Have you ever heard of Maynard James Keenan, Thomas Layne, Kurt Cobain, Tina, A Perfect Circle, Nirvana, Alice In Chains, or Flyleaf? Well now you can't say that, once you read this article of course. Have you ever lost someone to suicide or drugs? Have you really ever thought about how shallow it was of them? It's a selfish thing, and isn't right, "Everyone will have their day to die."
A Perfect Circle, and Flyleaf are great examples of some of those bands that put the message out that suicide is never the right thing. I'll start with A Perfect Circle. The album of theirs Thirteenth Step, refers to the Twelve-Step program, it is a concept album. It also refers in a way to his thirteen years of residence in Los Angeles, says Maynard. Maynard, lead singer of the bands Tool and A Perfect Circle, was close friends with Thomas Layne, who had struggled with an addiction to drugs.(Thomas Layne was the lead singer of Alice In Chains, just for your information.)
Maynard told Thomas that he was killing himself, and he indeed ended up dying because of drugs. Maynard wrote the song "Thomas" and "The Outsider" for Thomas, which are found on Thirteenth Step. I'll list the names of the songs and track number just for reference.
1) The Package
2) Weak And Powerless
3) The Noose
4) Blue
5) Vanishing
6) A Stranger
7) The Outsider
8) Crimes
9) The Nurse Who Loved Me (Failure cover)
10) Pet
11) Lullaby
12) Gravity
Okay now that we've taken care of that, because I can't list all those lyrics, please listen to the songs yourself on YouTube they can be found, and maybe iTunes. Trust me it will help you understand them a whole lot better.
Impulses are never a good thing to live on. If we all followed ours, most of us would be dead now. If I had an impulse to jump off of a high building, I just would. And I would die because of that. Not a good thing, right? Because if I died, hopefully people would suffer from their loss more than my gain. So, that's what they're trying to get out.
Drugs severely mess up your mind in ways you cannot understand . . . you're not yourself again. Another person known for suicide is Kurt Cobain, lead singer of Nirvana. He died from a self-inflicted bullet to the head, and also had a drug addiction.
Also on a side note, Maynard was a master at writing songs, mysterious ones especially. There are many meanings that could fit one song, fill in the blanks. Which makes it even more better for you to listen to it, or to show it to someone. Because like one medicine always doesn't work for the same thing, one meaning always doesn't always connect with all people.
Our next band is Flyleaf, a Christian rock band. The song "Tina" is about a woman named Tina who married a man, thinking they would have a nice family and live happily ever after. But it wasn't true and he started beating her, and it got worse and worse until it came to a daily thing. Tina got so frustrated like there was nothing more for her in this life, she poured gasoline all over her body, and set herself on fire. Soon the pain became so immense, that she couldn't take that anymore. So for the first time in her life, she prayed.
She said "God if you're real, you would take my pain away." And after that she went into a coma, and when she came out of it, it made her begin to realize that her purpose to tell people that suicide is such a selfish thing and make sure they get that. She was so lucky, and glad that she got a second chance, and a new clearer perspective on things. Lacey (lead singer of Flyleaf) learned this after one of their concerts, when Tina just walked up to her and said "I want to tell you my story." Tina was so honest, and she was burnt so badly. Before she was burnt, she was gorgeous, magazine cover gorgeous. Now people were only looking at her burns, and they'd try to ignore her thinking she must be some horrible monster inside. Let all of you learn that, you shouldn't just end it because of one thing, and that you all have a purpose, or else you wouldn't be here. And also you shouldn't judge someone by their cover, let the book open up, and understand it.
Most of their other songs, are just based on how bad things can happen to you, and how you can become aggravated, like if someone died that you loved or held very closely etc., and how you could just get mad and shun God thinking he wasn't there for you and it's his fault . . . but they try to get you to realize, it's a good thing if they were suffering, like from cancer or something that was causing them more and more pain everyday. And that they're still there with you, maybe not in person, but in spirit.
Now I'm going to ask a few people what they think on these topics. First person is, Carolyn, Whyville username nursemeup.
Asylumx33: What do you think about suicide? Is it selfish of the person who committed it? Explain.
nursemeup: I have a negative view of suicide. It is a very selfish thing to do. What about your loved ones? What about the pain they would feel? What about how it effects everyone surrounding you? There are other ways of dealing with hurt, pain, and the emotions of not wanting to live.
Asylumx33: Good ideas, thank you.
On to my next person, Holly, Whyville username xdinox3.
Asylumx33: Are drugs extremely harmful to the users, and people around them? And also do you think in the long run people might regret it, and wish that they could do it over again. Have you ever done drugs? Explain.
xdinox3: Yes they are. Yes, people also might want a do-over if they do drugs, it messes them up seriously. And lastly no I haven't done drugs, hopefully don't ever.
Asylumx33: Thanks for your opinion. And also, it's nice to hear that you don't do drugs.
Okay, last person, Cassie, Whyville username RawrGirl.
Asylumx33: Have you ever heard of the bands A Perfect Circle, or Flyleaf? And do you think they're good influences? Have you ever had anyone pass away, that you loved/cared about, and maybe for a while thought it wasn't fair they were taken away from you? Was their death maybe caused by drugs, or suicide? Or was it just natural.
RawrGirl: I have heard of Flyleaf but I haven't heard any of their songs, and I have no clue who they are. Yes, my grandma died two years ago from cancer. And l was like why me? It wasn't until like two months later I realized she was gone, it hit me really hard.
~Asylumx33, going back to talking at Pool Party.
