The official Ashley Bruce news
23rd Feb 2000
I came out of the op...
As Ashley Bruce lay critically ill in a hospital bed with a priest at his side he could never have predicted what the future would hold.
He had always been a keen musician but an almost fatal brain haemorrhage in December 1998 led to the discovery of a musical talent even he did not know he possessed.
'I can't even begin to explain how much it changed my life,' said former Launceston College pupil Ashley.
'It's heightened my creativity completely, I'm writing songs all day. This just happened, I couldn't lie about it. I actually find it quite weird talking about it because it's so difficult to explain.
'It started just after I had the brain haemorrhage. I remember coming out of the operation and I could hear notes in my head.
'Later, someone bought me my guitar and that's how The Man Inside My Head came about.'
Less than four weeks after the original brain haemorrhage, Ashley suffered a blood clot on his brain and needed two more critical operations, yet just as the experience gave him an added boost to his talents it also gave him the determination to succeed.
'I really did think I was going to die and it is truly an experience that changed my life forever,' said Ashley, who describes his style as a cross between Robbie Williams, Gary Barlow and Ronan Keating.
'You can't be that ill - I mean a priest was called to my bed - and not be affected.
'It taught me that life's too short, this is not a dress rehearsal and if you want something you've got to go for it.'
Ashley never returned to his job as a salesman after his brush with death which saw him spend five weeks lying flat on his back in intensive care, unable to walk, write or swallow.
Instead he signed up with the Cornwall-based Stone Multi-Media company and began writing songs with executive producer Dave Freeman.
Dave said: 'He has every attribute you could need, a great voice, writing talent, a love of life and, more importantly, this charisma that surrounds a star.
'You can't put your finger on it there's just something about him.
'There's a magic to Ashley that makes writing with him a pleasure.'
Ashley has already recorded at least six songs in a Cornish studio for his first album, Look At Me I'm Flying, with many more in the pipeline. Now he is in negotiations with some of the world's top record labels and his first single The Man Inside My Head looks set to be released this year.
He is also planning to release a song in aid of Animal Line, Carla Lane's charity, after becoming close friends with the acclaimed writer, who penned the hit comedy Bread, over the last few months.
Ashley, who had to re-learn to play the guitar after losing the use of three fingers on his left hand, spent last week touring independent radio stations and is due to appear on the This Morning show with Richard and Judy shortly.
From this week he is also the first face surfers will see when they log onto the People Sound website on the Internet, where photos of the singer, songwriter, pianist and guitarist combine with four of his tunes.
Ashley has his heart set on a number one chart hit this year and whatever happens is determined to enjoy the experience.
'It's a dream come true. I want to be in music for a long time.'
To see and hear rising star Ashley log on to his website at www.peoplesound/ artist/ashleybruce.
