On Saturday night, David Cassidy performed at the Canyon Club in Agoura Hills, CA and, from the videos that surfaced, it certainly appeared he was intoxicated.
In now seems that Cassidy has been harboring a secret, that he’s suffering from early-stage dementia. Sources say he did not have anything to drink on Saturday before the show and that his slurred speech was directly from the disease.
Cassidy revealed the situation to People, telling him that both his grandfather and mother suffered from the disease. He told the magazine, “I was in denial, but a part of me always knew this was coming.”
Based on this new revelation, his announcement on Saturday, saying his Sunday show would be his last, may make more sense. His website still lists shows for March and June but he told People “I want to focus on what I am, who I am and how I’ve been without any distractions. I want to love. I want to enjoy life.”
Cassidy came to prominence as the lead in The Partridge Family scoring hits with songs like I Think I Love You, Doesn’t Somebody Want to Be Wanted and I’ll Meet You Halfway. After the show was cancelled, he went solo with his biggest hits being covers of songs like Cherish and How Can I Be Sure.
David is one in a long recent line of veteran artists who have announced that they have dementia or Alzheimer’s including Glen Campbell and the late Bobby Vee.