Rock star slammed for alleged Montgomeryshire isolation

One of rock music’s biggest names has caused uproar after claiming to have come to his Montgomeryshire second home from London to recover from Covid-19 symptoms.

Radiohead guitarist Ed O’Brien has been giving telephone interviews from what is believed to be his second home near Llanidloes, ahead of his solo album release next week. The star has only been stating Wales but one Powys councillor says he knows the location is local.

He has angered locals by explaining to Billboard Magazine that he self-diagnosed Covid-19 and had been self-isolating with his ‘wife, two children and family friends’ since late March, after announcing on Twitter that he had the symptoms on March 23. Wikipedia states that O’Brien lives in London.

Local residents and officials have united in recent weeks to urge second home owners and tourists not to travel to the area due to our limited medical resources available.

“I’m getting over it and I’m coming out the other side,” he told Billboard. “I’m actually really pleased I’ve been in the first wave of people to get it because hopefully I’ve got immunity now and in a couple weeks I can step out in society and be a help, do food deliveries and things like that.”

He said he did not get tested for Covid-19 because “tests aren’t plentifully available in his area”, but says he experienced symptoms including fever, aches and temporary loss of smell. He said in a separate interview with NPR that he wouldn’t burden the local NHS by getting tested as frontline workers should take priority.

But his presence in the area at this time has been particularly unwelcomed by Powys County Councillor Elwyn Vaughan, who said he knows O'Brien is staying near Llanidloes and told us: “This is further proof of what is wrong, it seems to be one rule for some and another for the wealthy. Too many that have holiday homes are showing arrogance and contempt towards the local population.

“Time and again NHS staff and doctors have urged owners to stay at their principle home, not to travel, yet they still come. We should have learnt from Spain when people fled Madrid to the coastal holiday homes thus spreading the virus. Unfortunately, some it seems think they are above all that and lack common sense.”

As of 2pm Friday, there were 69 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Powys, but due to a lack of testing and those self-isolating, the real figure is expected to be far higher.