2008 Woodie Awards
Pack of Pop: An Entertainment Blog
Special Report: Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy Speaks Out About His Battle with Depression
Casey Tolfree, Online Editor
Issue date: 3/28/07Section: Torch Online Exclusives
Last Tuesday, students from colleges across the country had the opportunity to talk with Pete Wentz, the bassist of Fall Out Boy, via the Internet, about his battle with depression. mtvU and the Jed Foundation teamed up to create the "Half of Us" campaign to fight the stigma of mental health on college campuses. Stephen Friedman, the general manager of mtvU, said, "When someone breaks their leg, everybody is there to get them help, but when you feel depressed, you hide it. There needs to be a radical rethinking of the issue - and it starts with letting people know that this affects half of all college students."
Wentz is just one of many artists offering their services to the campaign.
Fall Out Boy may be considered an emo band but Wentz is not someone you would expect to be depressed. His energy can be felt just by reading interviews with him. Wentz, however, said, "I have a strange combination of extro/introverted moments. I can't speak to close friends about much of anything but I can watch Patrick Stump (the lead singer of FOB) sing my words to thousands." He added that he felt talking about his depression could help other people struggling with it and therefore when "Half of Us" asked him for an interview, he gladly jumped on bored.
Wentz said he didn't deal with his depression well. "I secluded myself," he said. "I refused to get on airplanes and buses. I stopped talking to all of my friends completely. I pretty much broke down in front of everyone but it a very secretive way." Secretive being through his writing and his silence. Of his lyrics Wentz says he usually, "trying to put myself together." He claims only Patrick really knew of his depression from the start "because of the words."
Lyrics to songs are often an outlet for not only the writer but the listener. Wentz said that for the fans who say FOB saved them, he wants them to know that the "band saved me too." Wentz said, "There's something magical about it (music). It can change moods." FOB saved his life because it helped him get out of his small town and see the world. "I get to escape for an hour every night on stage," he said. "It gives me something to believe in...and makes me want to stick around."
Wentz said that seeing himself in the mirror really opened his eyes to what was going on. "Reading articles about myself, probably, honestly, the Rolling Stone article or an Alternative Press one were just eye-opening for me. I couldn't just tread water anymore," Wentz said. "It became sink or swim."
Although Wentz said he wished he hadn't been quite so candid with the press from the beginning of his career, what's done is done and all he can really do is try and move forward. The "Half of Us" campaign is the first step.
Wentz's final words on the topic? "Let's not make an industry of misery."
For more information on the "Half of Us" campaign, or see Pete's interview, visit halfofus.com.
Wentz is just one of many artists offering their services to the campaign.
Fall Out Boy may be considered an emo band but Wentz is not someone you would expect to be depressed. His energy can be felt just by reading interviews with him. Wentz, however, said, "I have a strange combination of extro/introverted moments. I can't speak to close friends about much of anything but I can watch Patrick Stump (the lead singer of FOB) sing my words to thousands." He added that he felt talking about his depression could help other people struggling with it and therefore when "Half of Us" asked him for an interview, he gladly jumped on bored.
Wentz said he didn't deal with his depression well. "I secluded myself," he said. "I refused to get on airplanes and buses. I stopped talking to all of my friends completely. I pretty much broke down in front of everyone but it a very secretive way." Secretive being through his writing and his silence. Of his lyrics Wentz says he usually, "trying to put myself together." He claims only Patrick really knew of his depression from the start "because of the words."
Lyrics to songs are often an outlet for not only the writer but the listener. Wentz said that for the fans who say FOB saved them, he wants them to know that the "band saved me too." Wentz said, "There's something magical about it (music). It can change moods." FOB saved his life because it helped him get out of his small town and see the world. "I get to escape for an hour every night on stage," he said. "It gives me something to believe in...and makes me want to stick around."
Wentz said that seeing himself in the mirror really opened his eyes to what was going on. "Reading articles about myself, probably, honestly, the Rolling Stone article or an Alternative Press one were just eye-opening for me. I couldn't just tread water anymore," Wentz said. "It became sink or swim."
Although Wentz said he wished he hadn't been quite so candid with the press from the beginning of his career, what's done is done and all he can really do is try and move forward. The "Half of Us" campaign is the first step.
Wentz's final words on the topic? "Let's not make an industry of misery."
For more information on the "Half of Us" campaign, or see Pete's interview, visit halfofus.com.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Danielle
posted 4/21/07 @ 9:34 PM NA
pete has been going through a lot, and everyone should be there for him ans be very supportive, so he dosen't have to get to the point where he excludes himself from the band. (Continued…)
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