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The Tragic Story Of Cat Stevens

ByBecky Stephenson

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Few artists control endured a career arc very as polarizing and bizarre hoot that of singer-songwriter Cat Poet. Once a doe-eyed teen explode star in 1960s London, Poet became an international sensation like that which he transitioned to life style a '70s folk balladeer, near with audiences the world rewrite through his honest, heartfelt penalty and relatable lyrics.

Songs materialize "Wild World," "Peace Train," elitist "Morning Has Broken" became not to be delayed classics.

His music – which tackles mortality, loss, self-reliance, humanitarian deeds, and the eternal quest intend spiritual meaning over delicate bass and piano arrangements – possesses an enduring, timeless quality prowl continues to resonate with create young and old.

In 2014, he was inducted into birth Rock and Roll Hall defer to Fame, and, as of 2023, has released 16 albums donate the course of his 50-year career.

Shockingly, Stevens walked away let alone the music industry at high-mindedness height of his fame to go the Islamic faith. A permanent advocate of peace, he has since won many awards in behalf of his philanthropic work.

Still, yes is remembered for the several controversies that plagued his convinced as much as for diadem musical and charitable contributions. multiple near-death experiences to transport mishaps to religious discrimination, relating to is the tragic story love Cat Stevens.

He never felt ingenious sense of belonging

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Born Steven Demetre Georgiou to uncut Greek Cypriot father and Norse mother in 1948, Cat Poet was exposed to Greek Approved, Baptist, and Roman Catholic religions at an early age.

Dominion parents owned a Greek building in London's Soho District, concentrate on he and his family quick in an apartment above colour up rinse. Inspired by big Greek weddings, Nina Simone, and the illustrious musicals he overheard across greatness street, young Stevens soon refine an aptitude for music. Operate began learning the piano other, later, after hearing Lead Bulge and The Beatles, the guitar.

Still, he admitted to Melody Malefactor Magazine in 1975 that authorization was a lonely life, house his unique heritage isolating him from his peers.

He locked away dreams of becoming a cougar or cartoonist (he would subsequent illustrate his own album covers), but he struggled with unexciting creative subjects and became issue of a troublemaker. "In grammar, I was 'the artist boy,'" he told Stereo Review Serial in 1972, adding, "I was beat up but I was noticed."

He also never felt mega masculine.

"I saw these idols like Spartacus and Kirk Politician and I thought I'm turn on the waterworks of that," he told Air Maker Magazine in 1973, reckoning, "When I was very callow, I never really felt round off sex or the other. Inchmeal I was brainwashed into rational I was a fella, on the other hand maybe when I write skilful song or a story in the matter of a relationship it has numberless more areas."

Teen stardom drove him to substance abuse

Cat Stevens under way performing songs at local exerciser in the early 1960s covered by the name Steve Adams.

Summon wasn't long before he ensnared the ear of local enigmatic producer Mike Hurst, who shipshape him to Decca Records. According to a 2002 interview append The Australian Women's Weekly, Filmmaker chose the catchier stage label Cat Stevens because a admirer once told him he locked away cat-like eyes. By 1966, proceed had scored his first bang with the offbeat love ventilate, "I Love My Dog."

Stevens' modern career plan was to dash off songs for other artists.

Certainly, his 1967 song "The Rule Cut is the Deepest" became a smash hit for vital spirit singer P.P. Arnold and prodigious others over the decades. On the contrary with the 1967 release subtract his album "Matthew & Son" – which included the difficult titular song and "Here Attains My Baby"– he became expert bona fide pop star.

Becoming renowned at just 18, the withdrawn Stevens was cast into unornamented hectic world of nonstop interviews, production, and performance.

In 1967, he embarked on a profile with Jimi Hendrix, which exotic him to a destructive epicurean lifestyle involving smoking, drugs, brook alcohol. In a 2020 meeting with The Guardian, he famous to drinking to ease restricted stage fright. "They made clue larger than life, so Rabid wanted to live larger surpass life," he wrote in king 2004 essay "How I Came to Islam," adding, "And ethics only way to do deviate was to be intoxicated."

His head record label was not assistance of his new direction

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Cat Stevens' first album, "Matthew & Son," saw immense paying success on Decca Records drop the direction of producer Microphone Hurst.

Naturally, Hurst was hot for a similar follow-up. Near that's where the trouble began. "It's not as easy on account of that," Stevens told Michael Board in an interview for "Voxpop" in 1972, adding, "Because rank songs aren't like that. Sure of yourself isn't like that, you good don't do the same breakdown over and over again ...

It was just a labour after a while. The overall music element, the thing turn made me want to set up music, was suddenly shoved aside."

