Mum ’no longer recognises’ Amy - Sept 12 2007
Amy Winehouse’s mother says she no longer recognises her own daughter.

Janis Winehouse, 52, told a magazine she sends her daughter text messages saying: "Where are you, what planet are you on? Call me."

But the pharmacist, from Barnet, north London, who still controls her 23-year-old daughter’s income, giving her £300 a week, told First magazine: "Amy is playing Russian roulette with her health and musical gift.

"She’s lost herself. We’re not talking about my Amy. It’s not someone I recognise. She has become her own stage creation."

She said: "I knew she was smoking marijuana but not that she was doing class A drugs until she collapsed. She won’t stop until she sees the point of stopping ... when I saw her afterwards, I did not tell her to clean up, there was no point.

"I know all about class A drugs. I understand the process where the brain shuts out everything except the drugs. Talking to her about it won’t make any difference."

Amy recently surprised doubters by turning up at the Mercury Awards and silencing the audience with a stunning rendition of her song Love Is A Losing Game.

She has been staying at hotels with husband Blake Fielder-Civil since leaving rehab.

The troubled star, whose hit songs include Rehab, was said to have come close to death when she was rushed to hospital last month after reportedly taking cocaine, Ecstasy, ketamine and marijuana.


Four Mobo nominations for Winehouse - Aug 23 2007
Troubled singer Amy Winehouse has received four nominations for this year’s Mobo Awards.

The 23-year-old star is a contender for best UK female alongside Beverley Knight, Corinne Bailey Rae, Jamelia and Joss Stone.

She has also been nominated for best R&B act, best song for Rehab and best video for Back To Black.

But it is doubtful that Winehouse will attend the ceremony next month.

Her nominations were announced on the same day she postponed her US tour, scheduled for September, citing health reasons.

Last week she was admitted to a rehab clinic after being hospitalised for a reported overdose of heroin, Ecstasy, cocaine, ketamine and alcohol. Her record company say she is suffering from "severe exhaustion".

Winehouse leads the Mobo nominations jointly with Dizzee Rascal, who is also up for four awards. He is in the running for best UK male, best hip hop act, best song and best video for Sirens.

The 12th annual Mobo Awards take place at London’s 02 Arena and will be co-hosted by Jamelia and reggae artist Shaggy.

50 Cent will take on Kanye West for best hip hop act. The rivalry between the pair is so great that "Fiddy" has declared he will quit his solo career if West outsells him when they release their respective albums on the same day next month.

Former Sugababe Mutya Buena picked up her first Mobo nomination, in the best newcomer category.

Amy cancels US tour - Aug 22 2007
Amy Winehouse has put her North American tour on hold, raising more concerns about her health.

"Due to the rigours involved in touring, Amy Winehouse has been advised to postpone her upcoming September US and Canadian tour dates," the troubled singer’s publicist, Tracy Miller, said in a statement.