Bipolar Musicians: Jimi Hendrix

Am I happy, or in misery? Jimi Hendrix from Purple Haze

   Jimi Hendrix never received a diagnosis of Bipolar during his lifetime, but like I've always said, if being creative and self destructive at the same time isn't a sign of being bipolar then I don't know what is. A study conducted in the 1970's (http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/hide-and-seek/201203/bipolar-disorder-and-creativity) studied 30 prominent authors and found that 80% had experienced at least one episode of major depression, hypomanic, or mania compared to only 30% of the control group. A follow up done 15 years later found that 43% of the authors had been diagnosed Bipolar as opposed to only 10% of the control group.

  The link between Bipolar Disorder and creativity is definitely there. 


  And being Bipolar myself, I like to think we can smell our own.

There are other things too.

1. Jimi Hendrix Wrote a Song Called Manic Depression 

 Manic Depression is what Bipolar Disorder was called back in the old days. The lyrics go from the highs of "Manic Depression is touching my soul," to the lows of, "Manic Depression is a frustrating mess." ...

Manic depression is touching my soul
I know what I want but I just don't know
How to, go about gettin' it
Feeling sweet feeling,
Drops from my fingers, fingers
Manic depression is catchin' my soul

Woman so weary, the sweet cause in vain
You make love, you break love
It's all the same
When it's, when it's over, mama
Music, sweet music
I wish I could caress, caress, caress
Manic depression is a frustrating mess

Well, I think I'll go turn myself off,
And go on down
All the way down
Really ain't no use in me hanging around
In your kinda scene

Music, sweet music
I wish I could caress, caress, caress
Manic depression is a frustrating mess 

2. Jimi Hendrix was an Army Paratrooper.

  Jimi Hendix was an army paratrooper in the 101st Airborne. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) lists engaging in high risk behaviors as one of the symptoms of manic behavior. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder/index.shtml

3. Jimi Hendrix had a history of violence

 The book, Room Full of Mirrors: A Biography of Jimi Hendrix describes an incident where he hit a woman over the head with a vodka bottle in a drunken rage. The same book tells of another incident where he was engaged in a drunken brawl in a hotel in Sweden where he also put his hand thru a plate glass window. 

 The book, Scuse Me While I Kiss The Sky also tells of more violent run ins with women. 

 Psychiatrictimes.com states that just under 50% of people with Bipolar disorder have some history of violent behavior. (http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/bipolar-disorder/violence-bipolar-disorder)

4. Jimi Hendrix and Drugs

 Yes, obviously Jimi Hendrixs' history with alcohol, LSD, and pill is well documented, as is the fact that he obviously died of a drug overdose. According to statistics presented by the American Journal of Managed Care: 

 About 56 percent of individuals with bipolar who participated in a national study had experienced drug or alcohol addiction during their lifetime

• 

  There's the Jimi Hendrix that showed his charming and humorous side on the Dick Cavett show

   There's the Jimi Hendrix that belted out that beautiful rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.

and there's the Jimi Hendrix that was a boozing, drug using violent womanizer. This contrast is the reality of Bipolar Disorder. 

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Studies have found that just under 50% of people with bipolar disorder have some history of violent behavior.1 - See more at: http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/bipolar-disorder/violence-bipolar-disorder#sthash.NBAvEYvm.dpu

Studies have found that just under 50% of people with bipolar disorder have some history of violent behavior.1 - See more at: http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/bipolar-disorder/violence-bipolar-disorder#sthash.NBAvEYvm.dpuf

Studies have found that just under 50% of people with bipolar disorder have some history of violent behavior.1 - See more at: http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/bipolar-disorder/violence-bipolar-disorder#sthash.NBAvEYvm.dpuf

Why I Hate KISS

Today I wanted to write about why I hate KISS.  There's a lot of KISS hate on the internet but most of it doesn't get into anymore detail other than 'the music sucks,' or 'they're sellouts.' I wanted to be a little more detailed than that. 

