LONDON:

After shocking onlookers with his bloated and dishevelled appearance at a Miami nightclub, Joaquin Phoenix looked happy but unkempt as he gave his first stage performance at a Las Vegas club.

“This is me saying this is who I am. This is my story,” the actor-turned-aspiring rapper told People magazine before taking the stage at the nightclub club Lavo and performing three songs from his upcoming yet-to-be-titled album.

The Academy Award winning actor announced his retirement from acting in October last year so that he could dedicate his time to a career in music. Since his announcement Pheonix’s appearance has dramatically transformed since he announced his retirement from acting as he went from well kept to dishevelled. The 34-year-old Phoenix sporting long unkempt hair, a beard and a ripped grey hat rapped to the sounds of a drum beat and encouraged the crowd to dance.

Concerns are mounting about the 34-year-old’s health, sanity and well-being because the actor had a troubled 2008 and was in rehab for alcohol abuse. His well wishers are now worried that he might meet the same fate as elder brother River Phoenix who died of an overdose of heroin and cocaine at the age of 23. — Agencies