Latest news with #MagneFuruholmen
BreakingNews.ie
07-06-2025
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
A-ha singer Morten Harket announces Parkinson's disease diagnosis
A-ha's lead singer Morten Harket has announced his diagnosis with Parkinson's disease. The frontman of the Norwegian synth-pop group, known for hits including Take On Me and You Are The One, said he is having issues with his voice due to the condition, which causes parts of the brain to become progressively damaged over many years. Advertisement His bandmate Magne Furuholmen has said all future A-ha-related activities 'will of course be tuned to suit Morten's situation'. View this post on Instagram A post shared by a-ha (@officialaha) Speaking to a biographer for an article on the A-ha website, Harket, 65, 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 continued: '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. Advertisement '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.' Harket underwent a neurosurgical procedure in which electrodes were implanted deep inside the left side of his brain in June 2024 and had a similar procedure on the right side of his brain in December 2024, according to the website article. Magne Furuholmen, Morten Harket and Pal Waaktaar of A-ha during a signing session at HMV Oxford Street, London (Yui Mok/PA) These electrodes are connected to a small pacemaker-like device placed under the skin of the upper chest that sends electrical impulses through the electrodes into the brain and this method of treatment is called deep brain stimulation (DBS). Advertisement There is currently no cure for Parkinson's disease but there are treatments like physiotherapy and medication, according to the NHS website. The main symptoms are tremors, slow movement and stiff and inflexible muscles, and Harket also said the condition has affected his voice. 'The problems with my voice are one of many grounds for uncertainty about my creative future,' he said. Asked if he can sing at the moment, he said: 'I don't really know. I don't feel like singing, and for me that's a sign. Advertisement '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 added: 'For a few years now I've been working on songs that I've got great belief in, and I feel the lyrics, especially, have something of a different aspect of me in them. 'I'm not sure if I'll be able to finish them for release. Time will tell if they make it. Advertisement 'I really like the idea of just going for it, as a Parkinson's patient and an artist, with something completely outside the box. It's all up to me, I just have to get this out of the way first.' A-ha formed in Oslo in 1982, comprised of guitarist Paul Waaktaar-Savoy, keyboardist Furuholmen and lead singer Harket. The band has had nine top 10 singles in the UK chart, including chart-topping track The Sun Always Shines On TV, and seven top 10 albums. Furuholmen said in an Instagram post on Wednesday: 'It is a day of sad news in a-ha world. Having known about Morten's diagnosis for some time does not take the force out of the blow, nor diminish the impact it has had, and will continue have, on us – as people and as a band. Morten Harket on stage at the Brit Awards 2006 (Yui Mok/PA) 'Our thoughts are first and foremost with Morten and his family at a difficult time adjusting to the changes that this condition has brought into their lives. 'As the news brings sadness, it is worth to remember through the hurt that there is also a lot of gratitude: for all the amazing memories, for how our combined creative efforts as a band have been so generously embraced by the world, and for how lucky we are that people continue to find meaning, hope and joy in our shared musical legacy. 'All future a-ha-related activities will of course be tuned to suit Morten's situation, but together we will work to try and find ways to give you the best of ourselves. Thank you everyone for all your support, your kind words, and consideration.'
CBC
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
A-ha singer Morten Harket diagnosed with Parkinson's disease
Morten Harket, the lead singer of Norwegian band A-ha, whose Take On Me track remains one of the most popular songs from the 1980s, said on Wednesday that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. In a statement on the band's website, and confirmed by record label Sony Music, Harket, 65, said he had undergone several rounds of brain surgery and that he was managing the symptoms of the disease. Parkinson's causes deterioration in the brain's nervous system, leading to tremors and other symptoms that can become progressively worse over time. The disease can be treated with surgery and medication, but there is no cure. Harket said he last year underwent neurological procedures to have electrodes implanted inside his brain and that this had reduced the symptoms. Known for the wide range of his voice, Harket said he did not know if he would be able to perform again. "I've got no problem accepting the diagnosis," he said, adding that it was difficult to balance medication and managing side effects of the treatment. "I'm trying the best I can to prevent my entire system from going into decline," Harket said. Formed in 1982 by Harket and his friends Paul Waaktaar-Savoy and Magne Furuholmen, a-ha saw a global breakthrough in 1985 with their debut album Hunting High and Low which yielded several hits such as Take On Me and The Sun Always Shines on TV.
