The
Mirror, Thursday July 26th 2001 Cerys In rehab Troubled star checks into booze clinic after collapse By POLLY GRANAM
CATATONIA star Cerys Matthews has secretly checked into a
drying out clinic
after admitting she has a drink problem.
The singer, notorious for her booze binges and hardliving was admitted to a
rehab centre on Tuesday after collapsing with exhaustion.
Friends blamed her breakdown on the bands hectic schedule. The 32-year-old
has pulled out of all work commitments for at least two weeks.
A spokesman at her record company WEA said: "Cerys is receiving treatment
for exhaustion and a recurrent asthma complain. Both of which have been
exacerbated by drinking and smoking. She fully expects to be back fighting
fit very soon.
A friend added.. "She couldn't take it any more and felt she needed help
'Cerys is the front woman of the band and has had to take most of the burden
of promoting her new single Stone by Stone, released on Monday, as well as
the new album.
The strain has been too much for her. She had to admit defeat.
Catatonia have now cancelled their appearance at radio 1's One Big Sunday in
Plymouth.
This is not Cery's first breakdown. She suffered severe depression in 1999,
forcing the band to call off a US tour.
She said "I had a bit of a breakdown and had to stop. I've never denied
I
work hard and play hard."
The Cardiff-born singer - who has duetted with Tom Jones - is a regular on
the party scene and is rarely seen without a glass in her hand.
She landed herself in hot water two years ago when she condoned drug
pushers.
In a music magazine interview she was asked "If you discovered your closest
friend was a heroin dealer, what would you do?"
She replied "I’d get some stuff off them cheaply. I think there's
worse
things in the world."
It's unlikely Cerys will enjoy her time in rehab. She once said "I'm spooked
out by counsellors"
