Michael Guglielmucci
Encyclopedia
Michael Guglielmucci, born 1978, is a Christian
pastor and Christian Rock
songwriter
and musician, former bass player of the Planetshakers
band. His co-compositions appeared the Planetshakers album "This Is Our God
", and he was the sole songwriter of the hit song "Healer".
. He was reportedly suffering from symptoms including severe pain
, difficulty breathing, vomiting
and hair loss. It was at this point that he composed the single "Healer", allegedly based on his struggle with cancer. The album "This Is Our God" on which the song appeared, went on to chart on the ARIA
charts, peaking at #2. Guglielmucci performed the song regularly at concerts over a 2-year period, often with no hair and an oxygen tube attached to his nose.
In August 2008, Guglielmucci's father Danny, founder of Edge Church
in Adelaide
, publicly announced that his son has fabricated the cancer story, which his son created as a diversion from a battle with a 16-year pornography
addiction. Guglielmucci appeared on the current affair show Today Tonight
, where he gave a full confession and explained the events surrounding the fabrication.
Guglielmucci was immediately stripped of his credentials by the Australian Christian Church. The church's lawyers contacted police, and audited Guglielmucci's bank accounts to ensure all proceeds of the song Healer could be either returned or donated to charity. Guglielmucci himself pledged to ensure the funds would be returned to purchasers. The Planetshakers band removed the single from all of their future performances and albums. Guglielmucci's father reported that he was to receive psychiatric assessment.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
pastor and Christian Rock
Christian rock
Christian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands...
songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and musician, former bass player of the Planetshakers
Planetshakers
Planetshakers is a Christian youth movement that began as an annual conference and grew into an international ministry and large church in Melbourne, Australia. The conference was born out of Paradise Community Church in Adelaide, South Australia by Pastor Russell Evans...
band. His co-compositions appeared the Planetshakers album "This Is Our God
This Is Our God
This Is Our God is the seventeenth album in the live praise and worship series of Christian Contemporary music by Hillsong Church. It was recorded live at the Acer Arena on 9 March 2008 by Reuben Morgan, Joel Houston, Darlene Zschech ,and the Hillsong Live Worship team with a crowd of over 10,000...
", and he was the sole songwriter of the hit song "Healer".
Controversy
In September 2006 after a hospital visit for a minor accident, Guglielmucci announced that he was dying of cancerCancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. He was reportedly suffering from symptoms including severe pain
Pain
Pain is an unpleasant sensation often caused by intense or damaging stimuli such as stubbing a toe, burning a finger, putting iodine on a cut, and bumping the "funny bone."...
, difficulty breathing, vomiting
Vomiting
Vomiting is the forceful expulsion of the contents of one's stomach through the mouth and sometimes the nose...
and hair loss. It was at this point that he composed the single "Healer", allegedly based on his struggle with cancer. The album "This Is Our God" on which the song appeared, went on to chart on the ARIA
Aria
An aria in music was originally any expressive melody, usually, but not always, performed by a singer. The term is now used almost exclusively to describe a self-contained piece for one voice usually with orchestral accompaniment...
charts, peaking at #2. Guglielmucci performed the song regularly at concerts over a 2-year period, often with no hair and an oxygen tube attached to his nose.
In August 2008, Guglielmucci's father Danny, founder of Edge Church
Edge Church
Edge Church is a Pentecostal Christian church affiliated with Australian Christian Churches, the Assemblies of God in Australia. The church is pastored by Danny Guglielmucci and his wife.-Establishment:...
in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, publicly announced that his son has fabricated the cancer story, which his son created as a diversion from a battle with a 16-year pornography
Pornography
Pornography or porn is the explicit portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purposes of sexual arousal and erotic satisfaction.Pornography may use any of a variety of media, ranging from books, magazines, postcards, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, sound recording, film, video,...
addiction. Guglielmucci appeared on the current affair show Today Tonight
Today Tonight
Today Tonight is a controversial Australian News and Current Affairs program, produced by the Seven Network and shown weeknightly at in direct competition with rival Nine Network program A Current Affair....
, where he gave a full confession and explained the events surrounding the fabrication.
Guglielmucci was immediately stripped of his credentials by the Australian Christian Church. The church's lawyers contacted police, and audited Guglielmucci's bank accounts to ensure all proceeds of the song Healer could be either returned or donated to charity. Guglielmucci himself pledged to ensure the funds would be returned to purchasers. The Planetshakers band removed the single from all of their future performances and albums. Guglielmucci's father reported that he was to receive psychiatric assessment.