Amy Winehouse
Page 19
‘I introduced her to heroin, crack cocaine and self-harming,’ said Blake. ‘I feel more than guilty. The first time Amy took crack she asked me, “Can I try a bit of that?” Crack is the nastiest drug. It makes you paranoid, unreasonable, edgy and totally suspicious of everyone.
‘And you can get hooked on it straight away. But I was weak and an addict and I let Amy take some. I didn’t stop it from happening. For that I take full responsibility. It became something we did as well as heroin. And then our lives fell apart.’ It is to be hoped both parties can rebuild their lives – separately.
As Blake made this confession, Amy was once again in hospital, her fourth hospitalisation in 2008. It had been a strange year for her, during which her immense musical talent and the magnetic charm of her best live performances became secondary concerns. What she instead became known for was her ability to spark negative press stories about her painfully thin body, her drink and drug use and other controversies. Things got so wild that at one point her father Mitch attempted to have her sectioned to a mental institution. With the media following her every move, Amy seemed to many to be on an unstoppable downward spiral.
Where was the music among all this chaos? It was there for anyone who cared to look beyond the ‘shock horror’ of the tabloids. Back To Black continued to shift throughout the world, with its 11million-plus sales contributing to her topping the charts in the United States. A deluxe version of the album was released in the UK and quickly topped the charts here, too. Back To Black is one of the top ten bestselling albums of the 21st century and royalties from its sales constitute a large slice of her estimated £10million personal fortune. Whatever problems she has in her personal life, Amy has no trouble shifting albums.
Nor in gathering serious musical awards. In May 2008 she was once more nominated for a prestigious Ivor Novello award, and once more she was triumphant. She won the award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically for ‘Love is a Losing Game’. Amy was also nominated in the same category for ‘You Know I’m No Good’. Organisers said that it was the first time that an artist had been twice-nominated in the category since the awards began in 1955. Mitch accepted the award on her behalf, saying: ‘I don’t know what I’m doing up here. Amy unfortunately couldn’t make it but she’s getting better and she sends you all her love.’ As it turned out Amy could make it, and arrived – fashionably late – during her father’s acceptance speech.
That triumphant evening did little to dispel the media witch-hunt against Amy. Perhaps the only way she will be able to cool their ardour will be to bounce back with some cracking new material. Her record label has been duly encouraging her to deliver a third album. Universal Music Group chairman Lucian Grange says the early samples of material he has heard are extremely promising. He said: ‘I've heard some demos and I've heard some simple acoustic songs that she's played me in my office on acoustic guitar. What I've heard has been sensational I’m an optimist and I believe in her. I believe in her as a person and I certainly believe in her as an artist and that's what I hope for.’
As do all Amy’s fans, who were greatly cheered as Amy appeared to turn a corner as she partied in St Lucia at the turn of the year. Having spent several weeks drug-free, she flew to the island just before Christmas and stayed there for several weeks. It turned out to be a headline-grabbing sojourn but mostly for good reasons. Amy looked a picture of health as she took trapeze lessons and put on an impromptu circus show for her fellow tourists. She also performed at the hotel bar in the evenings, playing piano and singing for the guests. Also included in her holiday repertoire were a topless balcony boogie and an hilarious impressions of a horse.
She was keen to share her joy. Not only did she spend tens of thousands of pounds flying out friends to join her on the island, she generously splashed out thousands more on meals and drinks for strangers. Her dark relationship with Fielder-Civil seemed a distant memory as she was photographed basking in the sunshine on the arm of a hunky former rugby player. It all looked great fun and seemed to represent a much-needed fresh start for Amy. ‘I’ve finally escaped from hell,’ she told a reporter. ‘Before I came out here I looked at a photo of myself in the paper and was horrified. My skin was a spotty mess and I was so pale and skinny. I thought “Girl, you’ve got to sort yourself out or you’ll be dead soon”. I was depressed, doing drugs and had no life in me at all. Coming here has changed everything. I don’t need drugs.’
While reflecting on these facts as she looked out into the Caribbean ocean, Amy noticed a six-foot wave crash against a boat. The impact caused a woman to be flung overboard from the boat, landing among some rocks. Amy immediately rushed to her aid as the woman was in agony and in danger of being swept to her death. Amy carried her to safety and then washed and dressed her wounds. The doomsayers love to predict an early death for Amy. Yet there she was, happy and healthy and saving the life of someone else. To those who know the caring ‘Jewish mumma’ side of Amy best, her heroics came as little surprise. Long may her new-found health and happiness continue.
DISCOGRAPHY
Albums
Frank Island, 2003
Back to Black Island, 2006
Singles
‘Stronger Than Me’ Island 2003
‘Take the Box’ Island 2003
‘In My Bed/You Sent Me Flying’ Island 2004
‘Pumps’/‘Help Yourself’ Island 2004
‘Rehab’ Island 2006
‘You Know I’m No Good’ Island 2006
‘Back to Black’ Island 2006
‘Tears Dry on Their Own’ Island 2006
‘Valerie’ Island 2007
‘Love is a Losing Game’ Island 2007
Alexandra – A Star Is Born
Chas Newkey-Burden
A soul-singing sensation and inspiring testimony to the rewards of perseverance, Alexandra Burke is the most exciting musical star to emerge in the United Kingdom for many years. This revealing biography chronicles how she rose from a childhood sharing her bed with her sister in a cramped north London flat to winning The X Factor and romping to the top of the charts.
Alexandra faced countless obstacles including the wrath of jealous classmates and the heartache of her parents’ separation when she was just six. She overcame everything and by the time she was a teenager she had sung on-stage to live audiences, to primetime BBC1 viewers and down the telephone to an impressed Stevie Wonder.
Then came her X Factor journey that saw her reach the final seven of her category in the 2005 series before being sent home by Louis Walsh. Three years later she entered the show again and sailed to the final where she was crowned the winner. Chas Newkey-Burden paints a compelling portrait of an inspiring girl who never gave up.
ISBN 978–1–84454–810–1
John Blake Publishing Ltd
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First published in paperback in 2009
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