Singer Sinéad O'Connor is retiring from the music business at the age of 36, she has announced on her website, saying she has grown tired of being famous.
Addressing her fans, the singer who once gained notoriety by tearing up a picture of the Pope on live television says she plans to retire in July. A spokeswoman for O'Connor's label Vanguard Records said the statement on the website was authentic, but did not give further details.
O'Connor recently called off a number of concerts in Europe with the British group Massive Attack, citing health problems.
The last recordings she will make will be a track for American country star Dolly Parton's tribute album and a track for accordionist Sharon Shannon's forthcoming album.
She will also release a DVD of a live show and documentary in July entitled Goodnight, thank you. You've been a lovely audience.
"I would request that as of July, since I seek no longer to be a 'famous person' and instead I wish to live a 'normal' life, could people please afford me my privacy," she says.
This means, she adds, that she does not want her name or anyone connected with her "exploited" by newspapers.
"I also mean that [with love] I want to be like any other person in the street and not have people say 'there is Sinéad O'Connor' as I am a very shy person, believe it or not," she writes on the website.
She advises anyone who loves a "so-called celebrity" to ignore them in the street, not to stare at them, take their picture or bang on restaurant windows if they are inside.
O'Connor's biggest hit was a haunting version of the Prince song Nothing Compares to U.
Frank Sinatra threatened to "kick her ass" after she would not appear at a show in New Jersey if the US national anthem was played prior to her performance.
In 1999, rebel bishop Pat Buckley ordained her in Lourdes as a priest in the controversial Latin Tridentine Church. Subsequently O'Connor, baptised a Catholic, styled herself as "Mother Bernadette Mary".
- (AFP)