Disappearing folk singer Shelagh McDonald in comeback bid after living rough for decades

By Shelagh McDonald stood on the verge of superstardom after releasing her second album Stargazer to great critical acclaim in 1971, but sparked a mystery when she vanished off the face of the Earth, however she is now said to be keen on recording new material. The singer was compared to folk rock legends Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell, but after a bad LSD trip left her voice in tatters she disappeared and took to living in a tent and travelling from place to place with her husband for decades. She only re-emerged to tell her story in 2005 after some of her work was reissued by a record company without her permission. She told journalists at the time that the tragic drug trip had rendered her vocals useless. However, after the death of her husband Gordon earlier this year, Mrs McDonald is reported to have begun singing again, although her voice is significantly lower than it used to be. McDonald is now reportedly planning some low-key gigs in the hope of recording new material in future.
Published on 09/12/2012 16:57

A Scottish folk singer who mysteriously disappeared in 1971 is making a comeback after ruining her voice and living a bizarre nomadic existence for 40 years.

Shelagh McDonald stood on the verge of superstardom after releasing her second album Stargazer to great critical acclaim in 1971, but sparked a mystery when she vanished off the face of the Earth, however she is now said to be keen on recording new material.

The singer was compared to folk rock legends Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell, but after a bad LSD trip left her voice in tatters she disappeared and took to living in a tent and travelling from place to place with her husband for decades.

She only re-emerged to tell her story in 2005 after some of her work was reissued by a record company without her permission. She told journalists at the time that the tragic drug trip had rendered her vocals useless.

However, after the death of her husband Gordon earlier this year, Mrs McDonald is reported to have begun singing again, although her voice is significantly lower than it used to be. McDonald is now reportedly planning some low-key gigs in the hope of recording new material in future.