BBC NEWS | UK | England | 'Piano Man' identified in Italy

'Piano Man' Identified in Italy

A Polish man in Rome has identified the "Piano Man" as a French street musician called Steven Villa Masson.

The mystery man, who has been unable to communicate with police or carers, was found wandering the streets in Sheerness, Kent, in a soaking wet suit.

He stunned carers by drawing detailed pictures of a grand piano and giving a virtuoso classical piano performance.

Italian police said the Polish man, a street mime artist, said he had worked with the "Piano Man" in Nice.

The Pole, a 33-year-old immigrant, approached officers at the Trevi Fountain, after seeing a photograph of the "Piano Man" in a newspaper.

The pianist's social worker Michael Camp, said: "It is a possibility and we will follow it up.

"Until we get some really firm evidence where somebody can show us a picture of him or anything concrete then it is a possibility and nothing more."



If nobody can name this guy, then I don't see how we can possibly find out
Michael Camp


West Kent NHS and Social Care Trust issued a statement on Wednesday saying it was unable to confirm reports that Mr X had been identified.

"The overwhelming response from the public, both in the UK and abroad, means there is a large quantity of information to sift through and this process will begin today," a spokesman said.

"We need to ensure we look at all the information people have supplied."

He said that several names and nationalities had been suggested and that due to the sheer volume of information, following up leads were take "some time".

"Mr X continues to be cared for by the Trust, and there has been no change in his condition," the spokesman said.

The man has not said a word since police picked him up on 7 April.

Mr Camp said earlier: "A lot of the calls are people suggesting what they think might be happening to him which is not really what we're looking for.

"We haven't got any definite leads... we need to sift through the information."

He said one lead that the man might be from Sussex had been investigated and discounted.

"I have followed that up and it is a definite no no.

"The person, at the time they phoned in, only had a verbal description from the radio. Once they saw a photo, that wasn't the person," he said.



Mr Camp said the man, in his 20s or 30s, is usually very anxious but "comes alive" at the piano.

Earlier, he said it was possible the man's identity may never be known.

"If nobody can name this guy then I don't see how we can possibly find out.

"The only other way is if we get expert people working with him who are able to use his music and get his identity."



We took him to the chapel piano and it really was amazing
Michael Camp

Orchestras around Europe are being contacted to see if they know the man.

His talent came to light after staff at the Medway Maritime Hospital gave him a pen and paper in the hope he would write his name. Instead he drew a piano.

The man shocked staff with a performance of classical music after Mr Camp showed him the piano in the hospital's chapel.

Mr Camp said: "When we took him to the chapel piano it really was amazing."

The man has since written music, which has been verified as genuine.

Several lines of inquiry have been followed, and the hospital brought in interpreters to see if the mystery patient was from Eastern Europe.

Labels removed

He is now being held in a secure mental health unit in north Kent while an assessment is carried out. Mr Camp said he was "extremely distressed" and may have suffered a trauma.

"We are aware that he is a very vulnerable man and we would be putting him in a dangerous situation if we let him go."

It was revealed that the labels had been removed from every item of clothing the man was wearing when he was found on The Broadway in Minster, Sheerness.

The case has drawn comparisons with the 1996 film Shine which depicts the story of acclaimed pianist David Helfgott who suffered a nervous breakdown.

The National Missing Persons Helpline has received more than 520 calls and over 100 emails. The health trust has also received calls.

Anyone who has information about The Piano Man is urged to call the helpline on 0500 700700 .
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/england/4557619.stm

Published: 2005/05/18 11:57:37 GMT

© BBC MMV