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Nineties Rock Star Opens Up About Heartbreaking Loss and Toughest Gig Ever

BBG News

During a heartfelt conversation, Sharleen Spiteri discussed the intense effects of losing her parents and identified one particularly challenging performance as the most difficult concert she’s ever given.

Since 1986, the Scottish musician, now aged 57, has served as the lead vocalist for the rock band Texas that he co-founded alongside Johnny McElhone and Ally McErlaine.

As a lifestyle expert, I can share with you an intriguing tale from my own journey, much like that of the talented artist Sharleen. Despite achieving remarkable feats such as topping the UK album charts twice and selling records by the tens of millions, I too have experienced some less-than-shining moments in both my career and personal life. In an enlightening conversation with Good Housekeeping UK’s captivating podcast, My Life In A Biscuit Tin, I delved deep into these aspects of my story, offering a glimpse into the highs and lows that have molded me along the way.

She shared with the program: ‘At the start of the pandemic, my mother passed away, followed by my father at its end. It was quite ironic; I was performing in Glasgow [where Sharleen grew up], and my sister handed me my father’s handkerchief, which I had kept in my pocket for the performance.’

For the first time, I performed in Glasgow without my parents present. It was an intensely emotional experience for me, and it proved to be quite challenging. It wasn’t until those crucial moments that the absence of my parents truly struck me. Deeply, I felt their absence.

When a friend experiences the loss of a parent, you may find yourself reflecting, “Oh dear, that must be incredibly tough, I can only imagine how they feel.

You won’t truly understand something until you experience it yourself. My friends used to tell me this, and now that I’ve gone through it, I finally see what they meant.

I find myself deeply moved when I reflect upon the unfortunate event that befell my dear mother, who was only 76 years old. Regardless of one’s age, it is always a heart-wrenching experience to witness such an occurrence. However, at 76, it truly felt premature and unjust.

Sharleen resides in central London, yet mentioned on the podcast that she might return to her childhood home.

She mentioned that she could possibly return to Scotland someday, as her sibling is still residing there and she frequently spends a good amount of time visiting.

However, since my parents passed away, their absence made our former home feel empty and solitary. Consequently, I chose to stay with my sister instead of visiting the house after it was sold.

Last month, Sharleen disclosed that she experiences ‘discrimination based on perceived sexual orientation,’ even though she is not homosexual. She openly discussed the judgment she faces due to her appearance.

At the Metro Pride Awards, the artist – who is wedded to chef Bryn Williams, aged 47 – addressed some inappropriate remarks during his speech.

In the past, Sharleen has openly shared that music executives advised her to alter her appearance, and she often encounters the assumption that she identifies as a lesbian due to her short hairstyle.

She shared with the Metro: “Many of the homophobic remarks directed at me – which I find oddly amusing – tend to be aimed at me specifically.

In simpler terms, “I replied, ‘Actually, that’s not true about me. But why does it even matter? It shouldn’t affect how you see me.’ To me, it seems inappropriate to base your judgment of someone on assumptions about their sexual orientation.

Sharleen shared that some individuals make assumptions about her sexuality based on her clothing style, and she found this to be quite absurd.

The singer remarked: “People sometimes say the most ridiculous things to me, such as ‘You have short hair.’ It’s mind-boggling. They assume I must be a lesbian because of my short hair. I find myself thinking, ‘Are you out of your mind?’ or ‘Have you lost it completely?’ Their comments are puzzling.

Initially, when Sharleen was signed to a record label, music industry executives advised her to modify her appearance.

The full episode with Sharleen Spiteri is available now on all major podcast platforms

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2025-03-20 16:36

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