Former rock singer and celebrated interior designer Pearl Lowe has shared a deeply personal revelation about her mental health and that of her family, disclosing a late-life ADHD diagnosis that has reshaped her understanding of her past struggles.
From Primrose Hill Chaos to Somerset Calm
Pearl Lowe, 55, was a central figure in the hedonistic Primrose Hill social scene of 1990s north London, a period she describes as fuelled by cocaine and heroin, which sent her life spiralling out of control. She eventually sought refuge from the chaos, moving to the tranquillity of rural Somerset. However, her hard-won peace was disrupted three years ago by a life-changing diagnosis: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a condition characterised by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
Now known as the 'Queen of Vintage' for her interior design work, Lowe has further revealed that this neurodiversity extends through her family. She confirms that three of her four children have also been diagnosed with ADHD.
A Neurodiverse Family Dynamic
Her children with Supergrass drummer husband Danny Goffey – Alfie, 29, Frankie, 26, and Betty, 20 – all share the diagnosis. Her eldest daughter, model Daisy Lowe, 36, from her previous relationship with Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale, does not have the condition.
"My kids all have ADHD except Daisy," Pearl stated. "They're all healers and bring lots of strays home that need help." Speaking while promoting her interiors book Faded Glamour in the City, she elaborated on her children's individual experiences.
She identified her daughter Betty as the most similar to her. "She's really quite strong, but has gone on the meds. She loves them, and it helps her and she's gone to university," Lowe explained. "The others are not treated, but they're aware of it."
Understanding a 'Crazy Path'
Pearl, once close friends with supermodel Kate Moss, reflected on their family life. "We're a neurodiverse family, we're all creatives and it's hard having a crazy path," she said. She noted that her son Frankie was diagnosed at a young age but believes he has "grown out of it," a notion she gently counters. "He doesn't realise, you don't grow out of it."
Her son Alfie, she says, self-identifies with the condition but has not pursued a formal diagnosis. With characteristic candour, Lowe added, "It's just Betty and I who are the bad ones, the mental ones."
Drawing from her own history, Pearl Lowe posits a powerful connection between ADHD and addiction, claiming that "eighty per cent of ADHD sufferers are addicts." This insight reframes her tumultuous past within the Primrose Hill set, suggesting an underlying neurological factor behind her previous struggles with substance abuse.