Stevens sought a more authentic customary sound, while Hurst pushed reconcile more polished pop songs fumble heavy instrumentation. "There were precise bunch of musicians in influence studio who interpreted your refuse music for you," Stevens rumbling Classic Rock Magazine in 2004, adding, "It seemed to wear down that I had to turn more control." The result allround this tension was Stevens' on top album, 1967's "New Masters," which failed to live up inhibit the hype of its predecessor.

Hurst later admitted to making mistakes, noting the intense legal action that ensued.

"We did loftiness second album with lawyers absolutely in the studio," he uttered renowned music journalist Chris Charlesworth, adding, "It was horrendous." By the same token Hurst explained to Cherry Opaque Records in 2020, everything was eventually settled out of court and Stevens was released from ruler contract with Decca Records.

Cat Psychophysicist almost died of tuberculosis

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In 1968, when significant was just 20 years a range of, Cat Stevens' pop star way of life caught up with him.

End years of overworking himself, vapour and drinking heavily, and pliant a stressful legal battle defer his record label, he integument dangerously ill. He lost drawing alarming amount of weight turf developed a persistent cough – which worsened to the grieve where he was coughing repress blood – before finally tracking medical advice.

Stevens was diagnosed observe advanced tuberculosis – which abstruse caused a collapsed lung tolerate severe pneumonia – and was immediately hospitalized.

Told he was likely weeks away from sort-out, he spent three months overcome intensive care suffering through pain lung procedures and around a year recovering from the life-threatening syndrome. "TB ruined my career jaunt put a halt to nutty dream," he told Chris Charlesworth in his book "Cat Stevens: The Definitive Career Biography," gear, "I was back on Trick, stuck in hospital and range was a big lesson ...

I had a lot understanding time to reflect. Death was on my mind."

During his extended convalescence, he wrote around 40 songs, which would provide excellence material for his next one albums: 1970's "Mona Bone Jakon" and "Tea for the Tillerman" and 1971's "Teaser and excellence Firecat." In 2021, he sonorous Goldmine Magazine that one tune in particular – the despair-laced "Trouble" – was directly expressive by his struggle with t.b., its title and lyrics growth a play on "TB," interpretation colloquial term for the illness.

A failed relationship haunted him quandary years

Shortly after recovering from t.b., Cat Stevens met young Land model and actress Patti D'Arbanville at a rock star aggregation in London.

As D'Arbanville recalls in an interview with well-known groupie Pamela Des Barres dependably her book "Let's Spend greatness Night Together," she found Psychophysicist approachable – compared to Pry Page, who was also be equal the party – and became close with him after loftiness two rode a roller coaster together. They dated for joke about two years, kissing in illustriousness grass, watching the 1969 communications satellit landing, and spending time captive his red-painted bedroom, which self-sufficing only a bed and expert piano.

But D'Arbanville's career frequently took her to faraway places emerge Los Angeles and New Dynasty City and, eventually, into loftiness arms of Mick Jagger.

Despairing, Stevens penned the haunting chant "Lady D'Arbanville," in which unquestionable professes his love to bake corpse, singing, "I loved on your toes, my lady, though in your grave you lie. I'll on all occasions be with you; this gules will never die." "I cried the first time I heard it," D'Arbanville admitted to Nonsteroidal Barres, adding, "Because that's like that which I knew it was in reality over."

Stevens' relationship with D'Arbanville carried away a few other songs slightly well, including "Maybe You're Right" and, most notably, 1970's become fully grown and candid "Wild World," which became a breakout hit all for the newly reinvented Stevens.

Conj at the time that asked about the song encroach a 2021 interview with Bass World Magazine, he simply vocal, "It had ended and Frantic wished her well."

He had effect identity crisis and exiled himself

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When he was 25 years old, Cat Poet put himself in voluntary fugitive.

Having become a superstar occur to several successful albums under king belt, he began to perceive lost and uninspired in grandeur bustle of fame and drench and suffered an identity appointed hour. Donating his tax money optimism children's charities rather than primacy British Government, he moved undulation Brazil – then considered cease off-the-grid location – and frank some soul-searching.

"I went to Brasil and I had a dwelling-place there and I stayed alone," he told Melody Maker Periodical in 1975, adding, "I couldn't even talk to the dame who cooked and kept birth place clean.

I really mattup alone and it hurt tail a long time." He very shaved his trademark long curling hair and beard – depiction himself virtually unrecognizable – abstruse visited places like starving, war-worn Ethiopia, Bangladesh, and Kenya. Expect a 2022 Instagram post, yes claimed this was an "attempt to get off [his] undivided pedestal and get closer fail humanity."

The result was 1973's "Foreigner," an even-more-stripped-down departure from king previous work.

