Former Of Mice & Men frontman Austin Carlile took to social media this morning, May 24th, to discuss his battles with health, addiction and the spiritual struggle that shaped his final album with the band, 2016’s “Cold World“.
Carlile would leave the band less than a year after the album arrived, citing both health concerns related to his Marfan syndrome and apparent religious disputes.
Speaking via Twitter on the matter, Carlile tated:
I was in therapy & withdrawing from an over 7 year battle w/ addiction to oxycontin, dilaudid, seroquel, etc. when @omandm recorded Cold World. (Most of which, I didnt even write besides Lie, Hunger & Pain) But listening tonight, these lyrics hit me: So true: "WE'VE BEEN LIED TO" pic.twitter.com/WuReL8Bak8
— Austin Carlile (@austincarlile) May 24, 2020
People bash this record often. I get it too. But the band was simply trying to write in a way where I would still be able to perform without tearing holes in my spinal fluid sac. We all wanted a heavy record. That was all on me, my fault. And I commend and respect the guys so
— Austin Carlile (@austincarlile) May 24, 2020
much for taking that L for me, to help me. (I shouldn't have even been in the studio in the first place while puking, convulsing, withdrawing all night, then waking to sing while shaking & sweating & craving relief) But managers wanted otherwise, so we pressed on. In light of
— Austin Carlile (@austincarlile) May 24, 2020
his birthday I give the biggest props to my guy @AlanAshby… He saw me hurting, he and Tino had to come pick me up on my way from therapy & physical therapy to the studio because I physically couldn't drive. He recognized that I shouldn't have been there during that time & he
— Austin Carlile (@austincarlile) May 24, 2020
literally FLEW FROM NEW JERSEY back to SOCAL and said "I'm not going to stay here, I'm not recording this album with my friend & our singer like this & in this condition. It's not right." He stood up for me, even to put the album on hold. He held his ground for me. That says
— Austin Carlile (@austincarlile) May 24, 2020
a lot about a person. Speaks volumes about his character. Same goes for Phil, UB, & AP. The stuff they had to deal with when I was a wreck in that studio before giving my life to God (& even after, I didnt instantly become who I am today) was gnarly. It was a gnarly time. But
— Austin Carlile (@austincarlile) May 24, 2020
sitting together after I was in the hospital after cancelling our headlining tour to fix my 3 cerebrospinal leaks in my back. Knowing I was done. Knowing my body couldn't continue. Them wanting to continue with just the four of them… meant more to me than words can ever express
— Austin Carlile (@austincarlile) May 24, 2020
People take when I said "my years in OM&M were the worst of my life" way out of context. They were amazing. They shaped me. They led me to all of you. Those years led me to a relationship with Jesus. I started the band to run FROM Him & it ended up pushing me TOWARDS Him… they
— Austin Carlile (@austincarlile) May 24, 2020
were simply the worst years because I was SEPARATED from Christ. And what HE had in store for me. Not because of the band. We worked our butts off, and I'm proud of all of us. But I'm full of JOY with where God has me, my wife, & daughter now. So to end this in the most corny way
— Austin Carlile (@austincarlile) May 24, 2020
possible….
"Your days are like pages,
The chapters unread,
You have to keep turning,
Your book has no end…"Keep going. But enjoy where you are NOW. No matter what the situation. Learn from it. Grow from it…
KEEP GOING.
You have no idea what's in store for you next 🕊
— Austin Carlile (@austincarlile) May 24, 2020
Of Mice & Men have of course since continued on without Carlile, promoting bassist/vocalist Aaron Pauley up to lead vocals.
Comments