Ask:
Reports: Wiggles vocalist may quit due to illness
POSTED: 8:50 a.m. EST, November 29, 2006
Adjust font size:
Decrease fontDecrease font
Enlarge fontEnlarge font
SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- The hugely popular children's group The Wiggles is expected this week to announce the departure of its lead singer because of a serious illness, media reports said Wednesday.
The Australian group has reportedly scheduled a press conference for Thursday in the western city of Perth to make a "major announcement relating to members of the group," according to the Sydney Morning Herald, Australian Associated Press and the online edition of Sydney's The Daily Telegraph newspaper.
The reports said the group was likely to announce the departure of the "Yellow Wiggle," Greg Page, who has been frequently absent from touring since undergoing a double hernia operation in December.
The 34-year-old known for his bright yellow T-shirt has been undergoing medical treatment since June after experiencing fainting spells and lethargy, the reports said.
Calls to the group's publicist were not immediately returned Wednesday.
The Wiggles were Australia's top-earning entertainers last year, ahead of No. 2 AC/DC and No. 3 Nicole Kidman. The four men in brightly colored T-shirts, accompanied by a cast of characters including Dorothy the Dinosaur and Wags the Dog, grossed $39 million last year.
Page, who was replaced by an understudy when he pulled out of The Wiggles' U.S. tour in July, reportedly said he needed to rest and seek medical advice for the fainting spells.
"I have had numerous bouts of this over the past eight months but they are getting more frequent, and more concerning," he was quoted as saying by The Daily Telegraph. "So I have decided that I must go home, rest and seek further medical advice to assure myself that I will be OK for future tours."
Publicist Dianna O'Neill told The Sydney Morning Herald that doctors had not been able to identify Page's illness.
Page helped found The Wiggles in 1991 after he and two other members met while studying early childhood education at Sydney's Macquarie University.
The group has franchised its enormously popular recipe to several non-English speaking countries, including Taiwan.
My heart is literally breaking. I love these guys! My sweet ds will be devetated!!
Answer:
I hope that he is truly OK. It sounds like once he is well he has some interest in possibly coming back.
It won't be the same without him
Answer:
From what I am still getting from the news, they think it may be cancer. I'm literally devetated over this. THe Wiggles have brought so much joy into our home and my Ds's life!
Answer:
I just read this and was about to post. This is tragic at our house. I have to admit, we saw them last July and this July and there was an obvious change in Greg's appearance. My dh and I commented that he did not look well. We even came home and looked him up to see if there was something wrong.
I am really sad about this as my kids are big Wiggles fans. I did read that it is not cancer, but another illness.
Answer:
This is so sad. Someone who is good for kids. I do hope he recovers. The Wiggles just won't be the same without him!
Answer:
That is awful. I feel so sorry for him and his family. My youngest ds was Wiggle crazy! He has outgrown it a bit now. I hope he gets well soon.
Answer:
I PRAY that he recovers quickly and is able to come back. I love the Wiggles just as much as my kids do and he will be missed!
Answer:
Oh wow. . . I was sad to read that. I hope he is able to recover. Replacing him would just be so strange!
Answer:
Really sad news!
Answer:
THis is sad news. My two youngest dd's LOVE the wiggles. Even my six year dd will get into it with them. It will not be the same if he doesn't come back. I do hope that they are able to help him get better