Mitch Winehouse Sings While Amy Burns
Lately, the life of Amy Winehouse has been nothing more than a very slow trainwreck, and quite frankly if something drastic is not done and fast I do not believe she will last the year…if she does, I will be very surprised. However, one seemingly constant good and stabilizing influence in her life has been her father Mitch, who was by her side when she actually checked herself into rehab to clean up for the Grammys (and previous rehabbing attempts).
At the beginning, he tried and tried to get her clean, making statements such as this:
Her father Mitch Winehouse has admitted that he is terrified that she will fall into her old habits and is concerned she’ll be ‘dead in three months’. [For the record, this was at the end of June, and it is now the end of September, three months ago.]
Amy collapsed at her North London home last week and was taken for tests at a London hospital by her 57-year-old father, who later said: ‘With smoking the crack cocaine and the cigarettes her lungs are all gunked up.’
‘The only thing that can go into her lungs are fresh air. She faces a stark choice – either she sticks to it or she won’t sing again.’
‘To think this could be my beautiful 24-year-old daughter’s life is preposterous. But if drugs mean more to her than breathing properly, then so be it.
‘But the doctors have told her if she goes back to smoking drugs it won’t just ruin her voice, it will kill her,’ he said.
And this:
“She understands she has to change. All she wants to do now is to sing,” he added. [...]
“I’m saying to those drug dealers, and they know who they are, if they are supplying crack to Amy, then they’ve got to take responsibility. I don’t want her hanging out with her mates like Pete Doherty either,” he said.
And this:
In an exclusive interview with the News of the World, he said: “I want her sectioned. The situation is getting out of control. I want her off the street.”
Dismissing another stint in rehab, Mitch said: “I don’t think being somewhere for six weeks is going to cure her problems.
“I think it needs far more radical measures. We will take the bull by the horns and deal with it.” [...]
Mitch, 57, revealed: “I’ve been on the phone to Amy’s manager in Los Angeles and he’s starting things rolling. They are going to be speaking to doctors, psychologists and everything else.
“I want Amy to be somewhere where she will be safe and where no harm can come to her.
“Obviously as her dad I will try and do what’s best for her.
“Unfortunately, what I think is best for Amy and what she thinks is best for her are two different things.
“And it might be that other parties might need to be involved.
“You need all four–the psychologists, the doctor, the local health authority and the next of kin–all to decide that somebody is sectionable.
“Now is the time to exert whatever pressure we have to try to do it.
“I’ve told them she is a danger to herself. There is evidence of self-harming and she’s a danger to other people because she’s attacked someone.”
And this:
Winehouse also says his daughter’s alcohol and drug abuse caused a seizure in August. Further attacks could be life-threatening. “She could die horribly. That is not going to happen–that cannot happen,” he says.
Oh, and one more…while he didn’t say all of this, it’s about him as well as Amy:
Her second overdose was in July – when she inhaled an “inhuman” amount of hash that left her vomiting uncontrollably and hallucinating.
At the time devoted dad Mitch, 54, said it was a “bad reaction to her medication”.
Medics are worried Amy’s brain was damaged by the cannabis overdose – she displayed symptoms normally associated with schizophrenia.
The pal yesterday said: “The future is bleak, bleak, bleak.
“Mitch does everything he can to protect his daughter – but his ‘explanation’ for Amy’s hospital dash in July was just simply untrue.
“She had smoked an inhuman amount of hash which resulted in acute cannabis poisoning. You have to take a s***load of pot to suffer that severe a reaction.
“It’s thought she had been smoking it for 36 hours.
“Amy’s fits were as bad as the convulsions she had during her overdose in August last year. No one has mentioned her meth use before – but that stuff is truly nasty.
“She is in need of years of psychiatry and medical treatment if she has a hope.”
