British rocker Vini Reilly has vowed to "give something back" to the fans and well wishers who handed over money to help pay his bills after health issues left him struggling to play his guitar.
The Durutti Column frontman was hospitalised in 2010 after suffering a series of seizures and strokes, and he later admitted he was struggling to record tracks for a new album as he had lost some feeling in his left hand.
His nephew Matt Reilly revealed over the holiday season that the veteran musician was $1,920 (£1,200) in debt and could barely afford his rent and grocery bills, and he launched an online fundraising campaign for his uncle.
Fans flocked to donate to Reilly, and helped raised enough to help cover his expenses, and the star is adamant he will do all he can to repay them for their generosity.
He says, "At first I was so utterly overwhelmed by the enormity and extent and the generosity and kindness and practical assistance that people have given me that it threw me a little. I felt humbled.
"I have their names and contact details of the people who donated and I'm looking at ways to give something back to these incredibly loyal people.
"Their help has enabled me to keep hold of my home and clear debts... The acts of kindness that have been given to me by people who like my music have given me a fresh and more hopeful outlook and refreshed my belief in the basic decency that human beings are capable of showing each other.
"They have shown me kindness, empathy, love and affection, which is reciprocated. It's hard to overstate how much this has helped, with the fans stepping in to initiate this, and my nephew facilitating it. I was skeptical that anything would happen, but this has been a life-changing moment for me, so that I can now reclaim my power of making music so that I can carry on playing my silly tunes for wonderful people."
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