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I have never had the possibility to fully enjoy our success. It all
went passed us at the time, confesses Merrill (52) from the Osmonds
in an exclusive interview with our magazine. The legendary Mormon
family can soon celebrate their 50th anniversary as a group. "It is
my wildest dream to be on stage once more with the complete group"
says Merrill.
Songs as "Crazy
Horses", "Love Me For A Reason" and "Down by the Lazy River" were
songs known all over the world. Merrill made his debut in the group
at the age of three, he was the lead singer on the majority of the
27 golden albums and five Number 1-hits of the family from the State
of Utah. Last year he produced his solo album. A few months ago he
gave a concert in Tongeren, which was the first in the Benelux after
thirty years.
Because of his
gratitude towards his many Belgian fans, whom have supported him all
these years, he thinks back and remembers some of the moving
memories of his life. "At the age of 52 I have the feeling I have
achieved everything I ever wanted", says Merrill, whom in spite of
health problems in the past looks remarkably good. When I think
back to the glory days of The Osmonds every special moment comes
back to mind. The most spectacular moment that happened was a
concert in Manchester. For two long hours we sang continuously
"Crazy Horses". It was the police that asked us to do that because
the fans were so excited they were afraid accidents would happen if
we stopped. In Paris, Paul McCartney told me that he thought we
were more popular then The Beatles.
YOU SEEM
HUMBLE ABOUT ALL YOUR SUCCESSES, I THINK A BIT MORE PROUD WOULD BE
APPROPRIATE.
I am very proud.
Not in the first place for what The Osmonds stand for. I find it
far more important that I was able to be involved in a lot of
charity work. For instance, I was able to collect more then 2.5
billon euro for children’s charity works. Even in Russia and China
there are organisations which I have helped get started. At this
day, seeing those works doing well gives me great pleasure.
OFTEN
FAMILIES FALL APART WHEN BIG MONEY IS INVOLVED.
That is not the case
in our family. My Father, George Virl, and my late Mother, Olive
May take credit for that. From our childhood on they explained to
us how important a close family was. Through the years our artistic
paths have drifted apart. However, on important holidays like
Christmas we all get together. What makes this family so unique is
that there are already 55 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.
And we keep on growing! At family reunions we have to go to a
reception room to fit us all in.
HAVE YOU HAD BIG
QUARRELS?
We’ve had arguments
but never a row. As far as I can remember nobody ever threatened
with a split. Although I must admit sometimes it was crazy work,
especially at the top of our success. When I see pictures from way
back, I don’t believe my own eyes.
DID YOU ENJOY BEING
AN IDOL FOR THE GIRLS?
Yes and no. At that
moment it all went passed us. It was like being on a Roller Coaster
and in the long run we got used to those screaming fans. Donny and
Marie, the public’s favourites, tried frequently to escape from it
all but they rarely succeeded. Wherever we went, everybody
recognised and chased us.
BRITNEY
SPEARS FRANKLY SAYS THAT SHE IS ALREADY DONE WITH THIS MADNESS.
HAVE YOU HAVE EVER CONSIDERED TO GET OUT OF THIS BUSINESS?
That wasn’t
necessary, because a hype goes by. Halfway though the seventies we
decided to slow down a bit and put our energy into building our
television studio’s. I never gave it a thought to stop the singing
though because that’s what I like doing the most. And in the
meanwhile touring became a pleasure for me, for instance like the
singing I do on cruise ships. That’s almost like a vacation to me.
Today things are a thousand times less hectic.
THE MADLY IN
LOVE TEENAGERS FROM WAY BACK RE NOW WOMEN.
Awesome isn’t it?!
Those fans now come with their children and grandchildren to my
concerts. I experienced that last time in Tongeren. The late Elvis
Presley tried to explain it to me: but then I was too young to
understand…It is heart warming that all generations come to see you
perform but it also means you are getting older. But I really don’t
mind that.
YOU HAVE
THREE GRAND CHILDREN.
At the end of April
my daughter Heather became a mother for the first time of little
Keaton Kade. Last March my son Shane and his wife became the
parents of a beautiful daughter, Andelyn Sherina. She already has a
little sister of two years, Aspen. It goes without saying I want to
spend as much time with them as I possible can.
AND DO YOU ALSO
SUCCEED?
