Barry Manilow made a triumphant return to the stage in Glasgow, revealing that two things helped him through his recent lung cancer battle: the Beatles and his devoted fans. The 82-year-old singer performed at the OVO Hydro Arena, his first live show in six months after postponing gigs due to surgery to remove a lung tumor. Diagnosed in December, Manilow addressed the crowd of 12,000 midway through his 90-minute set.
Manilow's Cancer Battle
“Unless you have been living under a rock you will know I have been in hospital for a couple of months,” Manilow said. “It's always a shock when your doctor calls you and tells you that you've got lung cancer, and I'm sure a lot of people have been down this road. So, after I got over the shock, you know what I did? I blasted The Beatles albums over and over and over, I did, until Garry (husband Garry Kief) said he was gonna leave me if I didn't stop. The dogs were howling!”
He added: “I was very lucky. No chemo, no radiation, and you know what they did with that tumour? They threw that f***ing thing in the garbage. But it's still a long ride. You know what got me through? Hundreds and hundreds of notes and texts and letters from people all over the world telling me they were thinking of me, wishing me well, praying for me. And if you were one of those beautiful people, really, it was you that got me through those scary, scary times. I thank you.”
Return to the Stage
The show opened energetically with costume changes and Manilow dancing to hits like “Looks Like We Made It” from 1977. He received multiple standing ovations and took only brief breaks off stage. Just a week earlier, he had told Good Morning America: “My voice - I don't know whether it's coming back. I did my first sound check about a month ago and I didn't sound like me at all. I just couldn't believe that it's over. That is really upsetting. Because I don't want it to stop.” Work with a vocal coach and support from backing singers helped him deliver a strong performance.
Fan Devotion
Manilow’s fans showed their dedication by wearing sequins and brightly colored outfits. He joked: “I bet you weren't expecting me to look this fantastic. I bet you thought I was going to look like some old fart! Not bad for a 100-year-old guy huh?” The audience, many of whom were older, jumped to their feet to cheer and dance throughout the night.
Manilow also shared stories from his early career, including his time at Juilliard and playing piano for anyone who needed it. “I was the hooker of piano players!” he quipped. He eventually recorded his own album, which included “Could It Be Magic,” setting him on the path to stardom. With 51 Top 40 singles in the US and 13 in the UK, he has sold 85 million records worldwide.
New Album and Upcoming Shows
Manilow released a new LP, “What A Time,” on June 5, his first album of new material in nearly 15 years. He will celebrate his 83rd birthday with a show at London’s O2, marking the end of his UK tour, before returning to the US for more dates and Las Vegas performances, where he has now played more gigs than Elvis.
“Elvis has left the building, but there is plenty of life left in Barry Manilow yet,” the article concludes.
