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Cat Treads Softy on His Return

I'm so glad it happened - I've had the chance to become human again.

Cat Stevens was talking about his nine months lay-off through illness. Now relaxed and fit, he is preparing for his comeback on the record scene with the release of " Here comes my wife" on October 4.

" I came straight from art school into the business and I didn't have time to look around," he continued. "Being forced to rest up has altered my musical outlook. I've become much simpler again because I was living a normal life in hospital.

Cat's Illness has been a well-kept secret.

"It all started about February," he explained. " I was feeling ill and at first they thought it was pneumonia. But when I had been in the hospital for about a week they found it was more serious. I was in the hospital for three months and after they they gave me some tablets and told me to take it easy.

"The only thing that brought e down in hospital was having to conform - getting up at 6 am and all that. One day I found a little garage on a farm about three miles from the hospital. There was an attic over the garage and I just stayed there for about four days. I had a tin of pineapple chunks and some apples - I never want to see another apple again.

"No one knew I was there and when the farmer came to get his car out I lay low.

"Back in the hospital I felt my music had been getting too complicated. I had a little record player and I played Bach again and again - he helped me out. Bach is like mathematics, it helps to clear your brain.

" Two months ago I went to Venice for a holiday and my doctor sent me my x-rays whch were completely clear and said I could start work again.

"I got together with Mike Vickers and did three songs for a single. We couldn't decide on the A side. Eventually it was decided to have " Her Comes My Wife" although a lot of people liked the B side 'Superlife" better.

"I wrote about 30 songs while I was away - enough for two good LP's and I am now working on an idea for the first one. I'd like to get some kind of story running through one side."

I asked if Cat was planning to return to live shows.

" I'll just see what happens," he told me. " But I'd like to do some shows, I want to get back on a stage again. When I came out of hospital I went to concerts and things and just watching other people at work has helped me.

"The whole scene seems very distorted at the moment. It's a big topsy turvey with nobody knowing what is happening."

Written by _ Bob Dawbarn

 


CATS BACK

catbackpix.JPG (4344 bytes)There are a lot of stresses and strains in the pop world. And many stars suffer. Cat Stevens has been ill for several months - but now he is well again, we're delighted to tell you. He came up to the FAB office the other day and told us what has been happening for the past few months. Here is what he said…

A year ago people were saying to me 'go to the doctor' - you see I couldn't sleep properly at night and felt generally run down. But I couldn't be bothered to go and left it till last February. The same night I received a call from the doctor and went straight into the nursing home. I had TB.

"It was a Harley Street nursing home and they use to wake me at six every morning. Then I had an injection, breakfast, a bath, and then they just waited around. I had a room on my own, but found plenty of things to do. I read a lot and learnt how to actually write down music and of course, I listened to the radio.

"After about a month I went to a nursing home in Surrey. I stayed there for about two months, Only my immediate friends knew I was ill. But I think it was printed in a paper that I was ill and I received a great amount of cards. I had a great time just opening them and reading them. And lots of fans sent cards - they really care.

"When I was ill I think I had a chance to really look at myself and become a human being again. I was pretty much in a world of my own before.

"When I left Surrey I spent some time in London just generally resting and taking it easy. Then in July I went to Venice for a few weeks with Paul and Barry Ryan. The doctor phoned me while I was there and said that my x-ray was very good and showed considerable improvement, and I could start to do some work providing I took it easy.

" I came back and did a session with Mike Vickers and we did a song I'd written before I'd gone to Venice - ' Here Comes My Wife'. My latest record folks! It's about a guy who marries a rich girl - but really too young to take the plunge.

" I wrote quite a few interesting songs while I was in the hospital and I'm still working on my musical. I'm looking for ideas. I'd be glad to hear them! I feel better, much better now - But I won't be doing any one-nighters for a while."

Well it's good to see him back on the scene again. Talent like Cats has been sadly missed in the charts for too many months now.

Julia Webb

 

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