Those of you who have been following rocknyc know that last fall I had a minor meltdown when Justin Furstenfeld front-God of Blue October was hospitalized at what was to be the onset of the “Pick Up The Phone Tour’ a suicide and mental health awareness campaign in conjunction with To Write Love On Her Arms.
After receiving the tweet I had a panic attack myself thinking he had offed himself and immediately texted all staffers for Google help.
According to the April 8 2010 edition of the Washington Examiner:
“Just as the band was set to depart on last fall’s Pick Up the Phone Tour, Furstenfeld, who has openly spoken of his mental health, suffered what was called an “extreme mental anxiety attack” and doctors ordered him off the road.”I had a lot of personal stress that didn’t have anything to do with work,” he said. “I missed my [three-year-old] daughter more than anything and I blacked out and just came to in a cab going to a mental hospital. I didn’t know what in the world had happened.”After two months of treatment in Minneapolis-St. Paul and San Antonio, Furstenfeld was ready to “start completely over and tour.””When we go out on stage now I have a different purpose. For me it’s not like this will help this single or this album,” he said. “I sing and say what’s on my mind; it’s like I’m on a mission. I am proud to be able to do that. This isn’t about the rock star thing for us.”
Followers of rocknyc know I have a severe Furstenfeld addiction. When speaking with Iman today, I was asked if I would interview him. I cant. I’d die. There is no logic but I do think everyone has one person that they are so in awe of, they lose the ability to think. Maybe its a chick thing.
Regardless, no. I cannot interview him, I did last May, interview 2 members of the band CB Hudson and Matt Noveski and they both were…….people. Justin I exchanged words with and drooled on.
I am going tonight to the Boston House of Blues. I will watch Justin and Blue October rip the place apart. I will have a drink. I will get in the car and I will come home.
Or I will hang off the bus, get arrested and need bail money so .. if you’d all be so kind as to pass the hat
Blue October- Boston House of Blues… Pick up The Phone Tour with opener Red Jumpsuit Apparatus.
Lord Have Mercy… finally.