New Zealand music legend Sir Dave Dobbyn announced on Facebook this morning that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
“I have felt a little shaky for a while now and in July I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease,” the 65-year-old wrote.
“I’ve found it gives me a wider appreciation of life. Of late I have a tremor in my right hand which gives my guitar playing a new kind of twang.”
“I have to do what I love, so it’s business as usual and on with the who, singing all the way,” he continued before writing he will still be performing in Brisbane tomorrow night with UB40.
There has been an outpouring of support from his fans on his Facebook post and across social media with some sharing their own experience of the disease.
After more than 40 years in the musical scene, Sir Dave is still going strong. Last week it was announced he will be playing at the Wellington music festival Homegrown alongside a plethora of other great Kiwi acts. Homegrown will take place on Wellington's waterfront on the 18th of March 2023.
He will also be making an appearance at the Wildfoods Festival in Hokitika on the 11th of March, 2023. The Wildfoods festival is a celebration of the weird and wonderful of Kiwi and Pacific food. Dobbyn is the headliner, and will be supported by Zeg, Greg Johnson, and Cassie Henderson.
Last year, Sir Dave re-recorded his classic 1986 song ‘Slice of Heaven’ in te reo Māori to celebrate 2021’s Māori Language Week.
We wish Dave all the best with his diagnosis, he is a stalwart of Aoteroa arts. We hope he can continue to entertain Kiwi crowds with his awesome music as he has done since the 1970s, starting with Th’ Dudes and DD Smash.
