[ Open Letter to Amy Winehouse ]

Amy Winehouse - Singer's in-laws' plea to fans over drugs

Helen Pidd - August 29, 2007 - The Guardian 

The in-laws of the singer Amy Winehouse yesterday urged fans to boycott her records to force her and her husband to end their drugs use. In a candid radio interview, Giles and Georgette Fielder-Civil, the parents of Winehouse's husband, Blake, also suggested the singer should be denied music awards.

The couple spoke after the publication of newspaper pictures showing the performer and Blake Fielder-Civil bloody and bruised, apparently after a fight in a London hotel. Police have said no charges would be brought.

Winehouse went to hospital this month after a reported overdose involving heroin, ecstasy, cocaine, ketamine and alcohol.

Mr Fielder-Civil, a headteacher, told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I think they believe they are recreational users of drugs and are in control, but it seems ... this isn't the case." Mrs Fielder-Civil said: "I think they need to get medical help, before one of them, if not both, eventually die." Winehouse's fans should send a message to her "that her addiction and her behavior are not acceptable", her husband said.

He added: "Perhaps it is time to stop buying records. It's a possibility, to send that message." He said the record industry should ban the singer from receiving any awards, such as the four Mobos she was nominated for last week.

But Winehouse's father, Mitch, said: "Will it do any good? No ... the only way out is not sectioning them, not locking them up - at some point they are going to reach rock bottom, and [then] they will say, I don't want to do that any more. We are not talking about people who are in imminent danger of death."

Winehouse's record label could not be reached for comment yesterday.

[ Open Letter to Amy Winehouse ]

Amy Winehouse - Mother doesn't recognize her

09/13/2007  

Amy Winehouse's mother Janis is so estranged from her troubled daughter she "no longer recognizes" her.

The Rehab singer has been taking time out from her career after her recent high-profile spells in hospital and much tabloid coverage of her reported drug problems.

And despite repeated pleas from her friends and family to seek professional help, 52-year-old Janis fears the soul star will not kick her alleged drug habit until it's too late.

She says: "Amy is playing Russian roulette with her health and musical gift. She's lost herself. We're not talking about my Amy. It's not someone I recognize. She has become her own stage creation

"I knew she was smoking marijuana but not that she was doing class A drugs until she collapsed.

"She won't stop until she sees the point of stopping... when I saw her afterwards, I did not tell her to clean up, there was no point. Talking to her about it won't make any difference." 

© Thomas Crosbie Media, 2007. 

[ Open Letter to Amy Winehouse ]

Amy Winehouse Arrested, Fined in Norway Drug Bust (Update1) 

By Niklas Magnusson and Robin Wigglesworth

Oct. 19, 2007 (Bloomberg) -- Amy Winehouse, the award-winning U.K. singer, was arrested last night in Bergen on the west coast of Norway and fined 500 euros ($714) for possession of about 7 grams (0.2 ounces) of marijuana. 

Winehouse, 24, was arrested at Bergen's Radisson SAS Hotel together with her husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, and a man identified as Alexander Foden, Lars Morten Lothe, a police lawyer at Bergen Police Station, said in a telephone interview today. Fielder-Civil was also fined 500 euros, while Foden was ordered to pay 240 British pounds ($491), Lothe said. 

``Amy Winehouse and two others were arrested in their hotel room late yesterday night, brought into the police station and issued with fines,'' Lothe said. ``We are finished with the case as far as we are concerned.'' 

The incident is another blow for the singer, who was forced to cancel several concerts this year after being hospitalized with what her record company called ``severe exhaustion.'' Her father-in-law, Giles Fielder-Civil, in August urged fans to boycott her music until Winehouse and her husband seek treatment for alleged drug abuse. 

While possession of any drug is illegal in Norway, ``the use of small amounts of narcotics will normally result in a fine, and appear on the criminal record of the guilty party,'' according to the country's medical drug law. 

Narcotics possession may be punished with up to two years of prison, and serious violations may lead to as many as 10 years of imprisonment, the Norwegian police Web site says. 

