As it is World Mental Health Day (10th October), I thought I'd reflect on three of my favourite artists whose lives, if not music, have been marked by mental health problems.
Townes Van Zandt once said: "There are only two kinds of songs; there's the blues, and there's zip-a-dee-doo-dah."
Judge for yourself the type of music he played but heed my warning, these songs will not cure any form of depression. Townes Van Zandt rarely fails to satisfy those occasional country craving. He is considered by some to be one of the founding fathers of alternative country music.
Like many musical greats, Townes Van Zandt suffered from bi-polar disorder.
Unfortunately, he suffered from it at a time when modern medicine was less effective and electro shock was very trendy.
When I originally mention this on my personal blog somebody was quick to point out that electro shock therapy still has its place in certain treatments and can be effective.
A few months before I came into this world Joy Division's lead singer Ian Curtis left it. He suffered from epilepsy, mood swings and depression. On 18 May 1980, Ian Curtis hung himself.
The film Control directed by Anton Corbijn, a former photographer for NME, recently won the main prize at Scotland's Mental Health Arts and Film Festival (Amongst other film prizes). It is on my list of films to see once I escape from the cultural backwater known as Cumbria.
On the subject of his death, his daughter Nancy Curtis said:
People constantly ask, "Why did he kill himself?" To me it seems obvious - because he was really depressed.
If you get the chance, check out her full article about her father on The Guardian website.
Joy Division were responsible for one of my all-time favourite tracks, 'Love Will Tear Us Apart'. While doing a bit of background research I discovered this post over at My Old Kentucky. It is a comprehensive collection of Love Will Tear Us Apart covers. Definitely worth checking it out.
Finally, another man with bi-polar and an inspiration to many contemporary artists, Daniel Johnston. I don't know if the Marmite debate exists in the USA. Daniel Johnson is the musically equivalent of Marmite. You either love him or hate him.
When I think of music by troubled minds, Daniel Johnston is the ultimate example. His songs take the listener on a tour around his own personal universe and back again.
Not to be out done by Ian Curits, there is an amazing independent film about Johnston. Again, I haven't seen it (Cultural backwater and all) but I have heard amazing things about it and the trailer below has sold it to me. Enjoy this cover of the Beach Boys classic, God Only Knows.
I'll conclude my mini-tour of music and mental health by plagiarizing a quotation and pointing out that one in four people will suffering from some sort of mental health problem during their lifetime, there are currently 24 people writing for We♥Music...
World Mental Health Day has been celebrated annually on 10 October since 1992. Every year a different theme is set by the World Federation for World Mental Health Day. The theme for 2007 is 'Mental health in a changing world: the impact of culture and diversity'.
(Mind)
October 10, 2007 16:34 Ryan my♥posts 
BBC Mental Health
| Vu wrote:
Oct 10, 2007 6:32 PM
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I just wanted to add this link - you can watch the Control trailer (it was previously pulled from bootube).
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