alcohol abuse

Chester Bennington singer with Linkin Park dies age 41.

Posted on: July 21st, 2017 by Greg Jordan No Comments

Sad news today from Los Angeles U.S.A. Linkin Park vocalist Chester Bennington has died age 41. Police report death by suicide. Chester was on tour with his band and sang at Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell’s funeral only in May of this year. Our condolences to Chesters family. He leaves behind his wife Talinda, and 6 kids. See attached media report.

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/chester-bennington-dead-linkin-park-singer-cause-death-suicide-hanging-dies-age-band-nu-metal-latest-a7851916.html

Mental health support – U.K. For confidential support call the Samaritans in the UK on 116 123, visit a local Samaritans branch or visit their website. U.S.A. In the US call 1-800-273-TALK. Australia. In Australia call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Cool Quotes for today

Posted on: June 24th, 2017 by Greg Jordan No Comments

Some quotes for today –

“Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.”
– ­Anne Frank.
“Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them.”
– Marcus Aurelius
“You were given life; it is your duty (and also your entitlement as a human being) to find something beautiful within life, no matter how slight.”
– Elizabeth Gilbert

And from The Samurai Musashi in the year 1645.  –

Musashi, the greatest samurai, later a deeply feeling student of the Buddha, and much later the subject of the awesome Samurai Trilogy starring Toshiro Mifune…set down 21 Rules to Live by. Here they are.

1. Accept everything just the way it is.
2. Do not seek pleasure for its own sake.
3. Do not, under any circumstances, depend on a partial feeling.
4. Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world.
5. Be detached from desire your whole life long.
6. Do not regret what you have done.
7. Never be jealous.
8. Never let yourself be saddened by a separation.
9. Resentment and complaint are appropriate neither for oneself nor others.
10. Do not let yourself be guided by the feeling of lust or love.
11. In all things have no preferences.
12. Be indifferent to where you live.
13. Do not pursue the taste of good food.
14. Do not hold on to possessions you no longer need.
15. Do not act following customary beliefs.
16. Do not collect weapons or practice with weapons beyond what is useful.
17. Do not fear death.
18. Do not seek to possess either goods or fiefs for your old age.
19. Respect Buddha and the gods without counting on their help.
20. You may abandon your own body but you must preserve your honour.
21. Never stray from the Way.”
~ Miyamoto Musashi

Be well reader. Greg \MH/

Thunder Spell. Metal from Brazil! Interview January 2017.

Posted on: January 24th, 2017 by Greg Jordan No Comments

– Hello Thunder Spell. Welcome to Metalhealth and thanks for being here.

– What does good mental health mean to you?

That to say this of well with the life and to itself, to seek to balance the good things of the life, health and leisure are the excential in this chemistry, to practice sport, to have a healthy life, and very good, to listen to very heavy metal also helps, that leaves the Healthy mind, you can be sure.

–  How is life for you off the road or when you’re not gigging? Especially after a tour or big gig/event, is it difficult to adjust back into life at home after time on the road? If so, how do you adjust/cope?

Outside the road and the shows we live a very normal life, we have our professions outside the life of heavy metal musician, we work to maintain a good life, among other things, family, friends, etc. No, before we travel, we leave everything ready for our absence, we try to anticipate our tasks as much as possible, so that when we return we have not delayed much and neither prejudiced our tasks during our trips.

– What motivates you? What keeps you going?

Many things, but I think the main motivation is to be able to show our work to other people, meet new people, and meet people who like our music, our band, that’s priceless. We continue for this reason and the will will crazy and eternal will play heavy metal, this keeps the band. This ideal, we fight for it, to keep the flame of the metal burning.

– Are you a positive thinker? How do you stay positive?

Yes. As I say, forward ball that comes back people eating hot dog, I always think of the future, entrepreneurial vision, expand with new ideas, new horizons. You always have to think about the solution and not the problem, I think to be optimistic This is it, problems will always exist, it is up to you to let them be defeated by them or not, I do not let them defeat me.

– Have you experienced any tough times personally that you’d be okay talking about? If so, how are you/did you get through this.