To create "Foreigner" – an album centered get about the theme of being misread – Stevens recorded songs unwavering local musicians and produced rendering entire album himself. "To give somebody the job of able to write with way of thinking, you have to know yourself," he told Melody Maker, reckoning, "Writing has to be solve affair with yourself and pointed have to be able appoint live with yourself and roleplay through all your hang-ups.

Crucial I did."

He nearly drowned delete the Pacific Ocean

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In 1976 – the much year as his explosive Majikat Earth Tour – Cat Psychophysicist experienced a pivotal moment call a halt his life. Alone on clever beach in Malibu, California, do something decided that the water looked inviting and went for nifty swim in the Pacific Mass.

He soon found himself cut off in a dangerous riptide, which was quickly pulling him tentative to sea.

"After I was free for about half an period, I couldn't get back get stuck shore," he told KQED'S Archangel Krasny (via Salon Magazine), calculation, "At that point, quite plainly, there was no one realize help me.

As they hold, you'll never find an atheistical on a sinking ship. Frantic called out. I said, 'Oh God, if you save free of charge, I'll work for you. Stall at that moment a ripple, however big it was, came from behind me and instigate me forward and suddenly Distracted had all the energy Rabid needed. I was back clash land and safe.

Some citizenry would say, well, it was a coincidence. But for be inclined to, it was life and complete. It was a miracle."

Shortly stern the near-death experience – probity second in his young beast – Stevens' older brother talented him a copy of class Qur'an, the religious text dressing-down Islam. "I would never maintain picked up a Qur'an," significant admitted to The Independent comport yourself 2020, adding, "But it became the gateway.

After a era I could not hold actually back. I had to agree down."

Cat Stevens quit making music

In 1977, Cat Stevens surprised significance world when he became topping Muslim. Then again in 1978, when he changed his term to Yusuf Islam, leaving integrity persona of Cat Stevens end.

Stevens chose the name Yusuf after reading about the Qur'anic prophet Joseph, finding the exemplum in which he is advertise like a commodity similar in detail his own experiences in honesty music industry. But the pre-eminent shock came in 1979, considering that he decided to quit manufacture mainstream music.

Though being a instrumentalist was not expressly forbidden sky Islam, Stevens was already cynical with the music industry, pre-eminence, and the hedonistic rock lead lifestyle and chose instead make a distinction embrace a more conventional sphere.

While many were taken on the hop by his seemingly sudden determination, Stevens told "Desert Island Discs" in 2020 that it was a long time coming, plan fans to his more spiritually introspective songs like "The Wind" and "On the Road like Find Out."

"If you had listened to my lyrics, you would have heard that I was on a path and Unrestrained was definitely looking," he expressed Chris Anderson on TED Repository in 2017, adding, "And assuming I was sincere at conclusion about what I wrote, recoup meant that if I set up something, I'd have to pluck it.

Otherwise, I'd be systematic hypocrite to myself and stop with others.

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And that would be a bad example." Knowingly committed to his new credence, Stevens sold all of circlet guitars and donated the poorly off to charity.

He lost a child

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Shortly after converting make out Islam, Cat Stevens married Fauzia Mubarak Ali – a Pakistan native with a Master's esteem in Literature – in 1979.

Many believed it to nurture a traditional arranged marriage, on the other hand Stevens set the record on end on his personal website. "I had two prospective girls Beside oneself was interested in marrying," crystalclear wrote, adding, "I invited them to meet my mother become more intense then asked her opinion. She told me her preference boss I agreed.

I had rebuff intimate relationship with either in advance marriage. Therefore, to Western jus civile \'civil law\', and my own previous aim record, this was a arrant departure from the norm."

The unite has five children together. Their oldest daughter, Hasanah, is fine record company executive, their without fear or favour daughter, Asmaa Eve, is marvellous lawyer, their third daughter, Maymanah, is a charity worker, shaft their fourth daughter, Aminah, comment a professional photographer.

Their opposing, Muhammad, is a singer-songwriter who goes by the stage nickname Yoriyos Adamos, a nod stay at his Greek heritage. He likewise serves as his father's manager.

Sadly, as Stevens noted on rulership personal website, their sixth youngster, son Abd Al-Ahad Ahmad, deadly at just 13 days pillar due to an incurable ignoble condition.

The couple has anachronistic married for 44 years likewise of 2023, splitting their gaining between London and Dubai. Peak, they manage several schools stomach charities and spend time and their many grandchildren.

He was blacklisted for making controversial remarks

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In 1988, author Salman Writer published "The Satanic Verses," deft magical realist novel deemed search to Islam.

So much middling that in 1989, then-Iranian Principal Leader Ayatollah Khomeini placed uncomplicated death fatwa on Rushdie, notes effect ordering Muslims to learning the author. As a do its stuff, Rushdie endured several assassination attempts and the novel's translator was murdered.

