Depression Support Group
Depression is a real and debilitating condition that is often misunderstood by family and friends. Its meaning can range from a prolonged period of sadness to an actual mental illness with specific symptoms. Find and share experiences with others who are going through the same struggles.
For my 15th birthday I asked for an electric guitar. I was lucky enough to recieve one. It was a Gibson copy by a company called Hando II. Looked like the Les Paul classic, black with white binding.
My friend, Very Metal, showed me some blues riffs and slowly we learnt to play together, really just fucking about, being as kids are. Despite our raw years and there being only the two of us, we formed a band called Anarchy Church. We had plectrums made but never really did anything other than playing ISS and making noise.
Towards the end of my school life, I formed a band called F.R.E.T with a couple of friends and we actually tried to get some songs together. After an entire summer of making noise in my garage, we could play a few Greenday covers and the odd P.U.S.A song, again, we never went anywhere.
Nothing happened for a while but we started going to local punk gigs, just to get our foot in. One night, at a club (yeah, we were underage but rebellion rocks) I was wearing a homemade Operation Ivy shirt and got to talking to a long haired layabout who appeared to be a local promoter. I told him we had a band and everything.
Next day I got a call asking if we wanted a gig, I said yes then tried my hardest, with others to get enough songs to blag our way through a half hour set. We had to borrow a drummer and the gig was terrible but we rocked it nonetheless.
The band was called Confucious Says but we didnt last, although we had a bloody good run of things.
When we split I formed another band with a couple of former Confucious members, which is almost like inbreeding. We called ourselves The Yop Radio Saga and for an entire summer I must have played 3 gigs a week, it was a wonderful experience. Bad blood between the drummer and guitarist split that band but they're all friends now. At the same time I was in this band, I was also in a band called Drunken Dunc and his Skankin Punx, which was fucking awesome. Again, it didnt last, spot a trend?
After that came Anything 2 Please, which was a hodge-podge of local bands pushed together, we played cheesey pop/punk/ska gubbins with strange and sometimes offensive lyrics. This was another band that didnt last.
After that ended, I tried to get into helping friends record their dancey stuff, providing bass lines but I hated it.
Then there was a 7 year break, where music did not flow and it was the most miserable part of my life. Over those 7 years I failed to find direction and my voice. The realisation that I could not work outside of the frame work of a band was clear. I am just not a solo musician.
I joined DS in 2007/08 (cant remember, depression has caused gaps where misery reigns.) and I was a mess but i refused to see the obvious: I need music in my life.
In april 2009 I was asked by a mate to play guitar in their band and this has helped me more than anything to regain my confidence. I feel at home. The joy music brings me seems so bloody obvious now but sometimes you cannot see the wood for the trees.
So now I am playing again and things are looking up.
What helps you? What is the thing in your life that saves you?
Here are some links for those who haven't heard or seen.
Confucious Says...
http://www.myspace.com/bobgarnishmart
Yop Radio Saga
http://www.myspace.com/yopradiosaga
Anything 2 Please
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsIbMMfaRqE
Vs The Tractor
http://www.myspace.com/vsthetractor
My friend, Very Metal, showed me some blues riffs and slowly we learnt to play together, really just fucking about, being as kids are. Despite our raw years and there being only the two of us, we formed a band called Anarchy Church. We had plectrums made but never really did anything other than playing ISS and making noise.
Towards the end of my school life, I formed a band called F.R.E.T with a couple of friends and we actually tried to get some songs together. After an entire summer of making noise in my garage, we could play a few Greenday covers and the odd P.U.S.A song, again, we never went anywhere.
Nothing happened for a while but we started going to local punk gigs, just to get our foot in. One night, at a club (yeah, we were underage but rebellion rocks) I was wearing a homemade Operation Ivy shirt and got to talking to a long haired layabout who appeared to be a local promoter. I told him we had a band and everything.
Next day I got a call asking if we wanted a gig, I said yes then tried my hardest, with others to get enough songs to blag our way through a half hour set. We had to borrow a drummer and the gig was terrible but we rocked it nonetheless.
The band was called Confucious Says but we didnt last, although we had a bloody good run of things.
When we split I formed another band with a couple of former Confucious members, which is almost like inbreeding. We called ourselves The Yop Radio Saga and for an entire summer I must have played 3 gigs a week, it was a wonderful experience. Bad blood between the drummer and guitarist split that band but they're all friends now. At the same time I was in this band, I was also in a band called Drunken Dunc and his Skankin Punx, which was fucking awesome. Again, it didnt last, spot a trend?
After that came Anything 2 Please, which was a hodge-podge of local bands pushed together, we played cheesey pop/punk/ska gubbins with strange and sometimes offensive lyrics. This was another band that didnt last.
After that ended, I tried to get into helping friends record their dancey stuff, providing bass lines but I hated it.
Then there was a 7 year break, where music did not flow and it was the most miserable part of my life. Over those 7 years I failed to find direction and my voice. The realisation that I could not work outside of the frame work of a band was clear. I am just not a solo musician.
I joined DS in 2007/08 (cant remember, depression has caused gaps where misery reigns.) and I was a mess but i refused to see the obvious: I need music in my life.
In april 2009 I was asked by a mate to play guitar in their band and this has helped me more than anything to regain my confidence. I feel at home. The joy music brings me seems so bloody obvious now but sometimes you cannot see the wood for the trees.
So now I am playing again and things are looking up.
What helps you? What is the thing in your life that saves you?
Here are some links for those who haven't heard or seen.
Confucious Says...
http://www.myspace.com/bobgarnishmart
Yop Radio Saga
http://www.myspace.com/yopradiosaga
Anything 2 Please
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsIbMMfaRqE
Vs The Tractor
http://www.myspace.com/vsthetractor
That being said, I have sat here wracking my brain trying to come up with an answer only to realize there isn't one. There are three :D
Music - Though I never learnt to play an instrument, something I deeply regret! But yeah...music is probably the closest I come to having a religion, it's a part of me, I'm never NOT playing music.
Children - My own, my students, and all children, for that matter. Working with children is what I love, it's what gives me a purpose and well....they make me happy!
Art - It's my outlet. I don't find that I am particularly AMAZING at doing anything. But creating is something I am at least good at. Not having much money for supplies, I typically use junk :P
I checked out all of your links (obviously, as it's my duty as a fan!) and all I can say is
:O
YOUNG YOU AND VM, YAY!!!
What helps me? My friends here, reading, daydreaming, music too.
Heck I was made to smile by your reference to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sj_U6vObUA
art used to help me. now, i'm trying to find something.