Eighties singer Morten Harket issues devastating health update that could end pop career

Eighties pop star Morten Harket has revealed that he has been diagnoses with . The band confirmed the devstating news in an emotional statement shared across social media and their official website on Wednesday, June 4. The Take On Me On singer, 65, had kept the diagnosis private until now, but after years of managing the condition behind closed doors, Morten and the rest of the band decided it was time to tell fans the truth.

"This isn't the sort of news anyone wants to deliver to the world, but here it is: Morten has Parkinson's disease," the band announced. In a candid interview accompanying the reveal, Morten opened up about the diagnosis and his outlook on life going forward. "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 said. Morten admitted that the decision to go public was not taken lightly.

"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," he explained.

The legendary frontman, known for his soaring vocals and haunting falsetto, also addressed the toll the disease is taking on his daily life: "I'm trying the best I can to prevent my entire system from going into decline," he said.

"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."

Though Parkinson's is not fatal, it is a progressive neurological condition that affects movement and coordination. In Morten's case, it's also impacted his most defining trait - his 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 explained.

Despite the heartbreaking news, there is a glimmer of hope. Recent advancements in treatment, including medication and surgery at the Mayo Clinic in the United States, have "softened the impact of his symptoms," according to the band.

Reflecting on his identity beyond the stage, Morten said: "I've got other passions too, I have other things that are just as big a part of me."

And to his loyal fans, he offered reassurance: "Don't worry about me," he said. "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."