Until the end, Arno insisted on going on stage. Last February, the singer who died on Saturday April 23 had pronounced a moving sentence during one of his last concerts.
He fought for years but had no more hope. This Saturday, April 23, singer Arno died at the age of 72 from pancreatic cancer. “He will be missed by all of us, his family, his friends, his musicians but he will always be there thanks to the music that kept him going until the end”, announced his agent. Since 2018, the Belgian had been fighting against the disease. Combative, he continued to record songs and perform in front of his fans. Last March, he was still on stage, where he pronounced a moving sentence. “I’m going to visit my mother soon (who died when he was 24)”he said, as reported by the Parisian. Forced to cancel several dates because of his state of health, Arno recorded a posthumous album until the end, in particular by sharing a duet with Mireille Mathieu.
But the Belgian had no illusions. “In the state where I am… the past no longer exists”, he launched on the airwaves of France Inter on March 23. And to add: “I had a wonderful life, I traveled all over the world thanks to music, it gave me pleasure in life. I enjoyed life. I take this happiness with me. Thank you life! But now, in my state… Today is the most important”. Nearby ParisianArno explained that he had “spent five months in hospital” and having to use a “Baxter (an infusion) for [s]’feed” sometimes. Tired, exhausted by his fight, he had stopped his treatments. “I’ve lost a lot of people around me lately. But it’s part of life: everyone knows that, and in the state I’m in, I accept”, he confided on the airwaves of France Inter.
Arno: his last wish respected
Although he knew he was doomed by his cancer, Arno never lost his sense of humor. Like when The Parisian was surprised that his voice hadn’t changed despite the heavy treatments he was taking. “But I lost weight. I’m a Chippendale nowhe then retorted. I bought thongs at Ikea on sale, ten for 5 euros, in leopard, peas, shrimp. And yet, I am allergic to shrimp.” Happy to have been able to be on stage, where he preferred to be, almost to the end, Arno found the strength to record a final album, entitled Live, which should be released next June. After the announcement of his death, his hometown of Ostend “in mourning” saluted “a living legend”, “one of its main ambassadors”. As he had requested, the artist’s ashes will be scattered in the North Sea to the sound of Like A Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan.
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© Guillaume Gaffiot
3/12 –
Arno
“He will be missed by all of us, his family, his friends, his musicians, but he will always be there thanks to the music that kept him going until the end”, announced his agent.
© Guillaume Gaffiot
4/12 –
Arno
Since 2018, the Belgian had been fighting against the disease. Combative, he continued to record songs and perform in front of his fans
© Guillaume Gaffiot
5/12 –
Arno
Last March, he was still on stage, where he pronounced a moving sentence
© JLPPA
6/12 –
Arno
“I’m going to visit my mother soon (who died when he was 24),” he said, as reported by Le Parisien
© ALAIN ROLLAND
7/12 –
Arno
Forced to cancel several dates because of his state of health, Arno recorded a posthumous album until the end, in particular by sharing a duet with Mireille Mathieu
© COADIC GUIREC
8/12 –
Arno
But the Belgian had no illusions
© AGENCY
9/12 –
Arno
“I had a wonderful life, I traveled all over the world thanks to music, it gave me pleasure in life. I enjoyed life. I take this happiness with me. Thank you life! But now, in my state… Today is the most important”
© AGENCY
10/12 –
Arno
Although he knew he was doomed by his cancer, Arno never lost his sense of humor
© CEDRIC PERRIN
11/12 –
Arno
Happy to have been able to be on stage, where he preferred to be, almost to the end, Arno found the strength to record a final album, entitled Vivre, which should be released next June.
© BERTRAND VANIER
12/12 –
Arno
As he had requested, the artist’s ashes will be scattered in the North Sea off his hometown to the sound of Like A Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan.