Morten Harket, the iconic frontman of the 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 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 could 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.’
(Picture: Action Press/REX/Shutterstock)
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.
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.
What is Parkinson’s disease?
The NHS states: ‘Parkinson’s disease is a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years.’
Symptoms can include:
- involuntary shaking of particular parts of the body (tremor)
- slow movement
- stiff and inflexible muscles
- depression and anxiety
- balance problems (this may increase the chances of a fall)
- loss of sense of smell (anosmia)
- problems sleeping (insomnia)
- memory problems
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.
When asked near the end of the interview what he would like to say to fans, Harket said: ‘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.’
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