Winehouse cancels V Festival gig

Winehouse has cancelled the rest of her schedule for this month
Singer Amy Winehouse has pulled out of this weekend's V Festival after being taken to hospital last week.

A spokesperson said Winehouse - who has denied reports of drug abuse - was taking time to address "health issues".

Winehouse and her husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, were followed by 30 photographers on Thursday night as they visited three pubs in Camden, London.

Fielder-Civil told reporters the couple would be returning to a rehabilitation clinic after their night out.

Speaking on behalf of his family, Winehouse's father, Mitch, said: "We'd just like to say how delighted we are that both Amy and Blake have decided to deal with their health issues.

"We are so very proud of the pair of them and the way they have handled this very difficult situation."

He also thanked Fielder-Civil's parents for their support, and asked the media to respect their privacy.

Speaking to BBC Radio 1's Newsbeat, he said: "We only came back to get a guitar, but of course in the paper that's interpreted that me and Amy are both so weak we left after three days."

"It's not as bad as everyone thinks but she's fine, she's loved and looked after"
Blake Fielder-Civil

When Winehouse was asked if reports of drug abuse were true, she said: "I wouldn't say so, no."

The singer, who has noticeably lost a lot of weight recently, added: "I'm fine, I've put on half a stone and I'm fine."

Winehouse visited three different pubs - spending 10 minutes in each one - before returning to her nearby flat.

Before the couple were picked up by a waiting car, Fielder-Civil said recent newspaper reports that Winehouse was addicted to heroin and cocaine had been blown out of proportion.

"I wouldn't believe it no. I would say there are a few problems there, but certainly not the magnitude that my mum was falsely quoted as saying."

He added: "The main thing is that me and Amy are getting better. Don't worry, she's being looked after.

"We're going back to this retreat. She's determined to get well. It's not as bad as everyone thinks but she's fine, she's loved and looked after."

Winehouse had been due to play on the Channel 4 stage at Hylands Park in Chelmsford on Saturday and Weston Park, Staffordshire, on Sunday, alongside headline acts, The Foo Fighters and The Killers.

Festival director Simon Moran said: "We're very sorry to hear that Amy is unable to perform this weekend and wish her all the best.

"We hope that fans will not be too disappointed by the news and we would gladly welcome her to play V Festival 2008."

The Happy Mondays will take her place, moving their set to the Channel 4 stage from one of the side stages.

Earlier on this week Winehouse, who has been nominated for three prizes at next month's MTV Video Music Awards in the US, pulled out of two Rolling Stones gigs in Germany.

She is scheduled to tour Canada and the US next month before returning to Europe in October.

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