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'I nearly ended it all after my rise to fame was killed off by a botched hair transplant': Former West End star reveals how he was left suicidal by bungled op.
Simon Pearce mixed with stars like Liza Min and Frank Sinatra and was Considered for Steps but chronic fatigue syndrome made his hair fall out.
He is now planning his comeback after looks restored. Simon Pearce was once on the brink of stardom. A former disco-dancing champion, the Welsh actor and singer was a star of West End musicals such as Cats and Starlight Express and had landed a modelling contract in New York.
He appeared on stage with Liza Minnelli and mixed with A-listers like Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davies Jnr. But just as Simon was about to hit the big time and be offered a part in a new group that was being put together - pop band sensation Steps - it all ended.
The once-superfit star, used to jumping around on a stage for hours every night, could barely move. He felt lethargic, had no energy and could barely drag himself out of the house. Worse still for someone in a profession which relies on looks as well as talent and personality, his hair began to fall out in huge clumps.
Well-meaning friends put it down to stress over the loss of his mother who had recently died, but Simon knew it was more than that. However doctors were baffled.
In the meantime, Simon was desperate to restore his failing locks and went to a clinic for a hair transplant. 'I was so worried about my health and what was happening to my hair,' recalls Simon, now 47. But it left me with terrible scars. It affected my confidence and my career and my hair still kept coming out.
The UK surgeon who carried out the operation later went out of business, but Simon is philosophical. 'I didn't complain as I'm not that type of person, but I do believe in karma, and what goes around comes around,' he says. 'I just don't think the man knew what he was doing.'
He had to turn down the chance to sign up to Steps and was unable to work any more due to his weakness.
He was further hit by tragedy, as his father passed away and then his brother, former British heavyweight boxing champion Dave Pearce, died at the age of just 41.
It took five years for Simon to be finally diagnosed with ME, or chronic fatigue syndrome. Now living in Newport, Wales, Simon is taking medication for his condition which has made a great difference to his health.
He has had his hair fixed via a technique called Scalp Micro-Pigmentation, which involved using pigmentation to cover over his scars to hide them, the procedure was performed at HIS in Birmingham.
I was doing so well when I fell ill, but now I'm determined to rekindle what I had,' says Simon.
When it was all going downhill, I was as low as I could possibly be. I did feel like not going on, to be honest - people with chronic fatigue syndrome have committed suicide. But I've had an inner strength and believe that good things do come out of the bad times.
I wouldn't be the person I am today without the things that have happening to me, and now I just want to get on with my life.'
Currently single, Simon spends his time concentrating on his song-writing and contacting his old friends in the industry to let them know that he is ready for his comeback.
'It's a big step for me, but now I just want to get on with my life.' he says.
Simon Pearce mixed with stars like Liza Min and Frank Sinatra and was Considered for Steps but chronic fatigue syndrome made his hair fall out.
He is now planning his comeback after looks restored. Simon Pearce was once on the brink of stardom. A former disco-dancing champion, the Welsh actor and singer was a star of West End musicals such as Cats and Starlight Express and had landed a modelling contract in New York.
He appeared on stage with Liza Minnelli and mixed with A-listers like Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davies Jnr. But just as Simon was about to hit the big time and be offered a part in a new group that was being put together - pop band sensation Steps - it all ended.
The once-superfit star, used to jumping around on a stage for hours every night, could barely move. He felt lethargic, had no energy and could barely drag himself out of the house. Worse still for someone in a profession which relies on looks as well as talent and personality, his hair began to fall out in huge clumps.
Well-meaning friends put it down to stress over the loss of his mother who had recently died, but Simon knew it was more than that. However doctors were baffled.
In the meantime, Simon was desperate to restore his failing locks and went to a clinic for a hair transplant. 'I was so worried about my health and what was happening to my hair,' recalls Simon, now 47. But it left me with terrible scars. It affected my confidence and my career and my hair still kept coming out.
The UK surgeon who carried out the operation later went out of business, but Simon is philosophical. 'I didn't complain as I'm not that type of person, but I do believe in karma, and what goes around comes around,' he says. 'I just don't think the man knew what he was doing.'
He had to turn down the chance to sign up to Steps and was unable to work any more due to his weakness.
He was further hit by tragedy, as his father passed away and then his brother, former British heavyweight boxing champion Dave Pearce, died at the age of just 41.
It took five years for Simon to be finally diagnosed with ME, or chronic fatigue syndrome. Now living in Newport, Wales, Simon is taking medication for his condition which has made a great difference to his health.
He has had his hair fixed via a technique called Scalp Micro-Pigmentation, which involved using pigmentation to cover over his scars to hide them, the procedure was performed at HIS in Birmingham.
I was doing so well when I fell ill, but now I'm determined to rekindle what I had,' says Simon.
When it was all going downhill, I was as low as I could possibly be. I did feel like not going on, to be honest - people with chronic fatigue syndrome have committed suicide. But I've had an inner strength and believe that good things do come out of the bad times.
I wouldn't be the person I am today without the things that have happening to me, and now I just want to get on with my life.'
Currently single, Simon spends his time concentrating on his song-writing and contacting his old friends in the industry to let them know that he is ready for his comeback.
'It's a big step for me, but now I just want to get on with my life.' he says.