I believe that even for those who have everything, it becomes difficult not to have difficulties, which ends up becoming a difficulty. We are not different from anyone, we have gone through many difficulties, but always trying to solve the best way possible. As I said before, always thinking of the solution, if you give in to the problems when they arise you are already born defeated, dead, we are born To win, we will not surrender, surrender for anything, alias we will not surrender for nothing, metal to death, this is philosophy of life, win, aim for victory and persist in their goals, their achievements, until the world Become small for them.

– What does making music mean to you? Why do you do it?

It represents a personal satisfaction in being able to show people what you love, to make music and to play them is very rewarding, to know that people like what you did, to have the satisfaction of having done something special. Because it’s what we like to do, we only think about composing, playing heavy metal, every day, it’s our addiction, our poison, it leaves us poisonous too, always wanting to do more and more, playing heavy metal is everything, we do not think Stop

– You have a new album coming out called Battle Scream. Do you have a release date for the album? How was the recording process for this record? Did you bang it down live, or record one instrument at a time etc? 

In fact we have already released it, we are now releasing this album and doing shows to show our new work, and this has been very gratifying, because the recording process was quite long, we recorded in two studios, but in the end it came out as wanted agent , Well worth the wait. We recorded each instrument and voice one at a time, we had some unforeseen ones too, so it was time consuming.

– Congratulations! So what are your plans with Battle Scream?  Some more touring or any dates you can mention? I see you have some big shows coming up.  Any other projects musical or otherwise happening?

Currently we are doing shows here in our country, but soon we hope to play in other countries, including in Europe because at the moment, we are not much time to make a great tour, but we are playing in major festivals here in Brazil, such as Maniacs metal Meeting, one of the biggest festivals in the south of the country, we had the honor of playing it, but we are organizing to do a very nice tour. yes, we are in a tribute to the English Raven band, with the music Fire Power, and now we are going Participate in a tribute to the Motorhead with the song one night stand, this for us was a special step for the band.

– Ok, last question. What would you say to fans who are struggling with their mental health, or doing it tough at the moment?

Do not let them down, try always to give your best in everything, always try to overcome each day, more and more, seeking the good vibes that heavy metal and other things can give you, do not grieve your heart , Metal is for the strong, if you listen and identify with that sound, you are a strong person, you are a winner, even if you do not know, seek the warrior that sleeps inside you, wake the beast, make him shout to Everyone hear, and know that you are a winner. Do not give up on your dreams, do not give up on heavy metal, it will never give up on you, heavy metal will never die.

– Thank you Thunder Spell for taking the time to talk with us. Let’s hope we can see you in Australia soon! Safe travels, and all the best with the album and your future plans.

Greg \MH/.

 

Band links –

https://www.facebook.com/thunderspellmetal/

https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=f0NHOTinyqA

https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=8yLMEmeOVtc 

https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=okCM7lGoks8

 

 

 

 

Interview with Dennis Val, guitarist from Love Child. January 2017.

Posted on: January 13th, 2017 by Greg Jordan No Comments

Greetings reader. I hope all’s well with you. This week i spoke with Dennis Val, guitarist from Australian rockers Love Child……..

 

– Welcome to Metal health Dennis. Thanks for being here.

Hi Greg.

– Congratulations on the release and success of your current single ‘Watching the river flow’ from your album ‘A whole lotta sassy’, reaching number 1 on the USA indie charts recently, along with ‘A whole lotta sassy’ hitting number 1 on Aussie indy radio! I bet you’re all chuffed. 

Oh yea we’re very excited, still quite a few mountains to cross, Australia is very difficult to get acknowledged but our crowds just keep growing. Consistent live shows have sharpened the band and never under estimate word of mouth for getting punters to gigs.

We’re far more accepted and bragged about overseas, where they think were the largest independent band in the country. Were hoping to get some major radio support, no luck as yet, but that would be the key to generating more income to allow more material to be recorded and get us over to tour the States and Europe.

– What does good mental health mean to you?

