Deacon Blue’s co-founder James Prime has been rushed to hospital and is currently undergoing care as he’s “seriously ill”, the band has announced in a statement
Deacon Blue star James Prime is in intensive care and “seriously ill”, the band has announced.
Prime, the Scottish band’s keyboardist and co-founder, has been taken to hospital with a mystery health issue. Deacon Blue said he “encouraged us to continue” on their tour without him.
It comes as several other music icons have revealed their health battles in recent weeks, including A-ha singer Morten Harket who has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Westlife said singer Mark Feehily won’t be joining the band for their 25th anniversary gigs as he’s recovering from surgery after suffering a hernia and sepsis.
The band said in a statement: “Dear friends, we wanted to share some news with you about our brother, Jim. Unfortunately, he is seriously ill and undergoing care in hospital. We would like you to join us in wishing him well and to share our love with him.
“We spoke to Jim yesterday about Deacon Blue’s plans for the rest of the year, and he encouraged us to continue with love in our hearts and with his full blessing that the shows go ahead, even if it means replacing the irreplaceable James Miller Prime for the time being.
“Together with Jim’s family, we want to thank all the nurses, doctors and ICU staff for their ongoing care, professionalism and compassion. With love, Ricky, Lorraine, Dougie, Gregor, Lewis and Tom.”
Deacon Blue’s tour comes as the group, formed in Glasgow in 1985, celebrate their 40th anniversary. They kick off their 15-date tour, The Great Western Road Trip, in September.
It follows the band’s latest album of the same name, which was released back in March. Their first show is at Liverpool Arena on September 19 before finishing in Glasgow on October 11.
Discussing the shows, singer Ricky Ross said: “I love the idea that a circus coming to town is a temporary existence, a little bit of magic suddenly appears in the middle of a town or a village and then it goes away.
“It’s very similar to what you do live. The live experience is so ephemeral, at the end of a show people lose all their inhibitions, and then it’s over. You have to be there. That’s what’s magical about it.
“There will be two different shows, we’re curating a show that changes and evolves, pulling out little surprises every now and again. The theatres are more intimate and give us a chance to bring out one or two things that we wouldn’t do in the arenas. They give us a chance to play songs from the new album and songs from other albums that we have never played before.”
He added: “We suit the show to the place we’re playing and our mantra is ‘we want people to have the best night of their lives.’ Every night has got to be brilliant.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
