Morten Harket Shares Parkinson’s Diagnosis
Morten Harket, the lead singer of the popular 80s band A-ha, recently announced that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. The news was shared on the band’s official website on June 4.
Known for his incredible vocal abilities, Harket expressed uncertainty about his future in music. He revealed he has been managing Parkinson’s privately for a few years and felt it was time to share this part of his life with his fans.
“Accepting the diagnosis wasn’t hard for me. My father’s perspective—he’s 94—has helped me a lot: ‘I use whatever works,’” Harket stated.
He further elaborated on his motivation to disclose his condition. “I felt a desire to let people know. Acknowledging it wasn’t an issue; it was my need for some peace to work that held me back. I’m trying my utmost to keep my health from deteriorating,” he mentioned.
Harket, who underwent a neurosurgery in June 2024, had electrodes implanted in the left side of his brain, which connect to a device under his skin that sends electrical impulses to the brain.
This treatment, known as deep brain stimulation (DBS), aims to mitigate the involuntary movements caused by the disease. According to A-ha’s website, he underwent a similar procedure on the right side of his brain in December 2024.
“My voice issues are just one of many reasons I feel uncertain about my future as a creator,” he admitted.
On good days, Harket shows few signs of Parkinson’s, but even minor changes in his routine can disrupt that stability.
The technical demands of singing classic tracks like “Take On Me” and “Summer Moved On” now present challenges for him.
When asked if he could still manage to sing, he replied, “I honestly don’t know. I don’t feel the urge to sing, which is, for me, a warning sign.”
He shared his thoughts on the complexities of his situation, saying, “I’m open-minded about what might work; full technical control seems unrealistic right now. The real question is whether I can express myself with my voice again. As it stands, that seems impossible. But, it’s hard to predict what the future holds.”
Harket also explained how tuning the electrodes could potentially influence his voice, but as of now, they’re unable to control it effectively. He noted that the voice problems tend to emerge when he takes dopamine supplements. “If I skip those, my voice improves, but other symptoms worsen,” he said.
“Please don’t worry about me,” he reassured his fans. “Focus on discovering who you want to be—it’s a journey that can evolve every day. Respect nature, which sustains us, and take action on real issues. I’m being well cared for.”
Despite his challenges, Harket remains dedicated to his music, though his future feels uncertain. “For some time now, I’ve been working on songs that mean a lot to me. The lyrics reflect different facets of who I am. I’m honestly not sure if I’ll finish them in time for release,” he candidly shared.
“We’ll see how it goes. I like the idea of exploring new ideas as an artist living with Parkinson’s. It’s really up to me, but first, I need to clear some hurdles,” he concluded.
