A-ha Frontman Morten Harket, 65, Diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease: ‘Never-Ending Rollercoaster Ride'

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2 days ago

Morten Harket, the frontman for A-ha, was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease
The singer, 65, underwent two brain surgeries last year in order to manage symptoms
He says he's unsure if he will be able to continue singing but plans to 'listen to the professionals' to determine what comes nextMorten Harket, the frontman for A-ha, has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.
On Wednesday, June 4, the Norwegian band shared the health update on their official website with a post written by their biographer Jan Omdahl.
'​​You know him as a-ha's iconic frontman, a divinely gifted singer, reluctant pop star, solo artist, songwriter, eccentric thinker, father of five and a grandfather too, but in recent years Morten Harket has also been a man battling his own body,' Omdahl began the statement.
Harket, 65, admitted that he wanted to reveal his diagnosis but kept it private for a while, only sharing the news with a few people in his inner circle. However, he prioritized his need for 'peace and quiet' in order to 'prevent my entire system from going into decline.'
"I've got no problem accepting the diagnosis,' he 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.''
'It's a difficult balancing act between taking the medication and managing its side effects,' he continued. '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.'
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Harket said that he underwent advanced brain surgery twice — in June 2024 and December 2024 — at the Mayo Clinic, which 'softened the impact' of his symptoms.
However, in addition to his many symptoms, the disease has impacted the singer's voice. He admitted that he doesn't really know if he can sing now at all.
'The problems with my voice are one of many grounds for uncertainty about my creative future,' he said. '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.'
'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,' he continued. "I see singing as my responsibility, and at certain moments I think it's absolutely fantastic that I get to do it. But I've got other passions too, I have other things that are just as big a part of me, that are just as necessary and true."
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Additionally, the post explained that Harket's Parkinson's disease has been 'a never-ending rollercoaster ride.'
'On good days, Morten shows virtually no sign of many of the most familiar physical symptoms of Parkinson's, doesn't mean that he is well,' Omdahl wrote, noting that the musician requires "round-the-clock effort' to balance medication, signals from the electrodes in his brain, sleep, blood sugar and his mindset.
"This isn't always successful,' Omdahl said.
For now, Harket is telling fans 'don't worry about me' and explained that he's going to 'listen to the professionals' about what's next in his treatment journey.
"Spend your energy and effort addressing real problems, and know that I am being taken care of," he said. 'It used to bother me to think about my sickness becoming public knowledge. In the long run it bothers me more to have to protect something that is strictly a private matter by treating it as a secret.'
Harket and his friends Paul Waaktaar-Savoy and Magne Furuholmen formed A-ha in 1982. The band had global success following their debut album Hunting High and Low, which featured megahit 'Take On Me.'
Parkinson's disease is a progressive brain disorder that affects the nervous system, the National Institutes of Health says. It causes unintended or uncontrollable movements, such as a tremor in the hands, arms, legs or head, muscle stiffness and difficulty with balance and coordination.
Symptoms typically worsen over time and as the disease progresses, and people may have difficulty walking and talking. Parkinson's can also cause mental and behavioral changes, sleep problems, depression, memory difficulties and fatigue.
In addition to Harket, other stars who have opened up about being diagnosed with Parkinson's include Michael J. Fox, Ozzy Osbourne,​​ Billy Connolly, Linda Ronstadt, Ed Begley Jr. Brett Favre and more.
Read the original article on People