In an interview with oe24, the Austropop giant reveals how he is really feeling after his stay in the hospital.
The Austropop Emperor recently had to be treated in hospital for five days due to an infection in his foot. There he was checked well and some other health issues emerged.
After the concert cancellations, his fans were happier than ever when they found out that the performances would be rescheduled. Wolfgang Ambros is back on stage – at the big comeback appearance he met AUSTRIA for a big conversation about his health, the future and music.
Wolfgang Ambros in the big AUSTRIA talk
AUSTRIA: How are you currently?
Ambros: It works. What can I say, not 100 percent yet. I still feel my cross brutally – I don’t know what all came together. I have anemia, my heart just needs a few needles…
AUSTRIA: Do you need surgery?
Ambros: A pacemaker. But it hasn’t been decided yet. In three months I’ll do the same examination again (note, a 24-hour ECG) at the AKH because they have a great heart ward and then we’ll see if it’s really as tragic as they make it out to be. (…) It surprised me so much because I’ve never had anything on my heart. Liver, kidney, and I only have one kidney, but now suddenly – here a little something and there a little something and I couldn’t explain it.
AUSTRIA: But this all only came out during the check?
Ambros: Yes. What was happening was already clear, because otherwise I wouldn’t have been standing there like that. First they called the rescue and I said: ‘I’m not going with the rescue! I have to perform today, we can do that tomorrow too!’. But then I couldn’t get up anymore.
AUSTRIA: You also spoke relatively openly on stage about your condition…
Ambros: Why not? People want to know. Why shouldn’t I do that?
AUSTRIA: There was a lot of sympathy from the fans when you had to go to the hospital.
Ambros: Yes! Simply because I’ve never been sick! (laughs) I hope we can get this under control. If I have to, I’ll have a stent and a pacemaker inserted.
AUSTRIA: Was your internist really that strict?
Ambros: She did an autologous blood infusion back then, but I didn’t feel much of it. But it’s good when you know someone like that.
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AUSTRIA: How do you go on stage with such prospects?
Ambros: You think about it most of the time and you just want to know what’s going on. But it will be okay again.
AUSTRIA: Let’s talk about something positive: your duet with Christina Sturmer has almost a million YouTube views.
Ambros: The people are bad! People cry…but the song isn’t sad. On April 11th I will also sing it with Christina in Salzburg.
AUSTRIA: Are you thinking of new songs?
Ambros: I don’t know. I don’t know it. I don’t really feel like it. Just so there’s something new? That doesn’t have to be the case. I’m really fed up with what I’ve already done. But maybe it will come back.
AUSTRIA: They changed the program a bit – new old songs. Do you want to experiment a bit?
Ambros: Yes, because I also have a demand on myself: not to do the same thing over and over again. We deleted three and added seven.
AUSTRIA: They also sing about the stupid voter who votes for Kickl three times…
Ambros: In the original it was Haider. Kickl is worse.
AUSTRIA: Are you afraid that Kickl will win the election?
Ambros: What does fear mean? What would that change? Let’s see if it’s really something to be afraid of. (…) he should rule someday. As Interior Minister he was a complete mess. Nobody really wants anything to do with him.
AUSTRIA: “What do you say to the beer party?”
Ambros: I really like Pogo. The question is, what can be expected from him? It would be a nice surprise if he had a program and could make it known. A young and non-dependent one wouldn’t be the worst.
AUSTRIA: You said in one of our last interviews that you have no contact with your children, has that changed?
Ambros: No, I tried hard, I did everything humanly possible and nothing came of it. The children are probably the least responsible. They’re 14 now. It’s not that easy anymore. Now I would probably have to wait again until they are adults, 21 maybe. Now it’s pointless.
AUSTRIA: Are you still in contact with Rainhard Fendrich?
Ambros: He now has this woman and has sorted out the old friends he still had, but that’s how it should be.
AUSTRIA: How was your birthday in the hospital?
Ambros: I don’t know anymore. The next day they all congratulated me, the sisters, and said what a shame it was that I felt so bad.
Interview: Thomas Zeidler-Künz