Del Amitri Frontman Justin Currie Reveals Parkinson’s Struggle, Says Playing Guitar Has Become ‘Very Hard
Justin Currie, a member of Del Amitri, has admitted that his Parkinson's disease symptoms are making it "very difficult" for him to play the guitar.
The Scottish singer, 60, confirmed his diagnosis with the degenerative ailment last year, and said he is already "losing control" of one of his hands, which will limit his ability to play bass.
In an interview with BBC Breakfast, he stated, "I believe you have good and bad weeks. And I've recently felt asymptomatic, with only a tiny tremor this morning.
"When you feel normal, it's like being high, because you believe you don't have any severe symptoms, and then you have weeks where you simply feel very, very, very bad. It's a peculiar thing."
He continued, "It is difficult to traverse. It can be difficult to predict what kind of nick you'll be in from gig to gig.
"And you also fear that at some point you're going to be standing on stage and you'll just have to put your hands up and go, 'I can't really do this any more'."
Currie stated that he did not immediately reveal his diagnosis because he did not want to notify his mother, who died subsequently.
When asked about performing, he stated, "Sometimes, if you're not feeling fantastic (on stage), you just have this little voice in your head saying, 'I've really got to quit doing this'.
"But then you finish a gig and say, 'Yes, another one down; I got away with it.'"
"So we've talked when we need to quit. And the band members are all on board.
"So after a tour, I'll say, 'Look, how's it going? Do we need to get a bass player now?' They'll say, 'No, no, it's great. You're fine'.
"So I think a lot of what's going on inside your head, you don't really see in the outside."
"I can kind of disagree with it (the voice in his head) when I'm on stage... It erodes your confidence, partly because you're losing control.
"So I am losing control of my hand. So, when I play the bass, I'll make more mistakes. It's difficult for me to play the guitar these days.
"So I can challenge it. I can dispute with Gavin, the tremor man. I spoke with other artists with Parkinson's, and they all said that at some time, you know you have to stop and seize up during a show... I’m just hoping that is some way in the future."
Asked if music helps his symptoms, he said: "Just doing my job is, doing this is good for me, because I’m not sitting around going, ‘Don’t feel pretty’ or ‘What’s happening?’."
Del Amitri formed in Glasgow in 1980, and are known for songs including Nothing Ever Happens, which peaked at number 11 in the UK singles chart. The group have also had six top 10 albums in the UK albums chart.
Celebrities including Back To The Future star Michael J Fox, comedian Billy Connolly and late Black Sabbath star Ozzy Osbourne were diagnosed with the disease.
The Scottish singer, 60, confirmed his diagnosis with the degenerative ailment last year, and said he is already "losing control" of one of his hands, which will limit his ability to play bass.
In an interview with BBC Breakfast, he stated, "I believe you have good and bad weeks. And I've recently felt asymptomatic, with only a tiny tremor this morning.
"When you feel normal, it's like being high, because you believe you don't have any severe symptoms, and then you have weeks where you simply feel very, very, very bad. It's a peculiar thing."
He continued, "It is difficult to traverse. It can be difficult to predict what kind of nick you'll be in from gig to gig.
"And you also fear that at some point you're going to be standing on stage and you'll just have to put your hands up and go, 'I can't really do this any more'."
Currie stated that he did not immediately reveal his diagnosis because he did not want to notify his mother, who died subsequently.
When asked about performing, he stated, "Sometimes, if you're not feeling fantastic (on stage), you just have this little voice in your head saying, 'I've really got to quit doing this'.
"But then you finish a gig and say, 'Yes, another one down; I got away with it.'"
"So we've talked when we need to quit. And the band members are all on board.
"So after a tour, I'll say, 'Look, how's it going? Do we need to get a bass player now?' They'll say, 'No, no, it's great. You're fine'.
"So I think a lot of what's going on inside your head, you don't really see in the outside."
"I can kind of disagree with it (the voice in his head) when I'm on stage... It erodes your confidence, partly because you're losing control.
"So I am losing control of my hand. So, when I play the bass, I'll make more mistakes. It's difficult for me to play the guitar these days.
"So I can challenge it. I can dispute with Gavin, the tremor man. I spoke with other artists with Parkinson's, and they all said that at some time, you know you have to stop and seize up during a show... I’m just hoping that is some way in the future."
Asked if music helps his symptoms, he said: "Just doing my job is, doing this is good for me, because I’m not sitting around going, ‘Don’t feel pretty’ or ‘What’s happening?’."
Del Amitri formed in Glasgow in 1980, and are known for songs including Nothing Ever Happens, which peaked at number 11 in the UK singles chart. The group have also had six top 10 albums in the UK albums chart.
Celebrities including Back To The Future star Michael J Fox, comedian Billy Connolly and late Black Sabbath star Ozzy Osbourne were diagnosed with the disease.