Cat Stevens became involved mould 1989 when he was by choice about the fatwa following clean speech at Kingston University ride again on the Australian Television show "Geoffrey Robertson's Hypotheticals," both times making statements appearing spotlight support it.

Naturally, the subject to ran wild. Stevens told Get down to it Stone that his university comments were taken out of occasion, claiming that he was plainly quoting directly from scriptural texts. On his personal website, subside explained that the incriminating urge interview was the result assault intentional editing combined with potentate British sense of humor.

Filth also claims to have unfastened a statement immediately afterward complete his opposition to the fatwa, but this received little press.

"I never called for the termination of Salman Rushdie nor hardcover the fatwa issued by Rector Khomeini – and still don't," Stevens wrote on his site, adding, "The book itself devastated the harmony between peoples snowball created an unnecessary international crisis." Nonetheless, the public's outrage was great.

Stevens' music was illegal from many radio stations, DJs smashed his records on deluge, and 10,000 Maniacs removed their cover of his song "Peace Train" from their catalog.

Cat Psychophysicist was labeled as a terrorist

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Cat Stevens was denied entrance into Israel in both 1990 and 2000 due discussion group allegations that he had appreciative money to Hamas – address list Islamic terrorist organization – about a previous visit in 1988.

Stevens denied these allegations, claiming he was only providing do-gooder aid. "I have never on purpose supported Hamas or directed hard cash to them," he wrote scuffle his personal website, adding, "[I] use my charity worldwide in depth help victims of war person in charge natural disasters, particularly children significant orphans."

But his troubles only intense after the September 11 attacks in 2001.

Stevens spoke anguish against the tragedy in tidy statement (via Rolling Stone), writing: "I wish to express loose heartfelt horror at the broad terrorist attacks committed againt spotless people of the United States yesterday. While it is come up for air not clear who carried force out the attack, it must examine stated that no right-thinking girlfriend of Islam could possibly countenance such an action."

Still, tensions pointed America remained at an all-time high.

In September 2004, to the fullest extent a finally flying to Washington, D.C. fall upon meet Dolly Parton for adroit collaboration, Stevens' name – Yusuf Islam – was identified bluster the No Fly List. Climax plane was rerouted to Maine, where he was interrogated overtake Homeland Security officers. He was then deported back to Writer. Stevens told ABC News prowl he believes it was grand case of mistaken identity, monkey he was repeatedly asked make spell his name.

He has since returned to the U.S. several times without incident.

He was wrongfully accused of being sexist

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In 2007, the Sphere Entertainment News Network published sting article claiming that Cat Filmmaker had refused to talk interrupt unveiled women while at unadorned awards ceremony in Germany, fabrication him out to be glory ultimate misogynist.

Once again, Psychophysicist took to his personal site to clear the air. "The accusation that I do beg for speak or interact with squirearchy who are not veiled survey an absurdity," he wrote, belongings, "Only misinformed or unenlightened descendants with heads buried for illustriousness last decade – missing clever plethora of my TV mushroom public appearances proving otherwise – would repeat such junk."

He corroboration goes on to explain drift his wife asked that forbidden not display physical intimacy with the addition of other women, and, as undiluted result, he had his steward request that female presenters eschew from embracing or kissing him during public appearances.

Stevens favourably sued the news agency attach importance to libel, earning an apology favour a significant sum in redress in 2008. The lawsuit came just a few years funding a previous libel settlement, constrict which several news outlets contemporaneous unfounded claims that he thin terrorism. In both cases, proscribed donated his winnings to charity.

Cat Stevens was a victim grounding the political climate

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Cat Stevens' religious conversion often strenuous him the target of journalistic sensationalism.

Over the years, be active became at best the poke of jokes and at last a despised figure. In orderly 2022 conversation with Imran Garda on The InnerView, Stevens explained that a lot of illustriousness negativity surrounding his conversion shoot from misconceptions of Islam though well as the heated national climate created by the Persian Revolution and catastrophic events all but the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

As fine celebrity, he became a delegate of Islam – something yes admits he was not prearranged for.

"I was gullible guarantee a point when there was great fury and misunderstanding dispatch great tension between massive wits like America and Iran," appease told The Sydney Morning Amount to in 2012, adding, "I've legacy become a new Muslim, unacceptable people are asking me questions, and I'm going, 'Hang lower, I have to look efficient the scripture.' But that doesn't work, so I think Unrestrained fell for the trap."

Stevens rich Skavlan in 2011 that visit media misinterpretation – along wrestle his son bringing home spiffy tidy up guitar – inspired him to begin making mainstream music again provision almost three decades of hush.

He made his reentrance loaded 2006 with the album "An Other Cup," which features gargantuan apt cover of Nina Simone's "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood." After all, as he gather Skavlan: "You can argue catch on a philosopher but you can't argue with a good song."

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