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Mystery Jets star puts health first Mystery Jets star puts health first
(about 2 hours later)
By Ian Youngs Music reporter, BBC News Singer Blaine Harrison (second right) has been forced to slow downWith their colourful, catchy guitar pop, The Mystery Jets were hoping to win over new fans during this summer's festival season. By Ian Youngs Music reporter, BBC News Singer Blaine Harrison (second right) has been forced to slow downWith their colourful, catchy guitar pop, The Mystery Jets were hoping to win over fans during this summer's festival season.
But then singer Blaine Harrison was admitted to hospital to treat the spine disorder spina bifida. But he won't let it stand in the way of pop stardom, though, he says. But then singer Blaine Harrison was admitted to hospital to treat the spine disorder spina bifida. He won't let it stand in the way of pop stardom, though, he says.
The 23-year-old has balanced his condition with his band since their debut album came out in 2006.The 23-year-old has balanced his condition with his band since their debut album came out in 2006.
But after the Fuji Rock Festival in Japan at the end of July, which followed months of recording, touring and promotion, the frontman's body gave up.But after the Fuji Rock Festival in Japan at the end of July, which followed months of recording, touring and promotion, the frontman's body gave up.
After coming off stage, he felt the "most horrendous fever" and went to casualty after touching down in the UK.After coming off stage, he felt the "most horrendous fever" and went to casualty after touching down in the UK.
"I came straight from the plane to A&E and I was really reluctant to check myself into hospital because I didn't want to have to cancel any of our commitments," he says."I came straight from the plane to A&E and I was really reluctant to check myself into hospital because I didn't want to have to cancel any of our commitments," he says.
"But the doctor said 'If you don't do this now, you could be looking at really screwing things up for yourself for the next year'. I didn't realise the full seriousness of the situation so I had to just follow the doctor's orders and check in.""But the doctor said 'If you don't do this now, you could be looking at really screwing things up for yourself for the next year'. I didn't realise the full seriousness of the situation so I had to just follow the doctor's orders and check in."
The obvious thing that people assume is that someone in the band has been doing too much coke Blaine HarrisonThe obvious thing that people assume is that someone in the band has been doing too much coke Blaine Harrison
The result was three weeks in hospital and a lot more out of action.The result was three weeks in hospital and a lot more out of action.
"We had to cancel a bunch of festivals, which we really didn't want to do," he says. "But we didn't really have a choice.""We had to cancel a bunch of festivals, which we really didn't want to do," he says. "But we didn't really have a choice."
The group's melodic singles Two Doors Down, Young Love and current release Half In Love With Elizabeth have all made the connection between clever indie and wry pop.The group's melodic singles Two Doors Down, Young Love and current release Half In Love With Elizabeth have all made the connection between clever indie and wry pop.
They're heavily influenced by the 1980s, with Harrison's heroes ranging from The Cure and The Smiths to Prince and Michael Jackson.They're heavily influenced by the 1980s, with Harrison's heroes ranging from The Cure and The Smiths to Prince and Michael Jackson.
If they had been around 20 years ago, their pastel suits would surely have graced the cover of Smash Hits. But in 2008 they were hoping to use the festivals to swell their loyal fanbase.If they had been around 20 years ago, their pastel suits would surely have graced the cover of Smash Hits. But in 2008 they were hoping to use the festivals to swell their loyal fanbase.
The Mystery Jets have had hits with Two Doors Down and Young Love For Harrison, the spina bifida has resulted in pressure sores on his feet, exacerbated by poor circulation to his legs, meaning the only recovery is to literally put his feet up.The Mystery Jets have had hits with Two Doors Down and Young Love For Harrison, the spina bifida has resulted in pressure sores on his feet, exacerbated by poor circulation to his legs, meaning the only recovery is to literally put his feet up.
"I've tried all kinds of things like air boots and this weird thing called a Beckham boot, which footballers use," he says."I've tried all kinds of things like air boots and this weird thing called a Beckham boot, which footballers use," he says.
"But the only way to get fully better is to spend time off it. As much as I'm trying to do everything, the best thing to do is to not be walking. So that's what I'm trying to do.""But the only way to get fully better is to spend time off it. As much as I'm trying to do everything, the best thing to do is to not be walking. So that's what I'm trying to do."
