Morten Harket, frontman of A-Ha, has revealed that he has Parkinson’s disease.
The news was shared by the band today (June 4), in a statement on their website which read: “This isn’t the sort of news anyone wants to deliver to the world, but here it is – Morten has Parkinson’s disease.”
The singer, aged 65, shared further details of the diagnosis in the post, and explained why he wanted to be open with fans after previously keeping details on his health “strictly private”.
“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 began.
“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 in the update, Harket said that some of the symptoms had been “softened” following treatment from the Mayo Clinic in the US, and said that he underwent a “neurosurgical procedure in which electrodes were implanted deep inside the left side of his brain” back in June 2024.
As for whether he can still sing, he wrote: “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.
“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.”
The pop icon said that was touched that he was “going to get so many messages about what to do and how to deal with it all from well-meaning people”, but that he “needed to listen to the professionals I have available to me”.
“I won’t be able to process anything else,” he continued. “Don’t worry about me. Find out who you want to be – a process that can be new each and every day. Be good servants of nature, the very basis of our existence, and care for the environment while it is still possible to do so. Spend your energy and effort addressing real problems, and know that I am being taken care of.”
Parkinson’s is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder in the world, behind Alzheimer’s. It affects around 145,000 people in the UK, according to the NHS, and common symptoms include involuntary shaking, slower-than-usual movement, and stiffness in the muscles.
It is not known what exactly leads to people developing the condition, and while drug treatments may help manage symptoms, they do not cure it nor slow down the progression.
Other famous faces who have had Parkinson’s diagnoses include Back To The Future star Michael J. Fox, Scottish comedian Billy Connolly and former US President George H.W. Bush. You can find out more about the condition here.
Harket first found fame in the ‘80s as the vocalist of A-ha, and is still widely recognised today for their hit 1985 song ‘Take On Me’.
As well as releasing 11 albums with the band, he has also shared six solo records – the most recent of which being 2014’s ‘Brother’. Back in 2021, he was revealed as a contestant on the UK version of The Masked Singer.
Speaking to NME about the appearance on the series, he said: “My reason for doing it was I thought it would be a really shitty thing to do, and I thought that would be good for me. And I got what I asked for! [Laughs] My in-ear system didn’t work, so I couldn’t show what I’m capable of.
“I couldn’t be playful or mess with people the way I wanted. Which is why I suggested singing ‘Take On Me’ to producers – to be able to take things one step further by doing my own song. Singing on that show felt like driving with the windscreen completely smeared.”
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