In an opened interview, Neil Diamond spoke about his experience with Parkinson’s disease, and that he is only now beginning to come to terms with it.
The musician who is 82-years-old explained to reporter Anthony Mason in an interview aired on CBS Sunday Morning that he was in denial “for the first year or two” after being diagnosed in the year 2018.
“What it was… When the doctor told me, I was simply not prepared to accept it,” he said. “Oh, all right, anytime you want to see me, I’ll see you later because I have work to do,” I remarked.
Diamond, the songwriter of popular songs such as Cracklin’ Rosie and Sweetheart Caroline, declared that acceptance had made him feel like he could breathe again.
I believe this has only happened in the last few weeks. However, inexplicably, the hurricane of my life has passed, and calmness has taken over, and everything is now very quiet.
“It’s immensely complicated,” the researchers who are attempting to cure Parkinson’s say.
And I enjoy it. I’ve begun to like myself more. I’m kinder to others. The beat continues and will continue for many years after I’m gone, and I treat myself better.
However, he told Mason that the acceptance process is still a challenge.
He announced, “I don’t like it, but I’m still doing it”. “All right, so I have to make the most of the hand that God has given me. So I am.
“It cannot be avoided, and there is no remedy. Simply saying, “Okay, enough already, let’s get back to life”, is not enough. That isn’t how it operates. Nevertheless, I have learned to live with my limitations and experience wonderful days.
His diagnosis in 2018 ruined the Australian leg of Diamond’s 50th anniversary tour. He had already performed in the United States and in Europe, before announcing his retirement from touring.
A Beautiful Noise is also the topic of the CBS interview, the Broadway production of which made its debut in December last year and is based on Diamond’s life and music.
“It hurt,” he said and said it was part of his psychotherapy.
“I did not look forward to seeing myself in many of the scenes. I felt flattered, embarrassed, and afraid.
Diamond’s first public appearance after retirement was a surprise sing-along of Sweet Caroline on stage during the opening of A Beautiful Noise.
In the CBS interview, he claimed that he can still sing. I’ve stuck to doing it for fifty years because I find it entertaining. My body and my mind appear to be a single system.
“I have enjoyed a pretty amazing life, that is true.