That is something
you can take care of yourself. When Aspen was born, my wife Mary
made me promise to ease down a bit. We have been blessed with
marvellous grandchildren. Isn’t it normal that we want to be at all
their parties and play with them as much as we can? Spoiling my
grandchildren is my major goal.
BEING A GRANDDAD…HAS
THAT EVER FRIGHTENED YOU?
Because the years
went by and I have more grey hair? That’s life man! You cannot
imagine how much I looked forward to the birth of Keaton Kade. I
would love it should my other children, Travis Merrill, Justin Alan,
Troy Dean and Sheila give me more grandchildren,
YOUR
MARRIAGE IS UNDOUBTEDLY ALSO A PILLAR OF YOUR HAPPINESS.
Mary and I are
together for 32 years. In show business that is very
extraordinary. The reason why we have stayed together is simple: I
know my priorities in life. Love is the strongest base that exists
I try to give that message to the people around me. For that reason
I frequently give readings in prisons or I talk with young people
concerning the value of marriage. Without a firm relationship you
stand nowhere.
FOR YOUR
WIFE IT MUST HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT THAT YOU WERE ON THE ROAD A LOT.
That I don’t deny,
but Mary is a real hero. She has been through the highlights with
me but also through my deepest moments. She always stood by my
side. That’s the way she likes it. She is satisfied being a Mother
and likes being with our children. She used to stay at home with
the kids but now that they are older she sometimes comes on the road
with me.
LAST YEAR IN
MAY YOUR FAMILY SUFFERED A TERRIBLE LOSS.
Our dearest Mother,
Olive, then died. We all thought that was so sad of course but at
the same time we were not overcome by grief. Our belief has
everything to do with that.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY
THAT?
We believe that
everything has a meaning in life. Mother was the pillar of our
family and she has learned us what the strength ‘belief’ can
give to people. Believing is also with what you cannot continue to
see or feel. Up until today she also has a constructive influence
on us. Mother may have been buried, her spirit continues to help
us. She will always be close to me. My whole family feels that we
shall see her again one day.
A FEW YEARS
AGO YOU SUFFERED A FEW SETBACKS. DOCTORS DIAGNOSED YOU WITH
DIABETES.
I have processed
that news in a positive way. I believe in the theory that nothing
happens in life just like that. Everything happens for a reason.
At the same time when my diabetes was diagnosed, they also
discovered I had manic depression. I also had heart and kidney
problems. It looked like I was going to die very soon. The doctors
gave my family little hope. But then I found a hospital where they
succeeded in treating my sicknesses, one by one effectively.
HOW ARE YOU TODAY?
My diabetes is entirely under control. I have
changed my eating habits completely and live healthy now. All my
organs function perfectly normal. If you pursue a real change in
your life, you can reach that thanks to your belief and persistence
.
YOUR WERE ALSO
HAVING FINANCIAL PROBLEMS. FOR SOMEONE WITH SO MANY WORLDLY HITS
THAT SEEMS SO UNLIKELY.
I have earned many
millions, but lost just as many. The biggest problem of all The
Osmonds were, that we were frequently accompanied by people who had
no honest intentions. We have been robbed often.
ARE YOU DISAPPOINTED
AS A RESULT?
I don’t see the
point in that, because setbacks also have their usefulness. In a
certain way it is even great that we went through those negative
experiences. It would not have been good if our family continuously
could have lived a life full of joy and dance without any pain or
grief. Suffering belongs to life. Everyone must always strive
towards improvement. To get higher in life you sometimes have to
bite through a bad apple.
IS THERE ANY
CHANCE WE WILL SEE THE OSMONDS ON STAGE ONCE AGAIN?
Wayne, Jay, Jimmy
and I just toured the UK with some other seventies stars like; David
Cassidy, David Essex and The Bay City Rollers. We are planning to
tour again with the four of us. Don’t know if Donny or Marie will
ever join The Osmonds on stage again. Who will tell? They are busy
with their own solo careers. But, it is the wildest dream of all of
us. Sometime, before we all retire it must happen, only Alan will
probably not be able to join us as he suffers from Multiple Sclerosis.
Our 50th Anniversary as a group must be a chain reaction
of highlights. There are now negotiations with the people of Disney
for a mega-event. That would be the best opportunity to be on stage
with complete family.
Interview by SERGE
VANHELLEMONT
Translation by MIMI
and PATRICK VERSCHUEREN
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