Well, anyway. I’m pretty sure you get the idea. Mitch Winehouse has presented himself as a devoted yet sometimes misguided parent, who tries to do right by his drug-addled daughter but who can’t bring himself to quite follow through with the tough love that Amy so desperately needs. Like a lot of parents with problem children, he seems to make an attempt at getting Amy help, but backs down off his tough stance when she shows either a teensy bit of good improvement or a lot of bad temper. It may be that he believes the cure is worse than the disease, so when the going gets tough, Mitch gets going…out of town, leaving Amy to her own devices. Nobody knows the specifics, but what I do know is what I see, and I see a bright, lovely, talented young woman throwing her life down the crapper for drugs, and I see nobody in her family doing the hard, tough work that it will take to get her well again. If there are workings behind closed doors to get her help, they need to get moving, and fast.
Dawn just did a story on Amy and a horrific night she had, ruining her goddaughter’s singing debut by hugging her and moaning gibberish into the microphone (who in their right mind would let Amy be a godparent, let alone invite her to sing with the poor child?), trying to headbutt yet another poor soul who wanted a picture, crying that she can’t go on like this, and arriving home holding her hair on and missing a shoe. Why do people still book her, other than so crowds can point and laugh as they would a circus freak, because it is painfully obvious that she doesn’t sing any longer, she just grunts and moans and mumbles her way through sets. Friends of Amy are so alarmed by this latest terrible chapter that they’re not leaving Amy alone, afraid that she might (purposefully or accidentally) do something bad:
The troubled singer’s mates have cancelled commitments and set up camp at her home in Camden, North London, to stay with her round the clock.
One said: “No one wants to leave Amy on her own — she’s in a very fragile state at the moment.
“Her most loyal friends are terrified she is going to do something which she can’t overcome.
“She’s been to hell and back already but some fear she’s going to get worse before she gets better.”
Amy, who is waiting for husband BLAKE FIELDER-CIVIL to get out of prison, was due to face police questioning after allegedly serving a knuckle sandwich to dancer Sherene Flash last week.
Remember Blake Whatever-Whatever? He turned down two, count ‘em two, get-out-of-jail-free cards in the space of about a week, all in favor of staying in jail longer so that he and Amy can be together when he finally is sprung. It seems that this was a terrible blow to Amy, as her bad behavior has gotten worse in the past couple of weeks. She acts like a woman who no longer cares about herself or what happens to her…with her connections and money, that is a bad thing. Even Amy herself has said that her behavior is partly because she’s depressed and lonely because her husband is in jail (although her problems predate the jail term):
‘To be honest, my husband’s away, I’m bored, I’m young,’ Winehouse tells me.
‘I felt like there was nothing to live for. It’s just been a low ebb.’
So what does daddy Mitch Winehouse do while his daughter, who has emphysema, who is prone to brain seizures, who is addicted to drugs (including that horrible killer meth), who is facing yet more police investigations because of the punching incident the other night, who’s face is falling apart, who grows more and more skeletal every day, who admits to being depressed and angry, and whom he said would not live three more months three months ago? Why, he did what any caring, loving, attentive, worried father would do in this situation…he took to the stage:
Meanwhile, her dad MITCH made his stage debut at the weekend, performing FRANK SINATRA classics in front of a 300-strong audience in Chiswick on Saturday night.
I was told the ex-cabbie got such a great reception that he went on to sing more classic hits for almost an hour.
You have GOT to be kidding me! This is the last straw. Mitch needs to get down off the stage (that he’s only on because of his daughter’s notoriety) and do something for Amy. Nobody would give a tinker’s fart who he was if he wasn’t who he is. All he seems to be good for any more is giving long-winded interviews where he tells the world much more than he ever should, gives a statement full of half-truths or out-and-out lies to the media whenever something bad happens, and generally letting Amy destroy herself. Every time I turn around, I see this sack of hot air giving yet another interview on what is wrong with Amy and how it’s everyone else’s fault. Why don’t you shut up, you big windbag…I was once one of your staunchest supporters, but not any more, not if you can sing while your daughter burns.
