music
‘The knickers that get thrown are bigger now!’: Barry Manilow on fans, love, coming out
The great showman has spent the last 50 years on stage, followed by his adoring “fanilows” - but he’s not slowing down yet. Here, he talks about cancer, ridicule and roaring success
TL;DR
- Barry Manilow, 82, recently underwent successful treatment for lung cancer, which had not spread.
- He clarifies that his single 'Once Before I Go' and its video were not intended as a farewell, but rather an accidental-seeming goodbye to his Las Vegas residency.
- Manilow expresses that he considers himself a musician and arranger rather than a performer or singer, and feels he was thrust into the spotlight unexpectedly.
- He recounts enduring 15 years of relentless and harsh criticism from the press regarding his music and appearance.
- Manilow discusses his upbringing in Brooklyn, his relationship with his mother Edna, and his eventual coming out as gay in 2017, noting that it was not a surprise to most people.
- Despite past threats to quit, Manilow is preparing for a new album and tour, driven by his passion for creating and performing for his dedicated 'fanilows'.