 22.

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