Rocker conquers debilitating stroke to find his voice

Two years ago, doctors told Stephen Cummings he would never sing again. Now the Australian singer-songwriter has a new voice, new album and renewed love of music.

Cummings was a star of the 1980s rock scene, known for his rich yet explosive sound in hits such as A Life is a Life and the infectious Medibank jingle I Feel Better Now.

After a career spanning almost five decades Cummings had decided to retire, but in 2020 suffered a massive stroke during one of his last farewell shows.

"I thought, 'what the hell is happening to me? Am I going mad?'," the 68-year-old told AAP.

"I'd never been really sick before. Going to hospital was the first thing to teach me that I had no control over anything."

His wife rushed him to hospital where he spent months learning how to breathe, walk and sing again, all amid the COVID-19 lockdowns in Victoria.

"I just kept wondering if it was really worth it all," he said.

"I thought I wouldn't be able to make music again because I couldn't play guitar. And I didn't even think about how it would affect my voice, which was probably my biggest feature.

"I didn't realise that I wouldn't be able to sing like that again."

Cummings says his fans and fellow musicians flooded his inbox with words of support.

"Daryl Braithwaite, who I didn't know that well, sent me a lot of messages hoping I got better. It really surprised me and it was really lovely," he said.

The pandemic and stroke recovery inspired Cummings to make a new album.

Ordinarily the singer-songwriter would have a hand in most stages of the production process, but one of his biggest takeaways after the stroke was that he had to let things go.

"I probably had the stroke because I couldn't give up control," he said.

"This way, I've been forced into doing it but it's good. I can still enjoy making music in a more removed sort of way."

The album, titled 100 Years from Now, embraces a longing sound in Cummings' voice with acoustic guitar and slower tempo.

While the stroke has changed some aspects of his music, his vocals maintain the caramel undertones of his sound while incorporating a sense of ethereality.

Cummings admits the new album may not be what his listeners are used to, but he is proud nonetheless.

"I just really like (making music) and the thing is, I didn't know how much I liked it until I couldn't do it any more."

100 Years From Now will be released on May 5.