Simon Le Bon health: Singer ‘difficult’ ordeal losing ‘six semi-tones’ from vocal range
SIMON LE BON is the vocal talent for Duran Duran, taking the position of lead vocalist from May 1980; four decades later, and the band are still playing music, but their success could have been short lived.
Back in 2011, Duran Duran had to cancel numerous tour dates as Simon Le Bon had “six semi-tones wiped off the top of [his] range”, meaning he was not able to perform. On the band’s website at the time, Simon wrote: “Nobody, myself included, has really been able to explain what has happened. It’s quite difficult not to obsess. It’s very difficult not to worry about it.”
Simon spent an “awful lot of time seeing specialists… three otorhinolaryngologists, a speech and voice therapist, a vocal coach, a physiotherapist”.
He even saw his osteopath brother, Jonathan Le Bon, to figure out what had happened.
“I saw five different practitioners in one day. It’s hard work,” Simon recalled.
His vocal range, with time, recovered, and the band continued to make smash hits, including their latest studio album Future Past.
Performing alongside keyboardist Nick Rhodes, bass guitarist John Taylor, drummer Roger Taylor and guitarist Andy Taylor, hits include the Donnie Darko soundtrack.
Famous songs include Hungry Like the Wolf, Love Voodoo, Planet Earth, and The Reflex.
In a recent interview, when asked what has kept the band together for all this time, Simon said: “We have friendship; we have passion for music that we share.
“But there’s one other thing that I think is important, it’s quite prosaic in a way, but the fact is we split all of the income equally.”
Whether you are a professional singer, or an enthusiast who can not hold a note, you can still damage your vocal cords.
Otolaryngologist Dr Lesley Childs pointed out that singing loudly at a concert, for example, could temporarily damage the vocal cords.
Hoarseness would be an indication that you’ve overdone it, but with vocal rest and good hydration, a speedy recovery is on the cards.
It’s when hoarseness, or a voice change, that persists for two weeks or more when you should seek medical assistance.
A “raspy or breathy voice” isn’t the only indication of vocal cord damage, such as polyps.
Vocal fatigue, caused by overusing the voice, is often seen in professional singers, like Simon.
“Just like your legs can get tired from running, your voice can get tired when you use it for a long time,” Dr Childs stated.
“Overuse can damage the vocal cords, and if you often find you have lost your voice by the end of the day or after an hour of singing, your vocal cords may be experiencing tissue damage.”