The life of a professional musician can be glamorous and fun, but it also can be grueling and lonely. A recent study showed that mental health issues affect a large percentage of touring artists.
Swedish digital distribution platform Record Union surveyed 1,500 independent musicians, and reported earlier this year that 73 percent of them dealt with some form of mental illness.
Heavy Consequence caught up with a number of musicians over the past few months, and got their thoughts on the study and mental illness among musicians, in general. We are premiering the video today (October 10th) in conjunction with World Mental Health Day.
Artists including Jesse Leach (Killswitch Engage), Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine / Prophets of Rage), David Draiman (Disturbed), Lzzy Hale (Halestorm), Mark Tremonti (Alter Bridge), Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth) and others all offered their thoughts on mental struggles among musicians.
The discussion ranged from an inherent quality in people who pursue music as a profession to the rigors of life on the road leading to mental issues during the course of one’s career.
Other artists who weighed in include Mark Lanegan, Manuel Gagneux (Zeal & Ardor), Winston McCall (Parkway Drive), Willie Adler and John Campbell (Lamb of God), Jason Aalon Butler (Fever 333), Johannes Eckerström (Avatar), Josh Smith (Halestorm), and Caleb Shomo (Beartooth).
Watch our video above, and learn more about World Mental Health Day at the World Federation for Mental Health website.
Trouble viewing the video in the player above? Watch on YouTube.
