Morten Harket, lead singer of the Norwegian synth-pop band A-ha, has revealed he's been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and may never sing again.
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The 65-year-old artist shared the news in a personal interview published on A-ha's official website. Harket, best known for his soaring vocals on the band's 1985 global hit "Take on Me," said he has been undergoing treatment for the past year. While the therapy has reduced some of the physical effects of the disease, it has also impacted his ability to perform vocally.
"I don't feel like singing, and for me that's a sign," Harket told Jan Omdahl, the band's biographer. "As things stand now, that's out of the question."
Harket said he began deep brain stimulation therapy last year. The procedure involved implanting electrodes into both sides of his brain to help manage the disease's motor symptoms. While the treatment has brought some physical relief, it has come at a cost.
"The question is whether I can express myself with my voice," he said. "I don't expect to be able to achieve full technical control."
Despite the diagnosis, Harket said he's been focused on managing symptoms quietly.
"Acknowledging the diagnosis wasn't a problem for me," he said. "It's my need for peace and quiet to work that has been stopping me" from going public sooner.
He credited his 94-year-old father for offering steady advice: "Use whatever works."
Singer Walks Delicate Balance
Harket spoke candidly about the challenges of balancing medication, treatment side effects, and the emotional toll of the disease.
"I'm trying the best I can to prevent my entire system from going into decline," he said. "It's a difficult balancing act."
He added that he's been working on new songs in recent years but doesn't know if he'll be able to finish them. "There's so much to weigh up when you're emulating the masterful way the body handles every complex movement," he said.
Before forming A-ha in 1982 with Magne Furuholmen and Paul Waaktaar-Savoy, Harket was the lead singer of Oslo-based blues group Souldier Blue. A-ha went on to release 11 studio albums and earned international acclaim for their cinematic sound and timeless melodies. Their final tour stop may have come in July 2022 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.
Harket has also released six solo albums and was knighted by King Harald V of Norway, earning the distinction of Knight First Class of the Order of St. Olav for his contributions to music.
Message to Fans
Despite the health struggles, Harket remains grounded and philosophical. He urged fans not to worry about him, but instead to focus on their own path.
"Find out who you want to be -- a process that can be new each and every day," he said. "Be good servants of nature, the very basis of our existence... and know that I am being taken care of."