Is it any wonder? I no longer am surprised that Amy is in the shape that she is in, or why she continues to stay that way. If she dies young and tragically, she’ll be immortalized with the likes of Janis Joplin and Mama Cass, worth more dead than alive. Do you see your daughter, Mitch? She will be DEAD soon too, and when she dies you undoubtedly will point the finger of blame at everything and everyone, but you’ll refuse to take any blame for your own actions. You’ll sit and moan and cry in interview after interview, while at the same time pocketing the money you get for them…not to mention anything Amy leaves behind. Yeah, you’ll be set for life, pally.
Jamie Spears stepped in and took over his daughter’s life, got her in a hospital (against her will, she was totally incapable of making any sort of decision), made her STAY there (none of this wussy checking in and out every few hours), took over her finances, made sure she kept her appointments with the court, got her the medical help that she so desperately needed, and now look at her. Brit’s career is back on track and while Brit isn’t out of the woods yet, she’s a lot closer than Amy is. If Jamie Spears can do it, why can’t the family of Amy Winehouse? Of course, at the moment I don’t think I’d want Mitch anywhere near Amy’s money, but there’s got to be somebody that could control it. But who am I kidding? Her friends have to babysit her while her own father is off on a stage somewhere making money off his daughter’s coattails.
Amy is not in her right mind and possibly has brain damage from the drugs. Yes, Amy has to decide to help herself, but while I’ve been saying that all along I’m not sure Amy is Amy any more. I think the drugs have taken over her brain and there’s no rational thought process there, and that goes double if she has brain damage. There’s no way she can make any sort of informed decision concerning her own well-being, at least not right now. Somebody needs to step up and save this girl from herself. Would people stop loving her to death and do something?
On the bright side, with the practice Mitch is getting, he’ll be in fine voice to sing at Amy’s funeral.
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I absolutely agree 100% with what you have written here. I wrote it myself weeks ago in my blog. I find it quite astounding that he has absolutely no insight into HIS actions. The only, possible, way that Amy will get better will be if someone manages to persuade her to go into hospital voluntarily but the only way that that will happen is if she falls even further. But everyone will stop that from happening just at the moment when it might help. They don’t want their precious commodity to stop bringing in the money. For an insight into what it’s like to live with someone like this, my book ‘Don’t Wait for Me’ – about my son with Bipolar disorder and drug abuse – is the best example of what to do when someone doesn’t want help and practically kills themselves while in denial of their drug abuse and mental illness.
Comment by Ros Morris — September 29, 2008 @ 10:29 am
*CLAPS LOUDLY*
Bravo k, bravo. Brilliant. I can only hope Mitch sees this and pulls his head straight out of his arse.
Comment by Dawn — September 29, 2008 @ 12:01 pm
I disagree the ONLY person that can help Amy is Amy. Her parents have done all they can including trying to get her sectioned, but unfortunately here is the UK it is not possible, it’s an unbelievably difficult process.
We have absolutely no idea what it’s like to be parents of Amy Winehouse and instead of laying blame at her parents let’s just hope that she has hit her rock bottom and she makes that decision to get well.
Comment by Jayne — September 29, 2008 @ 12:22 pm
i so agree with k. i didn’t realize it was so difficult to commit someone, even if they are harmful to self or others, in uk. geez! what does it take?! i guess i, like anyone without altered sensorium can read about her daily drug use….WHY is it no arrests are made? I don’t get it. of course, if she did go to prison she could still get drugs, as Blakey has (isn’t that the real reason he stays there…becuz there won’t be any at mum’s OR that he will not pass urine test). also wonder if parents will lose contact with amy’s money that they are on payroll. i agree she does need a payee to take control of it since she’s clearly not in good judgement, but i think janis and mitch are not wanting to lose theirs. civil-field has said dad is on the payroll and janis, does her books.
