Music icon Lulu has opened up about her alcohol habit for the primary time and the childhood trauma behind it.
The 76-year-old Eurovision star is finest recognized for her 1964 single Shout, which launched a profession that has spanned over six a long time, in addition to the tune Relight My Fireplace.
Behind the scenes, nevertheless, Lulu spent years going through ‘darkish’ moments and battling ‘disgrace’, which finally led to a stint in rehab.
In a brand new interview, she speaks about her ingesting and the fears she had of tarnishing her ‘squeaky clear’ public picture by admitting to it, having beforehand revealed her father’s personal alcoholism.
‘I feel I all the time wished to be Miss Good, the “finest Lulu”, and I used to be frightened of being like my father,’ she confessed to The Instances.
The singer went on: ‘For years, I made a selection to not discuss [my alcoholism] publicly. I selected to attend till I had the language to know it earlier than I might begin spouting off.
‘I’ve learnt lots from different individuals, their memoirs, and self-help books too, so perhaps I may be of some assist now.’
Lulu then detailed some scarring moments from her upbringing, equivalent to witnessing violent home abuse between her father and her mom and the time her dad was ‘dragged away’ by police.
Whereas she feared individuals perceiving her mother and father as ‘unhealthy individuals’, she now says they had been ‘broken’, however she additionally ‘carried a lot disgrace’ about their actions.
Lulu believes her alcoholism was ‘the end result of a life spent making an attempt to suppress emotions’, having all the time supported her household and had an expert picture to uphold.
Fortunately, she’s reaping the advantages of restoration, declaring that she’s ‘by no means been happier in [her] life’.
‘And on the identical time, [I have] by no means been extra in contact with my emotions,’ added the star, which helped her to ultimately ‘forgive’ her mother and father for the violence she was aware of.
‘The factor about drink is that you just turn out to be the worst a part of who you actually are. You may be comfortable and singing and having enjoyable, however that doesn’t final,’ she defined.
‘Should you maintain ingesting, you’ll be able to turn out to be morose. We are able to turn out to be indignant. I labored so laborious to know this. I lastly understood it’s an sickness that messes with every little thing.
‘So I do know it sounds perverse, however I’m glad I’m an alcoholic and that I’m in restoration.’
Lulu, whose mom and father died in 1996 and 1998, respectively, sought skilled assist after continuously asking herself why she was ingesting and why issues weren’t ‘getting higher’ as she ‘wasn’t comfortable’.
Acknowledging that she ‘didn’t really feel ok’ for a very long time, and feeling scrutinised within the highlight, she referred to as her son, Jordan Frieda, 48, to inform him she was getting into rehab.
Lately, Lulu, who has been married twice, firstly to Maurice Gibb from 1969 to 1973, then to John Frieda from 1977 to 1991, resides in a a lot ‘brighter’ world, residing in central London along with her cockapoo.
She’s additionally decided to persist along with her profession ‘till [she] drops’.
This comes after she introduced final yr that she could be formally retiring from touring, a call she got here to partially on account of her ‘average listening to loss’. Lulu does, nevertheless, nonetheless sing and carry out.
She would go on to affix Sir Rod Stewart on the Glastonbury 2025 stage as a shock visitor throughout his Legends Slot on the Pyramid Stage.
‘I’ve had numerous powerful moments. And alcohol got here up and bit me on the nostril. But when there may be one attribute I now realise I’ve, it’s resilience,’ states Lulu.
‘I thank God for that day by day.’
Since bravely opening up about her alcoholism, Lulu has been inundated with supportive messages from followers on-line, praising her for ‘serving to so many individuals’.
Need assistance?
The NHS recommends Drinkline, the nationwide alcohol helpline. Should you’re fearful about your individual or another person’s ingesting, there’s a free helpline you’ll be able to name in full confidence. Name 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am to 8pm, weekends 11am to 4pm).
Or you should utilize Alcoholics Nameless (AA), a free self-help group with a 12-step programme.
