- Lewis Capaldi’s Tourette’s Battle: Why He Took a Break?, Lewis Capaldi quit music in 2023 due to worsening Tourette’s syndrome, anxiety, and burnout.
- His Glastonbury 2023 breakdown was the final straw, leading to a two-year hiatus.
- He used the time to focus on therapy, vocal health, and coping mechanisms.
- His 2025 comeback with Survive marks a powerful return, emphasizing mental health resilience.
Lewis Capaldi, the Scottish singer-songwriter behind heart-wrenching ballads like Someone You Loved and Before You Go, shocked fans in 2023 when he announced an indefinite hiatus from music.
After a triumphant return at Glastonbury 2025 with his new single Survive, the question remains: Why did Lewis Capaldi quit music in the first place?
The answer lies in his brave battle with Tourette’s syndrome, anxiety, and the overwhelming pressures of fame—a struggle he has openly shared with the world. Here’s an in-depth look at his journey, his hiatus, and his emotional comeback.
The Breaking Point: Glastonbury 2023
Capaldi’s last performance before his hiatus was at Glastonbury 2023, where he visibly struggled with vocal strain and Tourette’s tics. Midway through his set, his voice faltered, and the crowd stepped in, singing his lyrics for him in a moment that went viral for its raw emotion.
In a tearful Instagram post afterward, Capaldi wrote:
“The truth is I’m still learning to adjust to the impact of my Tourette’s, and on Saturday [at Glastonbury], it became obvious that I need to spend much more time getting my mental and physical health in order.”
He canceled his tour, admitting that three weeks of rest wasn’t enough to recover from the toll of touring, anxiety, and his neurological condition
The Real Reason: Mental Health & Tourette’s Syndrome
Capaldi was diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome in 2022, a neurological disorder causing involuntary tics. He revealed in his Netflix documentary How I’m Feeling Now that his symptoms worsened under stress, affecting his performances:
“When I’m excited, stressed, or happy, the tics come. Some days are more painful than others.”
Combined with severe anxiety, the pressure to perform became unbearable. In April 2023, he even told The Times:
“If it gets to a point where I’m doing irreparable damage to myself, I’ll quit.”
And that’s exactly what he did—stepping away to prioritize his well-being over fame.
The Comeback: Glastonbury 2025 & “Survive”
After two years of therapy, vocal rest, and self-reflection, Capaldi made a surprise return at Glastonbury 2025, declaring:
“I just wanted to come and finish what I couldn’t finish the first time round.”
His new single, Survive, reflects his struggles:
“Though it hurts sometimes, I’m gonna get up and live / Until the day that I die, I swear to God I’ll survive.”
Fans and critics hailed his performance as a triumph of resilience, proving that taking a break was the best decision he could have made.
Capaldi’s story is a testament to the importance of self-care, even at the peak of success. As he told fans at Glastonbury:
“My name’s Lewis Capaldi, and I’m f**ing back, baby.”*
And the world couldn’t be happier.
Also Read: Is Louise Jacobi Richer Than Tennis Star Cameron Norrie?