  Then I realized that I really didn't have many other reasons for hating KISS. Sure I can't stand the music and I find their commercialism annoying. They're more of a business than a band. 

So at first I struggled to find any other reasons why I despise them so much. They just seem to be one of those bands that you either love or hate.  

  But here are a few reasons I did manage to come up with.

1. The Lyrics

 
            They are treading water in a sea of retarded sexuality and bad poetry - From Spinal Tap

I got a fever ragin’ in my heart
You make me shiver and shake
Baby don’t stop, take it to the top
And eat it like a piece of cake

 - from Heaven's on Fire 

Baby, let's put the X in sex
Love's like a muscle and you make me wanna flex

-from Let's put the X in Sex

 

Imagine a bunch of old men in their sixties singing this:

I don't usually say things like this to girls your age, but when I saw you

coming out of school that day, that day I knew, I knew, I've got to have

you, I've got to have you

-from Christine Sixteen

 I really love you baby
I love what you've got
Let's get together, we can
Get hot...I'll be a gambler, baby
Lay down the bet
We get together, mama
You'll sweat 

-from Love Gun 

So if you please get on your knees
There are no bills, there are no fees
Baby, I know what your problem is
The first step of the cure is a kiss

-from Calling Dr. Love

2. Gene Simmons Sings When You Wish Upon a Star

This actually happened on his solo album

3. KISS on American Idol

4. The Disco Song

- I Was Made for Lovin You

5.KISS Meets The Phantom of the Park

-Promo from 1978

6. The LA KISS Arena Football Team

 

KISS YOU HAVE FAILED TO ROCK!

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Bipolar Musicians: Kurt Cobain

Bipolar Opposites Attract - Kurt Cobain, from "Radio Friendly Unit Shifter."

  Time magazine included Kurt Cobain in a 2002 list of “manic geniuses” who made great contributions to music, art, or literature.  Manic Depression is what Bipolar Disorder used to be called back in the day.

  However, it's not clear if Kurt Cobain was ever officially diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. As someone with Bipolar disorder I can see it in his writings. We'll get into that later. 

 A lot of what we know comes from his cousin, Bev Cobain, a registered nurse with a background working in mental health:

"Kurt was diagnosed at a young age with Attention Deficit Disorder [ADD], then later with bipolar disorder...Bipolar illness has the same characteristics as major clinical depression, but with mood swings, which present as rage, euphoria, high energy, irritability, distractibility, overconfidence, and other symptoms. As Kurt undoubtedly knew, bipolar illness can be very difficult to manage, and the correct diagnosis is crucial. Unfortunately for Kurt, compliance with the appropriate treatment is also a critical factor" - Bev Cobain

  Attention Deficit disorder and Bipolar can often be confused and their symptoms often overlap. I was originally misdiagnosed as having ADD myself before I was eventually and correctly diagnosed as having Bipolar Disorder.
  
  Drug abuse is also common with Bipolar Disorder. Cobain's biography Heavier then Heaven writes about several overdoses that Kurt had before his death. According to statistics presented by the American Journal of Managed Care:

• About 56 percent of individuals with bipolar who participated in a national study had experienced drug or alcohol addiction during their lifetime.

  Suicide is also common with Bipolar Disorder. According to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry  At least 25% to 50% of patients with bipolar disorder also attempt suicide at least once.

Kurt Cobain wrote a song called, "I Hate Myself and Want to Die."

 He also wrote a song called "Lithium," which is a popular drug used to treat Bipolar Disorder. The lyrics resemble the highs and lows that characterize being Bipolar: The feelings of no self worth and loneliness that is depression and the elevated mood and excitement that one experiences in mania.

I'm so happy...I'm so ugly...I'm so lonely...I'm so excited...I'm so horny...- Lithium

 His two biographies, Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana & Heavier Than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain both tell stories of his moodiness, depression and also higher more elevated moments of extreme creativity. 

 The life of Kurt Cobain shows us the immense creativity that can come from having Bipolar Disorder. Yet at the same time it also shows us the disaster that Bipolar Disorder is when it's left untreated. 

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