Heart attack forces rare cancellation

By CLAIRE TREVETT

Ray Columbus was most unhappy that a heart attack forced him to cancel a show for only the second time in his long career.

Columbus, 61, spent 12 days in hospital after his heart attack on September 22 in the run-up to Rodney District Council elections, in which he was an unsuccessful candidate.

The former frontman for 1960s band Ray Columbus and the Invaders believed the heart attack, which happened early in the morning at his home on Omaha Flats, near Warkworth, was the result of a heavy smoking habit in his younger years, when he smoked up to 80 cigarettes a day.

"I was 13 and thought I was a cross between Elvis and James Dean. It did give me confidence. The fact I was a seven stone seven runt didn't make any difference at all. Nobody told you then it would kill you and by the time I found out I was addicted."

He quit 30 years ago after his then 6-year-old son became "morbidly interested" in the habit.

The attack was a shock to Columbus, who now manages artists as well as performing at corporate and retro events himself.

"I really believed I was indestructible."

Just a year ago, he had heart checks in Los Angeles.

"I passed with flying colours. What none of those tests showed up was that I had two old rogue weedy arteries floating around from my old bad habits."

He said one was completely blocked up and the other had a 20 per cent flow.

After doctors did an angiogram, angioplasty and put stents in the second artery, he returned home.

Columbus said he would resume performing once doctors gave him the all-clear, hopefully in December.

He and his wife Linda are also developing a health spa in Matakana.