Irish Times
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
A-ha frontman Morten Harket shares Parkinson's disease diagnosis
Morten Harket, the lead singer of Norwegian synth-pop group A-ha, has announced he has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Harket (65) said he had been experiencing vocal issues due to the condition, which progressively damages the brain. He said: 'The problems with my voice are one of many grounds for uncertainty about my creative future.' He said that he was currently unable to express himself with his voice: 'I don't feel like singing, and for me that's a sign.' Bandmate Magne Furuholmen said all future band-related activities 'will of course be tuned to suit Morten's situation'. READ MORE Harket broke the news on the A-ha website in an interview with band biographer Jan Omdahl. '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.'' There is no current cure for Parkinson's. In 2024, Harket underwent neurosurgery at the Mayo clinic in the US to implant electrodes inside the left side of his brain, followed by a similar procedure on the right side in December. The devices connect to a small device, similar to a pacemaker, placed under the skin of the upper chest that stimulates the brain by sending electrical impulses through the electrodes. The procedures gave him a dramatic improvement in his symptoms. Harket said: '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.' Harket said that he didn't hope to regain 'full technical control' over his vocals but that he had been working on songs 'that I've got great belief in, and I feel the lyrics, especially, have something of a different aspect of me in them. 'I'm not sure if I'll be able to finish them for release. Time will tell if they make it. I really like the idea of just going for it, as a Parkinson's patient and an artist, with something completely outside the box. It's all up to me, I just have to get this out of the way first.' He told fans that his identity wasn't rooted in being a singer. '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.' Furuholmen said in an Instagram post on Wednesday: 'It is a day of sad news in A-ha world. Having known about Morten's diagnosis for some time does not take the force out of the blow, nor diminish the impact it has had, and will continue have, on us – as people and as a band.' Furuholmen stressed the band's compassion for Harket and his family and expressed gratitude for their memories, fandom and legacy. A-ha formed in Oslo in 1982, comprised of guitarist Paul Waaktaar-Savoy, keyboardist Furuholmen and lead singer Harket. The band has had nine top 10 UK singles including Take on Me and You Are the One. Harket gave concerned fans a message about how to take the news: '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.'
CNA
05-06-2025
- Health
- CNA
A-ha front man Morten Harket diagnosed with Parkinson's disease
Morten Harket, the lead singer of Norwegian band A-ha, whose Take On Me track remains one of the most popular songs from the 1980s, said on Wednesday (Jun 4) that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. In a statement on the band's website, and confirmed by record label Sony Music, Harket, 65, said he had undergone several rounds of brain surgery and that he was managing the symptoms of the disease. Parkinson's causes deterioration in the brain's nervous system, leading to tremors and other symptoms that can become progressively worse over time. The disease can be treated with surgery and medication, but there is no cure. Harket said he last year underwent neurological procedures to have electrodes implanted inside his brain and that this had reduced the symptoms. Known for the wide range of his voice, Harket said he did not know if he would be able to perform again. "I've got no problem accepting the diagnosis," he said, adding that it was difficult to balance medication and managing side effects of the treatment. "I'm trying the best I can to prevent my entire system from going into decline," Harket said. Formed in 1982 by Harket and his friends Paul Waaktaar-Savoy and Magne Furuholmen, A-ha saw a global breakthrough in 1985 with their debut album Hunting High And Low which yielded several hits such as Take On Me and The Sun Always Shines on TV.
Irish Independent
05-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
‘I don't know if I'll be able to sing again' – A-ha singer Morten Harket diagnosed with Parkinson's disease
The frontman of the Norwegian synth-pop group, known for their hits including Take On Me and The Sun Always Shines On TV, said he is having issues with his voice due to the condition, which causes parts of the brain to become progressively damaged over many years. His bandmate Magne Furuholmen has said all future A-ha-related activities 'will of course be tuned to suit Morten's situation'. Speaking to a biographer for an article on the A-ha website, Harket (65) 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'. '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.' Harket underwent a neurosurgical procedure in which electrodes were implanted deep inside the left side of his brain last June and had a similar procedure on the right side of his brain in December, according to the website article. These electrodes are connected to a small pacemaker-like device placed under the skin of the upper chest that sends electrical impulses through the electrodes into the brain and this method of treatment is called deep brain stimulation (DBS). There is currently no cure for Parkinson's disease, but there are treatments like physiotherapy and medication. The main symptoms are tremors, slow movement and stiff and inflexible muscles, and Harket also said the condition has affected his voice. Asked if he can sing at the moment, he said: '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. 'For a few years now I've been working on songs that I've got great belief in, and I feel the lyrics, especially, have something of a different aspect of me in them. 'I'm not sure if I'll be able to finish them for release. Time will tell.' A-ha formed in Oslo in 1982, comprised of guitarist Paul Waaktaar-Savoy, keyboardist Furuholmen and lead singer Harket. The band has had nine top 10 singles in the UK chart and seven top 10 albums.