It’s quite important, and at times challenging. I’m very blessed to have 3 other guys in the band who support me. It’s not easy staying focused with all the negatives in the industry but you must not ponder on the bad and just focus on the good, but it can be hard. Being a song writer means your creative and your brain is active, and more often than not it’s over active. This can be dangerous to your mental health!

– Indeed. Having some focus and support is a huge help. How is life for you off the road or when you’re not gigging? Especially after a tour or big event, is it difficult to adjust back into life at home after time on the road? If so, how do you adjust/cope? 

200 gigs a year, numerous sessions, learning new material, constantly improving as a musician feels like there is no down time. I’m learning to have days off, I just switch the world off, and my close friends allow me time where I have no contact.

After a gruelling tour is the worst, you have extreme highs and come back to normality, you are physically exhausted and the mental exhaustion and you’re on a roller coaster, makes sleep very difficult. I’m aware of what’s going on so the first thing I do is watch a movie, usually Senfield re runs as a good laugh is the best medicine. I find exercise is therapeutic and inspirational, it also helps you sleep better.

– Agree on the exercise. I’m a runner and it really helps keep me  balanced mentally. What motivates you? What keeps you going? 

I think the joy and high of being able to express yourself to others via an instrument is rewarding and spiritual. I’m not a machine, I don’t play like a robot, I express myself from inside when I play, its different every night, and that freedom , call it channelling if you like, is my drive for playing. I never picked up an instrument for fame, or some vision of backing someone famous. I picked it up out of love for the instrument. It’s genetic , everyone in my past has been a musician, from both family sides maternal and paternal. This is something I recently discovered and gave me great comfort , I thought I was crazy and stubborn. I just want to leave a body of work behind when I leave this place, you know ”this is what I gave back to mother nature after my time here is finished”..sounds crazy but I would like to know my time here left a mark.

– Love that attitude. Are you a positive thinker? How do you stay positive?

Extremely positive and highly motivated, however you can easily be tipped over by negative forces and following the wrong path. I get rid of negative people quickly, I suffer no fools. I sometimes get side trapped, you get a little look at the industry where some people are doing so well. You quickly realise you need to stay on your path, it’s a difficult path, but I can hold my head high and say I’m a leader and not a follower, and that’s the price I must pay for not selling out.

So staying positive for me means allowing the negatives to creep up, throwing them away and staying proud of yourself!!!

– Have you experienced any tough times personally that you’d be okay talking about? If so, how are you/did you get through this.

Many tough times, read my lyrics. I’m only ok talking about it with people I trust and my personal life is quite private. My lyrics usually expose myself so maybe readers should check out the music. As Steve our singer has said they are ‘’wear your heart on your sleeves’’ lyrics.

I’ve had 2 or 3 enormous losses, one being my father a long time ago, and it still hurts and comes back to haunt me ( that’s about as much as I would like to share) however I know that time heals everything. I have a strategy where I visually imagine myself a year from now, and ask how important and what impact will this event have a year down the track, the answer is usually in front of you , no one will give it a second thought. Throwing yourself into a future frame of mind eases the load.

Watching the river flow is about dealing with great loss, but watching the water flow is very calming. Its true meaning though is that like any problem it flows away to the sea and becomes nothing eventually.

I’m very fortunate to have a good mate in the band , Garry, he has been a rock, and I try to support him as well. It’s great to have someone who listens without judgement. I’ve been in some dark places, and lets say I mixed with the wrong crowd, but Garry was there all the time, so you need to trust in someone!

Friends if you have problems don’t be ashamed, talk and listen, that’s the best advise I can offer.

– I agree with you. Talking and sharing how we are feeling can be a lifesaver. Connection with others. I enjoyed listening to your current single ‘Watching the river flow’. How was the recording process for the single and current album? Did you bang it down live, or record one instrument at a time etc? 

Good question, I need to elaborate. We had about 8 or 9 songs recorded and we decided to release 12. Time was running out so I bought “Watching the River Flow” into the studio. All our rhythm beds are done live to save money but most important to capture it live. The other guys had no idea and I convinced them it was a hit. We played it, and then I said ok let’s get a swinging groove. James and Garry as a rhythm section are about the best in Australia for this style they just get it. An hour later the engineer hit record and that’s what you hear. I laid my guitars and solo’s that afternoon. When mixing time came we had transferred the files to another studio, our producer Sammy Kannis suggested a few edits, like pulling the band out in the post chorus. Steve was called in and laid it down in 2 or 3 takes

– So what are the bands future plans? Some more recording, touring or any dates you can mention? I see you have some Sydney dates coming up. 

