ME AND MY HEALTH - BRIAN KENNEDY

How much sleep do you need?

How much sleep do you need?

I seem able to exist on anything from six to eight hours, but I seem to need more than that, especially on tour. I might come off stage and be buzzing at midnight which makes it hard to get to sleep, then the next morning I have travel, TV, radio and constant interviews on mobile phones.

Do you take much exercise?

A lot. At 8 a.m. most mornings I'm out running. I do between five and 10 miles every day, it depends on how tired I am and what country I'm in. Wherever I am I put on my running shoes, shorts and T shirt and off I go.

READ MORE

It really helps stamina on the stage where general fitness and breathing are so important. I also find running Quite relaxing in that my brain has to think of other things. I feel bad if I don't do it. I was profoundly asthmatic as a child, and even into adulthood, but since I've been running it has completely disappeared.

Are you an early morning person?

Yes. I'm awake anything between eight-ish and later, depending on what I was doing the night before.

Are you careful about what you eat?

Very careful. I'm completely off dairy products.

Do you drink or smoke too much?

I never smoked anything at all and I rarely drink alcohol. I do if I have something to celebrate - I like to celebrate - and then it has to be a fabulous champagne or a gorgeous red wine. Champagne is a great drink to get drunk on and a glass or two before bed is wonderful. Other than that, I take a lot of water. Peppermint tea is my favourite drink on stage.

Is there any food you hate?

Tuna.

Have you ever been in hospital?

Many years ago I had a weird condition known as OsgoodSchlatter's disease [painful enlargement of the shin just below the knee] which I understand is common among teenagers who are developing too quickly. When I was 13 I had to spend nine months in plaster of Paris from my ankles to the tops of my thighs and after that, I was in a wheelchair and had to learn to walk again. You'd never know it now to see me pounding the roads and I've never had any trouble at all.

Does your work make you stressed?

Of course. It would have to be when you are as emotionally involved in your career as I am, given that music is the language of emotional expression. Then there is the business end of it, the expectations, the concerts, the emotionally draining performances. On the last tour we did 38 shows in a row, with one night off for every three shows. On days off you were being interviewed and doing radio and TV. It's very, very stressful but I really love it.