Comment by fufugirl — September 29, 2008 @ 1:47 pm
Although we make fun of her, we love Amy over at Starcasm.net, and we hope she gets help soon. It would definitely help if her dad stopped performing gigs and really took action to get her sectioned. The recent pictures alone are enough to convince doctors, pyschologists, and the local health authority that there is a serious problem. Now, if only we could get the next of kin . . .
Comment by Starcasm — September 29, 2008 @ 2:25 pm
Amen, Jayne! I think we’re speaking from an American state o’ mind. IMHO, it’s easier to have someone committed here than in the UK. I’m sure Mitch has explored every avenue to have Amy committed. ITA w/k, she is incapable of taking care of herself or making decisions, due to the substance abuse. However, don’t fault Mitch for not having control over his grown child. He’s tried, tried, tried and he can’t try anymore. Mr. and Mrs. Winehouse have their own lives to lead, Amy has made her bed, she should lie in it.
Comment by Eyerolls of Beef — September 29, 2008 @ 2:43 pm
I 100% agree!
Do something for the sake of good music, do something for the sake of another poor child!Somebody please do something!Many people have been saved! Why not her?
I’m a mother my self and I totally understand what you mean.I would go to hell for my child, not sing.
This is not a parent, this is an enemy.
Parents are completely responsible for their children.
We are responsible for our childrens’ suisides.
We are resp. from the very beginning.
Give love Mr Mitch and show a little frank interest to you daughter! For god sake!
Comment by dimi — September 29, 2008 @ 3:31 pm
The flame that shines twice as bright, burns only half as long…
Comment by gary — September 29, 2008 @ 3:38 pm
I agree that the only person who can help a junkie is the junkie themselves, in that they have to make the decision to get clean. I’ve said that all along in Amy’s case. However…I think now she is past the point of making rational decisions or having coherent thought processes. It’s thought that she has brain damage from cannabis poisoning…she obviously can’t make decisions on her own any longer. SOMEBODY needs to step up and have some balls.
Oh, and I realize that getting someone committed in the UK is harder than in the US, but she can go to a center or hospital somewhere OTHER than the UK. If she can fly to various other countries and “perform”, then she can fly there to be treated. Get here there on false pretenses if you have to and then check her into an intensive care treatment center for several months.
She is going to DIE unless someone does something. Mitch needs to be the parent he’s never managed to be (well, neither of her parents seem to have ever had much on the ball concerning parenting) and STEP UP.
Comment by k — September 29, 2008 @ 4:48 pm
After seeing all the recent pictures of Amy, it is now hard to even remember how she looked before. Amy was so beautiful in that second picture.
Comment by Kimi — September 29, 2008 @ 5:24 pm
Hey!!
This text really touches me. It’s so honest and direct, it’s really good!
I hope so much something like that, what tries to kick responsible people(family, friends) in the butt, and tries to move them, reaches someone of the responsible people.
I can’t understand why noone of these motherfuckers do es anything?!?! They are just watching her dieing, without doing anything!
What if someone would try to kill her? Would they help her? I think so, but why then not, if she kills herself??
If I had a daughter, with those problems, I would do everything, but not watching her dying. They should bring her to rehab, and without leaving earlier.
Very good article,
keep on good works like that!!
greets, jack white III
Comment by Jack White — September 29, 2008 @ 5:42 pm
Yes but also bear in my that Amy’s parents are also not in the best of health her mother has MS and her dad has collapsed and has been undergoing tests. I don’t think we have the right to criticise their parenting skills as we have no idea what they have been through.
Don’t forget that Amy also stated that every rehab clinic she attended she continued to “use”, so I think that decision has to come from her or it will be fruitless.
Comment by Jayne — September 29, 2008 @ 6:04 pm
Please stop saying “cannabis poisoning”!!! after checking around, it’s hard to find a lot of evidence of this ever occurring. Most likely if she has brain damage, it could be from drugs cooked in shitty home brew laboratories(the crack and meth you mentioned, also
heroin possibly?). Cannabis provides natural relief for many people with HIV and Cancer, as well as a safer recreational drug for others. Let’s legalize it and pursue the truly bad drugs. Pot or hash is not the thing that is ruining Mrs. Winehouse.