Celebrity Arrests 

Winehouse isn't the first celebrity to have a brush with Scandinavian law. Swedish police arrested U.S. rapper Snoop Dogg in March for suspected drug use, while U.K. singer Pete Doherty was arrested and fined in Sweden last year. Swedish police also temporarily detained Bill Murray in August after spotting the U.S. actor cruising through central Stockholm in a golf cart. 

Concerts that Winehouse canceled in recent months included a gig at Oslo's Oya Festival, two shows with the Rolling Stones in Germany, as well as a U.S. and Canadian tour. The singer is unlikely to pull out of tonight's performance in Bergen, the organizers of the festival said by telephone today. 

``We spoke to her management this morning and there isn't anything that would indicate she won't sing tonight,'' said Frank Nes, head promoter of Bergen Live. ``It's not that dramatic, but it's not a pleasant situation for anyone involved.'' 

No Rehab 

Winehouse won the British Female Solo Artist Award at the BRIT awards and the Female Artist of the Year at the U.K.'s Mobo, or Music of Black Origin, awards this year for her jazz, soul and R&B-inspired music. When she won the Vodafone Live Music Awards, she sent the landlord of her local pub to collect the prize at the ceremony on her behalf. 

The singer has released two albums, ``Frank'' in 2003, and ``Back to Black'' in 2006, the latest which went platinum in both the U.S. and the U.K. Winehouse's most famous song is called ``Rehab,'' which includes the line: ``They tried to make me go to rehab, I said no, no, no.'' 

[ Open Letter to Amy Winehouse ]

Amy Winehouse - Mother's letter of support

12/12/07

The mother of troubled singing sensation Amy Winehouse has written an open letter to her daughter calling on the star to "take stock" of where her life is going.

Janis Winehouse, 52, has previously spoken publicly about the popstar's chaotic personal life but has now urged the performer to get in contact in a bid to turn things around.

She said the family were "concerned" but not panicking as they were sure she would see things in her "own time".

Despite the singer's apparent problems her career shows no sign of slowing down after she was nominated for six Grammy awards this week.

Her mother, writing in the News of the World, said: "Early fame has overwhelmed you, it's dizzied you and muddled your mind. For a moment, forget you're a superstar. You're young and vulnerable, no stronger than any of the rest of us."

Winehouse's nominations include a place in the top categories of best new artist, best record, and song of the year for her massive hit single Rehab and the album Back to Black.

Her bizarre behaviour has been a concern to fans for some time but her husband's recent arrest and the couple's enforced separation appears to have pushed her to a new low. Winehouse ended up cancelling her UK tour after several shambolic performances, citing husband Blake Fielder-Civil - who is being held in custody - as the reason she could not go on.

He was arrested after allegedly trying to bribe a pub barman he is accused of attacking and is in Pentonville Prison on remand.

Her mother also says: "Having to cancel your tour, as well, has been very sad. But maybe it will make you stop, think and take stock of where your life is going."

Commenting on her son-in-law, Janis added: "Blake, your husband, might not be my favorite person, you know that, but he's your choice and I would never say anything about him to hurt you."

[ Open Letter to Amy Winehouse ]

Amy Winehouse: Tell-tale Nose Powder 

12/06/07

London lady soul singer Amy Winehouse left home after powdering her nose (left) and was chauffeured to her first party stop -- where along the way, she decided that she'd change her pants (right) -- leaving paparazzi gaping at the half-naked, gap-toothed, beehived, lovelorn wreck.

[ Open Letter to Amy Winehouse ]

Amy Winehouse to enter rehab after New Year 

12/14/07

Troubled soul star AMY WINEHOUSE has vowed to seek help for her drug addictions in the New Year (08) - after enjoying a boozy Christmas.

The Rehab singer has been battling substance abuse problems for several months, following her highly-publicized collapse from a drugs overdose in August (07).

And Winehouse's addiction has reportedly worsened since her husband Blake Fielder-Civil was incarcerated last month (Nov07) on suspicion of perverting the course of justice in relation to a charge of grievous bodily harm.

But a close pal reveals the star has promised to make amends in January (08), in an effort to get her career back on track. Winehouse was nominated for six Grammy Awards last week (ends07Dec07) and is said to be "determined" to put on a good show at the Los Angeles ceremony in February (08).

