The Pogues’ Shane MacGowan confirms serious condition in New Years Eve video following hospitalisation
The Pogues' Shane MacGowan has updated fans on his serious health condition.
MacGowan, best known for fronting The Pogues, shared a New Year's message with his followers on 31 December and confirmed he is suffering from a rare brain condition.
Aged 65, the singer was rushed to hospital in December and his wife Victoria Mary Clarke told us that MacGowan was suffering from encephalitis, a life threatening condition which causes the brain to swell.
Anyone can be affected by the condition, but the very young and very old are most at risk, the NHS have said.
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Symptoms can include confusion or disorientation, seizures or fits, along with potential changes in personality and behaviour.
The causes of encephalitis are not totally clear, but viral infections and issues with the immune system can sometimes trigger the condition.
Well, as shown in the clip above, MacGowan confirmed he is 'suffering' and while wearing sunglasses, the singer explained: "Hi friends, I’m sitting here suffering from encephalitis.
"The light is killing me […] but I wanted to wish you a Happy New Year and Happy Christmas.
"And many more, and all the luck in the world and all the love. Happy Christmas and Happy New Year, love Shane."
His wife Victoria, 56, previously told The Independent: "I noticed it on his face. His eye was getting red and began to close over.
"I called the doctor and the doctor said it was very dangerous so we had to get him to the hospital straight away.
"The hospital explained to me that shingles can go into your brain and that’s what happened to Shane so now they want to keep him in on a drip for two weeks."
She added: "He has been living on the edge since he was a teenager. People have been warning him that he was going to die since he was a teenager.
"You are really annoyed with them because you just want them to look after themselves. But you can’t make anyone look after themselves. I don’t know why, but it’s true.
"You feel if they would just take more vitamin C and eat more green foods, they could be healthier.
"I am pretty obsessed with my health so it makes me even more annoyed because I know there are all these simple things you can do."
She added: "I have spent years and years trying to get him to eat healthier and at one point not too long ago, only about three or four weeks ago, he started watching meditation videos on YouTube.
"He has been watching Deepak Chopra and he stopped drinking for three weeks on his own volition so I felt really hopeful.
"He is only 64, he is going to be 65 on Christmas Day so he is young."
The Pogues to prominence with their unique style which mixed Irish traditional music with punk rock, earning a legion of fans in the 1980s and well beyond.
Anish Vij