We have some huge plans, we have many Sydney dates but are careful to not overplay so we knock back quite a few, it’s a very delicate balance.

We have a great Manager in Johnny Kannis, who fronted the Hitmen, and knows the industry here and the States , inside out.

We are treading carefully as the industry is watching us and want to make the right moves to ensure our longevity.

– Any other projects musical or otherwise happening? 

Yes quite a few, as you are aware I play many solo acoustic gigs, playing percussion with my feet while I sing. I enjoy these but they are demanding and I miss my electric guitar. I play in a blues rock band called weekend detention and that is extremely satisfying and demanding.

– Ok, last question. What would you say to fans who are struggling with their mental health, or doing it tough at the moment?

You are not alone, the best advise I could give, especially to teenagers who have not had many experiences is…whatever your hurting about now, whatever you’ve done that is embarrasing or you think irreparable…will anyone remember in one year. Is it worth losing something now for a reason that won’t matter in 6 months. Turn off face book and Instagram, go find a tree in a park and look at the clouds and remember that’s important. Nature has an amazing affect to your health and well being, stay grounded!!

Listen to music that has depth and meaning, great artists are troubled people too, just like the rest of us. Listen to their journey, if you relate to it, then it’s ok to shed a tear, that is all healing.

– Good stuff. Thanks for taking the time to talk with us Dennis. We wish you and the band safe travels, and congratulations to you all on the new record.

Greg M/H.

 

Some links to Love Child’s music.

http://www.lovechildband.com.au/

https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/a-whole-lotta-sassy/id1141620086?app=itunes&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulh5z3Iot2w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9Vz6gFcM0o

Interview with Jay from Arakeye.

Posted on: November 28th, 2016 by Greg Jordan 1 Comment

 

Greetings reader. A couple of days ago i caught up with Jay from Aussie band Arakeye.  Here’s the interview.

 

– Hello Jay. Welcome to Metalhealth and thanks for being here.

 

Hi Greg, thanks for having me man!

 

– What does good mental health mean to you?

 

I believe it comes down to having a good balance of every aspect of your life in regards to work, home & family life and your interests. We need to feel a belonging somewhere and not stress too much about things that we cannot change. Having healthy relationships, adequate sleep, the right diet and exercising regularly is also important, without any structure, it can be easy to fall in to some bad habits that can jeopardise your mental health.

 

– I love the passion in your music and lyrics. Where do you think that comes from?

 

Thank you!

The lyrics I write, like a lot of songwriters, come from life experiences and observing the world around you. I get a lot of inspiration from society and people in general, we are complex creatures that offer an abundance of interesting issues to write about.

 

–  How is life for you off the road or when you’re not gigging? Especially after a tour or big event, is it difficult to adjust back into life at home after time on the road? If so, how do you adjust/cope?

 

We’ve been pretty lucky in Arakeye so far, our gigs are never too far apart and interstate jaunts are treated like weekend getaways & always great fun. We already have some new material in the pipeline after ATMOSFEARS is out there, so that’s exciting. We always make sure we have something to look forward to whether it be a new album, track release, music video, demoing at our drummer’s house (Tyson). We also get together for ‘Arakeye Family Dinners’ which involve our partners and children. We’re a close knit bunch and are happier people for it!

 

– What motivates you? What keeps you going?

 

The excitement of people hearing our music and getting something out of it, connecting at some level I suppose. That’s the best part of it for me, people coming up to you and speaking from the heart, it makes you feel like you are contributing and it’s worthwhile. I also like to challenge myself to write very different songs and lyrics to any previous tracks we release, exploring & touching on different genres is something that keeps me motivated to continue writing.

 

– Are you a positive thinker? How do you stay positive?

