“I’ve got no problem accepting the diagnosis,” he shared in the statement. “Part of me even wanted to reveal it. But I needed peace and quiet to figure things out. I’ve been battling my own body.”
He underwent a neurosurgical treatment known as deep brain stimulation, first on the left side of his brain in June 2024, and again in December — both procedures reportedly offering dramatic relief. “Many of my physical symptoms practically vanished,” he said. Yet not everything has returned to normal.
The artist candidly admitted that his voice — once capable of soaring falsettos that defined a generation — has changed. “I don’t really know if I can sing anymore. And that’s a sign,” he confessed. “The question is whether I can express myself with my voice. As things stand now, that’s out of the question.”
His openness echoes that of other public figures who have fought similar battles, like actor Michael J. Fox, diagnosed with Parkinson’s at just 29. But this musician’s revelation hits particularly hard for the millions who grew up with his music as the backdrop to their youth.
The Norwegian-born artist rose to fame in the early 1980s alongside two childhood friends. Their debut album became a global sensation, with songs like “Take On Me” and “The Sun Always Shines on TV” dominating charts worldwide. His haunting vocals became instantly recognizable, and his band’s synth-pop anthems remain timeless.
Just last year, their most famous hit was reintroduced to a new generation when it featured in HBO’s The Last of Us. But while the song lives on, the future of its voice remains uncertain.
For now, he focuses on healing, navigating the delicate balance between treatment and side effects, and holding on to what he calls his father’s wisdom: “Use whatever works.”
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