Leo Sayer has overcome terrifying health problems and now has "three stents" in his heart to keep his arteries open.
Leo Sayer has opened up about his health troubles
The 76-year-old musician has opened up about his troubles - which included a five-week stay in hospital last year as he battled an infection - and revealed he's overcome heart issues and undergone knee replacement surgery in recent years as well as battling irritable bowel syndrome.
He told The Sun newspaper: "I’ve got three stents in the heart. I’ve got a partial kneecap replacement. I’ve got an irritable bowel. But basically, I’m good.
"I’ve still got the voice and I’ve still got the hair. So what else is there, really?
"I can move about a little bit on stage. They see me hobble about, you know, in my humble way. And they say, ‘Well, he’s still alive’."
He added: "I’ve outlived my dad. He died at 74 and he had a pretty full head of hair. So I guess it’s in the genes."
Leo is preparing for a major comeback in coming months with plans to release an autobiography, a new album and a TV documentary while he's also hoping to land a spot at Glastonbury Festival next year.
He added: "It would be a great denouement of the career to do something like that."
Leo's ill health last year prompted him to cancel a slew of gigs in the UK after he became unwell during a trip to Australia - telling fans he was unable to fly because of "kidney, bladder and prostrate complications".
In a post on Facebook, he wrote: "I haven’t posted anything publicly about this before but I couldn’t fly or make the recent shows in the UK as I became very ill just before the trip.
"I have been in hospital here for the last 3 weeks in Australia with kidney, bladder and prostrate complications.
"It all happened at the last moment, so it was too late to warn anyone. Many thanks to Butlins and Tony Denton for making replacement arrangements for these shows.
"I’m so sorry to have disappointed my fans but these things can happen to us 75 year olds! (sic) ... I’m still in hospital now but well on the mend. I will take a necessary short break from activities and be back fighting for shows in 2024. - particularly my UK and Ireland tour next autumn.
"Thank you everyone for all your concerns and good wishes… (sic)"