The friend says, "Amy has agreed she will sort her life out in the New Year.
She wants to give the performance of her life in L.A. But she's going to throw a party over Christmas - which will probably be a messy affair."

[ Open Letter to Amy Winehouse ]

Amy Winehouse is reportedly arrested 

12/18/07

LONDON - Singer Amy Winehouse was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of attempting to interfere with a court case involving her husband, Sky News reported. 

Police would not confirm the report but said a 24-year-old was arrested during an appointment at a police station in connection with an investigation into perverting the course of justice.

Winehouse, 24, recently canceled all concerts and public appearances for the rest of the year on doctor's orders. Her husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, was ordered held in custody in London last month on charges of perverting the course of justice stemming from a case in which he is accused of assaulting a barman in June.

Fielder-Civil allegedly tried to interfere with a witness' testimony, according to court documents.

Winehouse, an admitted marijuana smoker, has been dogged by reports of continued drug use amid a flurry of canceled concert dates. She was recently spotted walking outside of her London home wearing a bra and jeans, with no shoes, looking distressed.

[ Open Letter to Amy Winehouse ]

Amy Winehouse - Grammy Award Winner Puts Rehab In Spotlight

Feb 11, 2008 

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Rehab has never been hotter in Hollywood, and nowhere was that more apparent than on Sunday at the Grammy awards with British singer Amy Winehouse's five big wins, more than any other artist.

After months of headlines about drug and alcohol treatment for troubled Hollywood stars like Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan, soul singer Winehouse became the latest celebrity to shake-off the stigma of rehab and look like a winner.

Yet, while some Grammy attendees said Winehouse would have been well looked after by handlers had she attended the U.S. music industry's top awards, mental health professionals said the stress of performing coupled with Hollywood glamour could have derailed the singer's recovery.

Why wasn't the beehive-coiffed and tattooed Winehouse not in Los Angeles to accept her five Grammys? She was in rehab.

Winehouse scored a key victory for best song with hit single "Rehab," in which she recounts her reluctance to seek help for excessive drinking.

The singer won best new artist, record of the year and best female pop vocal solo performance for "Rehab," as well as best pop vocal album for he breakthrough release, "Back to Black."

She accepted her Grammys and performed "Rehab" and another tune, "You Know I'm No Good," from a studio in England via satellite during the awards' telecast.

"Thanks very much. It's an honor to be here," said a visibly moved Winehouse via satellite, appearing healthier than she did a few weeks ago when she was admitted. Continued...

Her involvement in the Grammys had been in doubt due to her arrest for possession of marijuana in Norway, and she had been in rehab at least twice in 2007, according to British media. 

ROAD BACK FROM REHAB

"Had she come to the Grammys, it would have been a wonderful experience for her and for everyone," said Mike Melvoin, a past president of the Recording Academy that hosts the Grammys and a key backer of Grammy-endorsed program, MusiCares, which supports musicians in need.

But if Winehouse stumbled, as did pop princess Britney Spears in her much-maligned appearance at September's MTV Video Music Awards, Winehouse's recovery could have reversed course.

"To expect people to come back to perform after a few weeks in rehabilitation is not even physiologically possible," said Susan Blank, director of psychiatric and psychological services at the non-profit Caron group, which runs rehab programs.

Blank noted it takes weeks for the brain to heal from substance abuse, and interrupting that process can increase the chances of a relapse.

Industry experts and mental health professionals debate about whether heavy media-coverage of high-profile stars leads to drug abuse and self-destructive behavior.

Last month, young actors Brad Renfro and Heath Ledger both died drug-related deaths, joining a long list of talented young casualties from Janis Joplin to Kurt Cobain, to name a few.

"(It) is more related to the personality and biological makeup of a performer and less to stress and pressure on them to perform," said Stan Greenwald, director of the Center for Stress Reduction in Goshen, New York. Continued...

Blank said that drug and alcohol abuse can differ from substance addiction, which is genetically inherited and runs in 10 percent to 16 percent of the entire population.

But she added that celebrities generally have people around them supporting their habit, and the longer stars deny their problems, the longer it takes for them to recover.

[ Open Letter to Amy Winehouse ]