It is sick that we sit here and watch her do this, but what can we do? Can we contact her?
She really was quite beautiful in that second photo.
Comment by sage — September 29, 2008 @ 6:11 pm
I know that she kept using in whatever clinic she was in, but that’s because they didn’t keep her there long enough and she was allowed out way too many times and too many people got in to see her. That’s why I said hospital or something…forget these day spa clinics, get her in an intensive treatment center. Get her in somewhere where NOBODY can get to her.
And I know her mother has MS, that’s why I haven’t gotten on her about not helping her daughter. But from what I’ve read, even when Amy was growing up Janis was not one to crack down on her daughter because Amy was so “difficult”. And her dad has released stupid press releases full of half-truths and lies about how well Amy is doing. Yeah, she’s doing great.
So what, everybody abandons her? Just leaves her to die? Oh yeah, there’s the answer…let’s just leave her alone. Maybe she’ll come to her senses. While people have to decide for themselves, sometimes they have to be made to see sense, especially when they are not in their right mind.
When she’s dead and everyone is moaning and crying and pointing fingers, remember that this tragedy could have been prevented. Well, perhaps if somebody can get Mitch’s agent on the phone and he can free up some time in his concert schedule.
Comment by k — September 29, 2008 @ 10:27 pm
I hope she gets help cause she is near deaths door.
Comment by Jessica — September 30, 2008 @ 4:06 am
Amy is an adult and unfortunately a drug addict. It was easier to get the courts involved with Spears because there were children involved. Has anyone ever watched the show “intervention”? There is very little you can do with an addict except beg and plead for them to get treatment; the ball is completely in their court. Families of addicts struggle with this every day. I’m not saying Mitch is a saint but he is limited in what he can do to intervene. He can’t take over her estate and obtain guardianship legally. Amy is on a downward spiral and unfortunately she is the only one who can pull the brake. I hope she does.
Comment by GingerBits — September 30, 2008 @ 8:26 pm
This is the work of CRYSTAL METH – ICE – METHAMPHETAMINE. It is INSTANTLY addictive & it ravages its users in a very short period of time. They age prematurely really, really fast – their teeth rot & fall out. The way back is EXTREMELY hard.
Often people addicted to methamphetamine will also be addicted to heroin. They need the powerful sedative to bring them down. I think Amy is addicted to both.
Amy can make it but she has to WANT to live, and realise that her current life-style is not just aging her, but it is very quickly killing her & will rob her of her dreams to be happily married and have lots of children.
Come on Amy, you CAN do this!!
Comment by Becky — September 30, 2008 @ 10:48 pm
Thank god that someone is writing this. I’m American, and I swear I want to go over and shake her by the shoulders and tell her she is my favorite female singer and that I can’t bear to see her kill herself. I know there is nothing I can do, but I feel compelled to help and would in any way if I could. I don’t think we can blame it all on Amy because how can she battle this addiction with out the most drastic of actions. Someone take her away at gun point, somewhere where there are NO drugs.
Comment by Ellory — September 30, 2008 @ 11:25 pm
So, for Amy to become a totally washed-down beyond any grace it took years of heavy drug abuse. For Mitch to become a totally washed-down graceless SOB it took one night of singing. I still like Amy, and I love her as a musician, but I really fear that there will be no more records from her, because noone sees themselves able to tie her to a chair until she sees reason.
Comment by theblackscorpio — October 2, 2008 @ 3:40 pm
There is no such thing as acute cannabis poisoning.
Comment by Matt — October 10, 2008 @ 6:28 pm
[...] upset as I get at the family of Amy Winehouse for standing by (and occasionally bursting out in song) while Amy burns, I get just as upset at the family of hubby Blake Whatever-Whatever. In the [...]
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