When the band are on the road, they travel in a sleeper bus to allow Harrison to rest his feet. But otherwise the singer is desperate not to let his condition get in the way of his music.When the band are on the road, they travel in a sleeper bus to allow Harrison to rest his feet. But otherwise the singer is desperate not to let his condition get in the way of his music.
"I've never considered myself a handicapped person, I've always wanted to be able to do all the things that everyone else does," he says."I've never considered myself a handicapped person, I've always wanted to be able to do all the things that everyone else does," he says.
"Nobody makes any exceptions for you, everyone's under the same conditions when it comes to touring."Nobody makes any exceptions for you, everyone's under the same conditions when it comes to touring.
"Luckily I'm pretty able-bodied compared with some people with spina bifida, but it does mean that I don't have a great blood supply to my legs."Luckily I'm pretty able-bodied compared with some people with spina bifida, but it does mean that I don't have a great blood supply to my legs.
They both got throttled by the stage manager, so everyone [in the crowd] ensued by bottling the stage crew Blaine HarrisonThey both got throttled by the stage manager, so everyone [in the crowd] ensued by bottling the stage crew Blaine Harrison
"So if something goes wrong it takes a lot longer for my body to sort it out, and that's what's happening right now.""So if something goes wrong it takes a lot longer for my body to sort it out, and that's what's happening right now."
When the band called off their festivals, some fans did not react well to a curt management statement that just put it down to band "illness".When the band called off their festivals, some fans did not react well to a curt management statement that just put it down to band "illness".
"The obvious thing that people assume is that someone in the band has been doing too much coke," Harrison says. "That's understandable, being a rock band.""The obvious thing that people assume is that someone in the band has been doing too much coke," Harrison says. "That's understandable, being a rock band."
But the singer then wrote a personal message pointing out his "genuine reasons" as well as detailing his "anger and guilt".But the singer then wrote a personal message pointing out his "genuine reasons" as well as detailing his "anger and guilt".
He returned to the stage at the Reading and Leeds Festivals at the end of August, and the band are now picking the most important events to appear at.He returned to the stage at the Reading and Leeds Festivals at the end of August, and the band are now picking the most important events to appear at.
"I didn't feel 100% so I had to make up for it by wearing really brightly coloured clothes, but it was great to be playing again," the star says of Reading."I didn't feel 100% so I had to make up for it by wearing really brightly coloured clothes, but it was great to be playing again," the star says of Reading.
The band are due to go on a UK tour in OctoberThe band are due to go on a UK tour in October
"Leeds wasn't such a highlight," he adds, describing how guitarist William Rees and bassist Kai Fish started an on-stage riot after their set was cut short by four songs."Leeds wasn't such a highlight," he adds, describing how guitarist William Rees and bassist Kai Fish started an on-stage riot after their set was cut short by four songs.
"Kai started breaking mic stands and Will saw what was going on so he joined in. And then they both got throttled by the stage manager, so everyone [in the crowd] ensued by bottling the stage crew," he recalls."Kai started breaking mic stands and Will saw what was going on so he joined in. And then they both got throttled by the stage manager, so everyone [in the crowd] ensued by bottling the stage crew," he recalls.
"It was quite funny to watch. But I would have preferred to have had those four songs rather than the riot.""It was quite funny to watch. But I would have preferred to have had those four songs rather than the riot."
Harrison is now focusing on getting better for a tour that is scheduled to start in October.Harrison is now focusing on getting better for a tour that is scheduled to start in October.
"I don't want to jump out there into the craziness too soon," he says."I don't want to jump out there into the craziness too soon," he says.
"I'm aiming toward that [the tour] and not really trying to do too much before then. It's a shame, it's unfortunate that it's happened right in the middle of summer, when there's lots of really fun and important things to do."I'm aiming toward that [the tour] and not really trying to do too much before then. It's a shame, it's unfortunate that it's happened right in the middle of summer, when there's lots of really fun and important things to do.
"But sometimes you can't help these things and the most important thing is your health - as people keep on telling me.""But sometimes you can't help these things and the most important thing is your health - as people keep on telling me."