 

I’d say for the most part I’m positive, but we all get those days where the facets of our world are out of balance and the gloom & doubt sets in. My day job of working with people with disabilities can be sad at times but also very uplifting.

But after work I know that I have a wife and two beautiful children to come home to so it’s quite easy for me to get back to positive town!

 

– Have you experienced any tough times personally that you’d be okay talking about? If so, how are you/did you get through this.

 

In 2003 I was witness to a horrific car accident where a pedestrian was hit and nearly died, I was first on the scene to comfort her & her 2 year old son, while my Dad phoned an ambulance & also helped out the driver of the car that was involved. Just an unfortunate situation all round, no ones fault, kids will run out onto roads and parents won’t think twice to follow them blindly. Everybody came through it, but I was 19 at the time and it really affected me mentally, I didn’t eat for a few days and so began a downward spiral. I lost three friends in the space of 3 months in a range of circumstances not long after that and I developed Anxiety Disorder, Depression and Agoraphobia. I had to defer my final year of Uni, I was still living at home at the time and couldn’t leave the house for a year without anxiety related problems, but with the help of my family & friends, Buddhism & spirituality, I got through it.

I went back and finished my degree the following year and I’ve just kept moving forward ever since. Performing on stage was so far away back then, I honestly never thought I would perform again because of the crippling panic attacks. But here I am, 12 years later, married with 2 kids, playing 12-15 shows a year and loving life. I really feel for people who go through these tough times and aren’t fortunate enough to have these support structures around them while dealing with mental health issues.

 

– Geez that’s rough! Congratulations on finishing your degree and getting yourself back onstage. What does making music mean for you? Why do you do it?

 

Music has been a constant in my life for 15 years, so it’s part of who I am really. It’s very therapeutic to be creative and this is my outlet. It is a stress reliever for me, I enjoy it, have had some success at it and will continue to try and write better songs.

 

– Congratulations on the release of your new album ATMOSFEARS. I really enjoyed listening to the second single from the album, ‘Isolated Existence’. How was the recording process? Did you bang it down live, or record one instrument at a time etc?

 

Thanks for the feedback mate!

Recording was a long process that took nearly 12 months. We started 2 years ago demoing every track at Tyson’s home studio to use as a reference while we recorded. Each part was recorded separately at ColourSound Studio & we all had our allotted timeframe to get our parts completed. That allowed a very thorough mixing process, getting the chance to hear 5 or 6 versions of each song from Mat was great. We could hone in and get everything exactly how we wanted it to sound. After all the instrumental parts and vocals were completed, Tyson & Mat set about laying our keys/electronics & ambience on top which I believe gives our album a unique sound along with Hass’ interesting guitar sounds.

 

– So what are the bands/your future plans?  Some more touring or any dates you can mention?

 

I think we’ll focus on the next stage of writing after the album launch. It’s been a big year, but it’ll be exciting to load up again in 2017. If there’s enough interest in ATMOSFEARS, we’d love to tour it eventually, but time will tell!

 

– Any other projects musical or otherwise happening?

 

Arakeye takes up pretty much all the time I have to spare at the moment, but I would love to get back to playing guitar and maybe start a side project in the future.

 

– Ok, last question! What would you say to fans who are struggling with their mental health, or doing it tough at the moment?

 

There’s always hope so don’t give up. Push through it, a little at a time. Think positively, make new friends and try new things. Get around your family and friends and take more of an interest in what they are doing to take your mind off yourself for a while. There’s also excellent resources available online such as Headspace & Beyond Blue where anyone can go to chat or find the help they need.

 

– Thank you for taking the time to talk with us Jay. We wish you safe travels, and congratulations to you and the band on the new record.

 

– All the best. Greg \Mh/.

 

Thanks Greg!

 

Some links to the bands music –

https://www.facebook.com/Arakeye/

www.reverbnation.com/arakeye

Black Daffodils interview October 2016

Posted on: October 25th, 2016 by Greg Jordan No Comments

METALHEALTH Interview 16th October 2016.

Greetings reader. Here’s an interview i did recently with ace German band Black Daffodils. Take it easy.

