Stuart Murdoch has been fronting Belle and Sebastian for decades now, but in a recent appearance on CNN, the Scottish singer-songwriter spoke about his own experience with chronic fatigue syndrome rather than the band's latest album.
He was diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis (a.k.a. chronic fatigue syndrome) back at university in Glasgow, and as he became increasingly ill he had to stop attending school and then stop working.
He described the disease as feeling "like the first day of the flu. It's that kind of sickness, right at the core. But the thing is, it doesn't go away. It's never abated."
Despite being bedridden for long periods of time and increasingly pessimistic about finding a medical cure, Murdoch said he eventually found an escape in music — referring to music as his "secret weapon."
It helped him regain parts of his old life, even if his symptoms do still challenge him, especially while he's on the road.
"Perhaps as soon as the concert is over, I'm going to feel sick," he said. "And I'm going to look like an invalid for the next 24 hours."
Now, though, Murdoch is raising awareness for ME/CFS as an ambassador for the Open Medicine Foundation — a task he calls "the most important thing I ever do."
Watch a video interview with Murdoch about his battle with the disease here via CNN.
He was diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis (a.k.a. chronic fatigue syndrome) back at university in Glasgow, and as he became increasingly ill he had to stop attending school and then stop working.
He described the disease as feeling "like the first day of the flu. It's that kind of sickness, right at the core. But the thing is, it doesn't go away. It's never abated."
Despite being bedridden for long periods of time and increasingly pessimistic about finding a medical cure, Murdoch said he eventually found an escape in music — referring to music as his "secret weapon."
It helped him regain parts of his old life, even if his symptoms do still challenge him, especially while he's on the road.
"Perhaps as soon as the concert is over, I'm going to feel sick," he said. "And I'm going to look like an invalid for the next 24 hours."
Now, though, Murdoch is raising awareness for ME/CFS as an ambassador for the Open Medicine Foundation — a task he calls "the most important thing I ever do."
Watch a video interview with Murdoch about his battle with the disease here via CNN.
