Glenn De Gendt, star of the 90s Flemish boy band Get Ready!, died last night. The Antwerp public prosecutor's office has confirmed the news. Glenn De Gendt was one of the four members of Flemish boy band Get Ready! that saw its heyday in the 90s. He was 50 years old, when he died. The public prosecutor's office speaks of suicide.
Get Ready! scored its first hit in 1996 with ‘Diep’. The foursome including Jimmy Samijn, Jean-Marie (JM) Desreux, Koen Bruggemans and Glenn De Gendt formed one of the most popular boy bands ever in Flanders.
The band was currently on a farewell tour. Next year, the group planned to call it quits after 30 years.
Glenn underwent an urgent medical procedure in September. ‘It has been a tremendously painful period for him, and he has been struggling with his health,’ the band's official website reads.
In early October, he posted on Facebook, saying that he was rehabilitating.
Long-standing health issues
In 2011, Glenn suffered a cardiac arrest and was in a coma for several days. ‘I still experience difficulty writing, reading and remembering things,’ he recounted 10 years later.
Get Ready! scored 11 No. 1 hits. Classics include ‘Diep’, ‘Laat’, ‘Marjolein’ and ‘Vuur’ earning the band several platinum and gold records.
The band was the support act for pop icon Michael Jackson in Ostend in 1997, after they met him at Disneyland Paris and Jackson received a tape via concert promoter Paul Ambach.
Will Tura also invited the band to his concerts at Vorst Nationaal. Together with Liliane Saint-Pierre they also scored a hit with the up-tempo duet ‘Give me time’.
Get Ready! sings 'Diep' at VRT Radio 2.
People with questions about suicide can contact the Community Help Service in English on 02 648 40 14 or the Zelfmoordlijn (Suicide Line) on the toll-free number 1813, or online zelfmoordlijn1813.be.
In need of a chat? You can always contact helpline Tele-Onthaal 24/7 on the number 106. You can also chat at www.tele-onhaal.be .
Young people can contact Awel on telephone number 102, or via chat at awel.be .