Former Cat Stevens Reveals Three Near-Death Experiences.

Cat Stevens' Life: Close to Death

According to The Sun: They say a cat lives nine lives, and our hero Cat Stevens, the singer-songwriter, has already spent quite a few of them. After converting to Islam, he took the name Yusuf, and his life became a true kaleidoscope of adventures on the edge of death.

Dangerous Moments in Youth

The first dangerous moment occurred in his teenage years when he wandered the streets of London's West End. One night, while out with his best friend Andy, he found himself on the edge of a rooftop, hanging onto the edge several floors up, near the Prince Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue.

If he had fallen, it could have been the end of his young life, but Andy reached out at the last moment and saved him.

“It was the first moment I faced death,” Yusuf recalls from the early 60s.

That’s when his spiritual journey began, which continues to this day. Two more dangerous incidents happened to him later. In 1969, he contracted tuberculosis, which threatened his life, and it took him several months to recover.

Career Change and New Path

Recovering his strength, he quickly transformed from a pop star into a thoughtful bard. His songs, such as 'Father and Son', 'Wild World', 'Moonshadow', and 'Peace Train', became hits.

In 1976, he nearly drowned in the waters of Malibu, California. At the moment when his life was in danger, he turned to God for salvation.

“Oh God, if you save me, I will work for you!”

Soon after, Yusuf's brother gifted him a Quran, which radically changed his life and led him to embrace Islam. He became Yusuf and decided to take a long break from his career.

Yusuf recalls: “I realized that everything I was writing in my songs came together into one new message.”

Recovery and New Projects

Over the last two decades, Yusuf has rekindled his passion for music, releasing several successful albums and keeping his classic songs alive through concerts around the world.

Recently, Yusuf released his autobiography 'Cat: On The Road To Findout' and a hits album, which will be part of his tour across the UK and the USA.

Memories of Parents

Reflecting on his parents, Yusuf shares memories of how his mother taught him to love, while his father showed him what hard work means.

Mum taught me how to love and dad taught me how to work.

Yusuf/Cat Stevens

Yusuf recalls how his father, Stavros, instilled the values of hard work in him, while his mother, Ingrid, brought the Swedish character that taught him about equality.

The Path to Music

In his autobiography, he talks about his love for music and how the proximity to the artistic scene inspired him to take on the stage name 'Cat Stevens'.

Yusuf believes he has something important for people, and it’s not just a career — it’s his calling.

He emphasizes that he does not regret the time he spent away from music, as true success for him lies in finding his own identity.

A significant role in his return was played by his son, who encouraged him to revive his musical career.

On the Path to Understanding

The end of Yusuf’s conversation leads to the realization that 'our goal is to understand that we are all one in our dreams and hopes.'

As human beings, our way forward is to understand that we’re all the same in our dreams, our visions, and our hopes.

Yusuf/Cat Stevens

Thus, Yusuf continues his journey, unafraid of new challenges in life and music. His story is an example of how important it is to go through difficulties to find new opportunities and grow in life.