Oneyear on, cruel toll of crash that nearly killed my son, by Bryan Ferry
BRYAN FERRY has revealed his heartbreak after his youngest son was forced to abandon his dream of becoming a professional guitarist when a car crash robbed him of the use of his hand.
In an interview in today’s Mail on Sunday Event magazine, the former Roxy Music singer talks about the devastating impact of the accident on Merlin, 24, one of four sons.
He says: ‘It was awful. I don’t know what to say because he has basically lost his hand. It is there but he can’t use it. He has a long way to go in terms of fixing it.’
He adds: ‘He has got some movement but there is nothing to make the hand work. Since he wanted to be a guitar player, and that’s what was his passion, it’s pretty tragic. It’s all difficult – even tying your shoelaces.’
Ferry, 70, says that at the time he did not know if his son would survive the collision, which was caused when another driver overtook a lorry and smashed into Merlin’s car.
The incident happened just before last Christmas and the singer vividly recalls the moment his eldest son Otis rang with the horrific news.
Ferry says: ‘I was at a Christmas party in Sussex and the boys were due to arrive that day, and then I got the call. I was three hours away and it was a pretty fraught journey. I was just trying to stay calm, really, not knowing if he was going to make it or not.’
Ferry says he hopes Merlin might be able to pursue a different kind of career in music.
‘He’s a great reader and has got a brilliant ear. It would be great if he became a producer or something like that.’
In the exclusive interview with The Mail on Sunday, the singer also talks candidly about the collapse of his two-year marriage to party organiser Amanda Sheppard – 36 years his junior.
Ferry talks of his ‘wonderful’ exwife and says: ‘She wanted a baby and I didn’t. First of all, I thought I could and then later I thought: it’s not the right thing to do.’ The star, best known for hits such as Avalon, Dance Away and Angel Eyes, is as busy as ever.
He is about to release a special edition of his acclaimed 2014 album Avonmore, which contains new single Soldier Of Fortune.
He will also play two dates at the London Palladium next April.