Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
I’m living in the moment.. I want to be gigging at 90 like my hero Burt Bacharach
Singer Brian, 51, vows to beat cancer
RTE GUIDE INTERVIEW
SINGER Brian Kennedy has told how he’s trying to beat his cancer through alternative means.
Since he was diagnosed with the illness in 2016 the Belfast musician has been thankful for every day he’s alive.
Brian, 51, told the RTE Guide:
“I feel good. I’m not completely out of the woods yet but compared to my late brother Bap, I am very lucky.
“I got one tumour very low down and it’s quite treatable.
“I had an encouraging scan recently so things are heading in the right direction.
“I’m checking alternative things while of course staying firmly in the oncology world. So it’s so far, so good.”
The Put The Message In
The Box hitmaker admitted the shock of contracting the disease made him take stock of his life and change certain habits.
Brian added: “The cancer scare absolutely stopped me in my tracks. I changed the way I was training.
“I’m toning now as opposed to lifting heavy weights and eating like crazy.
“I’m vegan when I can be and then I’m like anybody else, and now and again, I’ll fancy something filthy like a really good Indian meal.”
Napping and mindfulness have become part of his daily routine and he’s taking more time out to reflect and relax.
He said: “The joy of a power nap in the afternoon – delicious. I love doing that for an hour.
“And I’ve recently installed a bath in my part of the house, so most nights when I’m here I’ll do a bit of mindfulness in there, on my back surrounded by water. “These days I’m living more in the moment because life is just so precious.”
With so many people in his life passing away, Brian’s new motto is to seize the day. He said: “I have, sadly, a bunch of people in my phone right now who are dead.
“That informs my decision making, that’s why I’ve decided to go to Crete and I’m doing tours and the Burt Bacharach show. “I’m recording for a new project and going back to China in December with Secret Garden. Bring it on.” On Sunday Brian will headline an evening celebrating the music of his idol Bacharach at 90 at the National Concert Hall Dublin.
Brian and Burt worked together before, sharing the Royal Albert Hall Stage at a charity performance in 2000.
As positive as ever Brian remarked: “He’s still gigging away, and that’s where I want to be when I’m 90-years-old.”