Passion Pit Announces Hiatus For Mental Health Reasons
Passion Pit mastermind Michael Angelakos has long been open about his struggles with bipolar disorder. And in a series of tweets last night, he announced that, for mental health reasons, he’s not going to be making music for the foreseeable future. On Twitter, as Brooklyn Vegan points out, Angelakos wrote that he can’t keep doing what he’s doing “until it is safer and healthier for us to be advocates, to be a writers, producers, and performers.” He writes that he’s “always making music,” but based on what he’s saying, it sure looks like he’s done, at least for now. Here’s what he’s written:
Bipolar disorder is the sixth leading cause of disability in the world. (via WHO). I have bipolar I disorder (and a hell of a lot of luck)??
— #weneedscience (@passionpit) July 24, 2017
Many people congratulate me on"recovering" — a compliment, actually, but complicated. Mental health awareness often just lead to… that.
— #weneedscience (@passionpit) July 24, 2017
Who could blame people for not understanding something that scientists, doctors, advocates, and patients say they also do not understand?
— #weneedscience (@passionpit) July 24, 2017
Until it is safer and healthier for us to be advocates, to be a writers, producers, and performers, I simply cannot continue making music.
— #weneedscience (@passionpit) July 24, 2017
You're either committed to it or not. To raise awareness one moment and announce a show the next doesn't help me. It hurts me. And others.
— #weneedscience (@passionpit) July 24, 2017
I love Passion Pit and I love music even more. When something would be wrong, I'd try to ignore it. Then I'd almost die. Really.
— #weneedscience (@passionpit) July 24, 2017
History loves to repeat itself and it's because of systems and their flaws. So, I decided to make solving this issue my priority for now. xo
— #weneedscience (@passionpit) July 24, 2017
??am really glad it is helping! it used to kind of help me, but the system in which i make it is not, so let's fix that, then music'll be 🙌 https://t.co/67ECHqfdfz
— #weneedscience (@passionpit) July 24, 2017
poor working conditions = boycotts https://t.co/keeXTa0q8T
— #weneedscience (@passionpit) July 24, 2017
how many more episodes of behind the music do we need? how many more artists need to die? sexual harassment lawsuits need to be thrown out?
— #weneedscience (@passionpit) July 24, 2017
i make so much music on a regular basis. the only way i can do that is because i work really hard to stay healthy. better health = more art
— #weneedscience (@passionpit) July 24, 2017
it's the 5th-anniversary of Gossamer, an album that is about and the product of a manic episode. I nearly lost everything, including my life
— #weneedscience (@passionpit) July 24, 2017
trying to make sure that Gossamer doesn't happen to me or anyone ever again. 🙏?? #weneedscience https://t.co/vGgwHYregc
— #weneedscience (@passionpit) July 24, 2017
🙏 i am always making music. will only release music if it is to benefit the work i am doing to improve the environment in which it is made https://t.co/1uZK02fjcP
— #weneedscience (@passionpit) July 24, 2017
lead with love and you will not lose. i'm going in. ???? – ma
— #weneedscience (@passionpit) July 24, 2017