Piano Man

[llamaman]

The identity (sort of) of the Piano Man. He was released from hospital.

https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/kent/4172662.stm

When asked to speak he said: "Yes. I think I will."

[xvimbi]

The identity (sort of) of the Piano Man. He was released from hospital.

https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/kent/4172662.stm

When asked to speak he said: "Yes. I think I will."

Actually, he said "Ja, ich denke, das werde ich tun". So, now they assume he is German, and he's already back in Germany. Also, he never played the piano. How the rumor got started that he was an accomplished pianist is unclear as he can't play at all. When confronted with a piece of paer for the first time, he simply drew a piano, baceuse that was the first thing that came to his mind.

So, this is the wrong forum to discuss this story

[stevie]

a stunning virtuoso performance eh? 

[thalbergmad]

If he didn't play the piano why was he given a keyboard. I saw the the photo in the local paper.

This irritates me as i was in the same nuthouse as this man and i never got anything.

[pianistimo]

are you kidding?  i mean schumann had this mental thing and still was a genius.  schizophrenia is really alienating.  my uncle had this.  don't know if piano man did, but i still feel badly for him.  sometimes i wonder about diet.  they often dole out pills, but perhaps a healthy diet would get some back on track. 

it seems that very smart people often have a lot to deal with mentally and almost need a sort of 'mentor' to remind them to eat and take care of themselves.  they get into whatever they are doing and forget the basics of self-care.  of course, if he truly was purposely not speaking, to get attention - that's almost an illness too - well depression IS an illness.

[thalbergmad]

A helathy diet and the National Health service are words which i do not normally place too closely together.

When i was in the asylum, my mum came in every day with food parcels.

However, there were no shortage of pils. I had to take so many, i sounded like a rattlesnake when i went for a jog.

[pianistimo]

i feel for you immensely.  (no porcorina stuff ok)  my daughter was playing 'shoot the kitten out of the cannon' on the computer (under addicting games, no less) this morning - and i sufferred from watching the first shot and the sad little 'meow' and then no sound.  how can people be so cruel?  i am very gullible with people and animals and will not tolerate cruelty (pill stuffing) or any sort of inhumane treatment of either. 

your mom sounds like a really nice mom.  i only got one food package in my lifetime and it was at college.  maybe...   well, she does send other stuff even now.  sometimes really bizarre stuff.  in fact, sometimes i have wondered.  like instructions on colon cleansing, juice concoctions, lymphatic massage, health books, etc.  she knows i don't care a whit about this stuff an think i'd turn green if i tried them.  she is convinced they work and that everyone should try it.  but, then there's the occasional check (i shouldn't say this) or really cool stuff for the kids to do.

[jeremyjchilds]

He doesent play the piano, what a scam

[Appenato]

Play me a song, you're the piano man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bouter Boogie]

He doesent play the piano, what a scam

You can say that again

[llamaman]

How did he go from a virtuosic performance to playing one note? Maybe it was the one note symphony?

[bernhard]

How did he go from a virtuosic performance to playing one note? Maybe it was the one note symphony?

The hospital staff had probably been listening to a lot of John Cage, Finnissy, etc.

[dinosaurtales]

The hospital staff had probably been listening to a lot of John Cage, Finnissy, etc.

ROTFLMAO!!!!

[thalbergmad]

The hospital staff had probably been listening to a lot of John Cage, Finnissy, etc.

Perhaps they were in the same ward.

[leahcim]

He was supposed to have written music down that was verified as accurate too according to one article on the BBC news site.

The paper said something about them trying to get the money he's cost them back by suing him.

Which doesn't make sense - he didn't say "Hi, I'm a virtuoso pianist with such and such mental health problems" - so why when he turns out to be a suicidal gay German is he a sham? Because he can't play the piano? Trying to kill yourself suggests a mental health issue - perhaps the tablets they give are cheaper for suicide than mad musician or something.

Doesn't say much for them that they can't tell the difference. 'Yes, he's a fruitcake alright', said Michael Camp, social worker, 'and I'll stake the reputation of social workery on it...as I said to Dorothy earlier, that last couple we met have problems, but they're looking after that child's leg as best they can...and their explanation that their gran had taken the rest of the baby out seemed reasonable..it's time people recognised our good work'

[da jake]

i feel for you immensely.  (no porcorina stuff ok)  my daughter was playing 'shoot the kitten out of the cannon' on the computer (under addicting games, no less) this morning - and i sufferred from watching the first shot and the sad little 'meow' and then no sound.  how can people be so cruel?  i am very gullible with people and animals and will not tolerate cruelty (pill stuffing) or any sort of inhumane treatment of either. 

I was playing that just last week! Fun stuff. My record is 1,997 feet. What's hers? 

[Jacey1973]

I don't really understand. So he wasn't a concert pianist after all? I read the report and i don't get why the hospital staff would call his performance "virtuosic" if he was apprently only playing one note continuously? He must have been able to play a little more than that?

I can't believe he's only 20 too, poor guy. Well the whole "piano man" thing is a romantic story i guess, and if he was a concert pianist after all -perhaps a warning to all on piano forumers that - you must take regular breaks when practising, otherwise you may end up in a foreign country with no recollection of who you are!

I hope i never suffer any mental illness, it is so scary to see what it can do to people. The mind is a strange and wonderful thing for sure.

[bernhard]

Apparently he is a virtuoso of the accordion (serious )

[Jacey1973]

Well he's German....that says it all......

[phi]

Well he's German....that says it all......

I am offended by this. But you are right about mental illness. It sucks for sure.