 

– Hello Black Daffodils. Welcome to Metalhealth and thanks for being here.

Andrea: Hi Greg, thanks for having us here!

– What does good mental health mean to you?

Michael: That’s a very good question, since there is no easy answer. Good mental health means, at least to me, staying well-adjusted. No one can avoid stress, frustration or grief in his or her live completely, which I think are great risks in triggering mental problems. But as long as you are able to compensate by relaxation, achievements and happiness, that’s OK. Of course I am aware, that this is a very, very simplified opinion which only applies to mentally healthy people, and even there everyone has his or her own level of resilience.

–  I agree with you. Well said. How is life for you off the road or when you’re not gigging? Especially after a tour or big event, is it difficult to adjust back into life at home after time on the road? If so, how do you adjust/cope?

Andrea: Since we all have a job it sometimes can be really stressful if a gig is on the same day you had to work before. Sometimes we have to drive a long way back home after a show and we are awake almost 24 hours. This can sometimes be exhausting. But most of our gigs are on Saturdays and this is much better because you are much more relaxed.

– What motivates you? What keeps you going?

Michael: Since I never was the “settle-down-guy”: Learning and experiencing new things is the greatest motivation for me.

– Are you a positive thinker? How do you stay positive?

Michael: Definitely yes. If something does not work out, I just repeat my mantra: “Could have come worse!”

– Have you experienced any tough times personally that you’d be okay talking about? If so, how are you/did you get through this.

Michael: Luckily, not really. On a small trip down memory lane, I think my biggest setback was quitting my university studies after only one year. Of course, that was not received very well by my family back then. Not at all, to be honest. What did I do? I decided, that a Masters degree is definitely not my way to go and went for a Bachelors degree (Back then, that were two entirely different degree programs here in Germany.). Although my family did not like that at all (NO REAL UNIVERSITY!), I really loved that school and got my B.sc. quite fast. One funny thing I’d like to mention here: I did get a M.sc. a couple of years later, after I quit my job (Why? Honestly: I was getting bored.) to enroll at a Masters program. I really loved going to university then. Maybe we sometimes just need some time.

– What does making music mean for you? Why do you do it?

Andrea: It is our passion and we don’t want to miss it in our lives. It feels great when a new song comes to life and it feels even greater to play live. It is something where we can be very creative.

– Enjoyed listening to and watching the video of Into the sun, from the album of the same name. I love the cover artwork for Into the sun and also the Broken flower album. They look really cool. How was the recording process for these records? Did you bang it down live, or record an instrument at a time etc?

Andrea: Thank you, glad that you like it. The recording process of these two cds was similar. When we recorded Broken Flower we did the drums and vocal in a studio and recorded the other instruments ourselves and on Into the sun we recorded everything ourselves – everyone of us recorded his instrument. The covers of these two records were made by me.

 – Congratulations all round Andrea. So what are your plans with Into the sun?  Some more touring or any dates you can mention? I see you have the female metal night gig coming up October 29th. Huge!  Any other projects musical or otherwise happening?

Andrea: Yes we already did a lot of gigs this year after the album was released. A few days ago we had our first unplugged gig, which we enjoyed very much. We plan to do some more smaller acoustic shows in near future. We will also have some more dates with our Into the sun Tour this year. One of them is the date you mentioned. And in December we will also play our first show abroad in the Czech Republic.

Next year our band will have its 10th anniversary and we also intent to have a cool anniversary show, but there are not yet any concrete plans for it.

– Looking forward to your 10th anniversary! I think the Czech Republic will be amazing.

Ok, last question. What would you say to fans who are struggling with their mental health, or doing it tough at the moment?

Michael: Since I have some friends who were struggling with their mental health, I can only suggest to accept that you have a problem and try to get (professional) help as soon as possible. Delaying this two steps will most likely enlarge a problem/illness which could be cured.

– Thank you Black Daffodils for taking the time to talk with us. We wish you safe travels, and all the best with the album and gigs.

Check out links to the bands excellent music pages below. Take it easy out there. Greg \Mh/.

www.black-daffodils.com

www.facebook.com/blackdaffodils