80s music legend scared to perform again after health problems and ‘changing voice’

Marc Almond lost confidence in his ability to perform after a series of health issues and the effects of aging.

The 67-year-old Tainted Love hitmaker, who rose to fame in the 1980s as a member of new wave legends Soft Cell, is set to release new solo album I’m Not Anyone this week, and it has been a challenging period.

Appearing on Monday’s episode of This Morning, Marc told hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary how he ‘put a lot of emotion this this record’ with the help of producer Mike Stevens.

Mike, who is best known for his work as musical director for Take That, Annie Lennox and more, helped rebuild Marc’s confidence as a musician.

‘He really gave me a lot of confidence doing the vocals on this album,’ he explained.

‘Because what happened over the past couple of years, I kind of lost a bit of confidence, to be honest.’

Part of the loss of confidence came from the effects aging naturally has on your voice, as well as health issues which can impact a performance.

‘I think when you get a bit older, you’re conscious of your voice changing, for one thing,’ he explained. ‘[And] a few health problems over the past few years, all of them have been singers’ nightmares – bronchitis, asthma came back, sinus problems.’

He admitted that the worries and health problems would return when he was asked about recording or playing live.

‘So every time you’re approached to do concerts and albums, it’s like, [gasps] whether the stress brings it on, whatever,’ he added. ‘Mike is amazing, because he really relaxes me in the studio.’

Marc recently reflected on more than four decades in the limelight and admitted ‘every five years is a landmark’.

‘This is my 45th year in showbiz and I’ve been around quite a while and done a lot of things, some right and some wrong,’ he told The Sun. ‘It’s all been a bit of a journey.

‘Every five years is a landmark that I’ve made it another five years. I’m an older singer who has been around quite a long time and had a bit of a life.’

On his new solo album, which is filled with emotional covers, Marc wanted to create something that reflected his life as an aging ‘rock n roller’, as he now loves going to garden centres.

‘I wanted the levelling out on the album. There are lots of elements and nature references and there are some melancholic moments,’ he added.

‘But ultimately it has an uplifting feel to it and is very spiritual.’