Music News

Amy Winehouse's monk invite

Aug 14, 2008, 4:00 GMT

British singer songwriter Amy Winehouse on stage at the Glastonbury Festival in Somerset, west England. Winehouse was taken to University College Hospital in London on 28 July 2008. EPA/FRANTZESCO KANGARIS

Amy Winehouse has been invited to join a group of singing monks.

The 72-strong Cistercian Monks Of Stift Heiligenkreuz - who recently scored a number one album of Gregorian chants in their native Austria and have made the top 10 in the UK album charts - believe they could help the 'Back To Black' singer overcome her troubles.

The monks are signed to the same record label as Amy, 24, and were given a copy of her 'Back To Black' album by a label worker.

Brother Johannes Paul Chavanne, 25, told Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper: "For 10 minutes I liked it. But when I read the lyrics I thought it was sad.

"I would like to invite her here - I feel sympathetic to people like her. She could stay a week or two and discuss the big questions of life - faith might be an answer for her."

Despite singing songs from the 1800s, the monks were keen to dismiss claims they don't keep up with modern living.

They said: "Johannes is a thoroughly modern monk, and has a computer and internet in his cell.

"We are in a tradition that goes back centuries, but we are also of the third millennium, and use the medium of our time."