NEWS
Hurts’ Adam Anderson will sit out the duo’s upcoming ‘Happiness’ anniversary shows to focus on his mental health and wellbeing.
The Manchester synth-poppers are due to celebrate 15 years of their debut album with a run of shows this summer, including a major date at the O2 Academy Brixton in London on May 22. Shows will follow in Berlin, Ulm, Bochum and Frankfurt, as well as festivals in Serbia and Poland after that. Find tickets here.
In an Instagram post on Friday (May 9), however, Anderson confirmed that he has taken the decision to take the shows off. “As many of you know I’ve been struggling with my mental health for years now,” he wrote. “Sadly, due to my ongoing recovery, I have taken the very difficult decision to sit out all forthcoming HURTS shows this year and focus solely on my well-being.”
“It hasn’t been an easy decision but it’s the right thing for me to do at this time,” he added.
“I want to express my love and gratitude to Theo for his understanding and supporting me in making this decision. All shows will go ahead as planned with Theo taking centre stage and I couldn’t be happier that they’re taking place.”
Anderson went on to note that ‘Happiness’ is al album that “changed our lives forever”, before going on to apologise to the fans. “You’ve supported me as an individual and the band for so many years and I have never taken it for granted. I don’t want anyone to worry about me. I am doing my best to recover with a good support system around me and I look forward to getting better.”
Theo Hutchcraft has responded with his own Instagram Stories post, in which he said that while he is “totally gutted” about the news, “I completely understand and respect his decision to step back from the live performances for health reasons”.
“Adam and I have built this band together and he’s given everything to it over the last 15 years,” he added. “We’re lifelong friend and partners.”
“I’ll be taking to the stage alongside the incredible Hurts band, who have been with us from the beginning. We’ll be sure to bring the vision to life and make it a summer to remember. Whether you’re in the front row or watching from afar. Love you mate x”.
Anderson has spoken in the past about his battles with depression and anxiety. “I’ve suffered with anxiety and depression for over 20 years. It began as a teenager and has got progressively worse as I’ve got older,” he wrote in 2017.
He added: “Suffering is real. There is no romance to it and it can affect anyone. There is no hierarchy to which it conforms. We are all vulnerable. I want to live with an open heart. No acting my way through life, no longer hiding in plain sight.” Read his entire post here.
He later spoke to NME about his decision to go public with his struggles. “There were two stages to it really,” he said. “The first was writing it to begin with, and that in itself felt like a weight had been lifted. That made me think that it’s not always about having a person to confide in, rather than just having a need to communicate what you hold inside.
“If you don’t externalise it, then it festers inside you. The second stage was the act of allowing people to know about it.”
Elsewhere, the band recently reflected on the legacy of ‘Happiness’ with NME. The album was the fastest-selling debut album of 2010 in the UK, and as Hutchcraft said: “We thrived off the divisiveness of the band. That was the aim – to create something that people loved for the same reason that other people hated it. The confusing reviews would read exactly the same but one would be zero stars and the other would be five stars! We were trying to make an alternative record but also a pop record with ambition that had no bounds.”
NEWS
In a major setback for the UK summer festival season, global drinks brand Pepsi has confirmed it is ending its relationship with Wireless Festival. The move comes after strong political criticism and public reaction to the festival’s decision to book American rapper Kanye West, who is now legally known as Ye, as a headliner.
The situation intensified this week after Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke out against the booking, according to reporting from The Guardian. Starmer described the decision as "deeply concerning," pointing to the artist’s past antisemitic comments and his open praise of Nazi related figures as being at odds with the values of the United Kingdom. His remarks reflect a wider position within the government that antisemitism must always be challenged firmly to protect the Jewish community and maintain public safety.
Recent releases from the rapper have added further controversy. In the previous year, he drew global criticism after putting out a song called Heil Hitler and attempting to sell products displaying swastika imagery. Although West later apologized in the Wall Street Journal and said his actions were connected to a manic episode, many critics believe his influence still presents serious concerns.
The event, which is planned for July at Finsbury Park in London, is now dealing with growing uncertainty. Aside from losing a key sponsor, there are also questions about whether West will even be able to enter the country. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has the power to refuse entry if someone is considered not beneficial to the public good. These rules allow the Home Office to refuse visas to individuals whose behavior or connections could increase social tensions or encourage hate.
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has already urged officials to impose a ban on his entry, while organizations such as the Board of Deputies of British Jews have described the booking as "deeply irresponsible." With a major sponsor stepping away and increasing calls for government action, organizers of Wireless Festival now face significant challenges in keeping the event moving forward.
