Devin Townsend Responds to Brent Hinds’ Comments About Needing a Break
Some comments Mastodon guitarist Brent Hinds recently made about the relentless grind of his job as a touring musician — “The most brutal job I’ve ever had,” amongst some very not-nice things about the music industry — made the rounds this week, generating quite a bit of discussion about the modern realities of making a living as a musician.
Those comments caught the eye of Devin Townsend, who offered his own thoughts on Twitter (incorrectly attributed to MetalSucks, but thanks for the love, Dev!) and then engaged in a candid back-and-forth with several fans. It’s no surprise that Devin was sympathetic to Hinds’ situation, and in typical Devy fashion he added some of his own insight into the nuanced psychological aspects of the whole thing.
Read some of the most relevant portions of that discussion below, and click on Devin’s original tweet (top) for the whole thread.
As much as I love my job, and I am unbelievably grateful for what I do, (truly) reading Brent’s account on MetalSucks resonates with a lot of people I know. It’s a very different job than it was even a decade ago.
— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) September 4, 2018
Abso-fucking-lutely
— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) September 4, 2018
The thing even people close to musicians may not recognize is that although shows are brilliant, it’s the other 23 hours of the day. It’s a constant reality that there is not a whole lot of other folks that can relate to. Theres not a lot of ‘training’ for it. It can be very dark
— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) September 4, 2018
My life has been a series of lessons, like us all, but music compounds certain insecurities by providing a false sense of importance on some levels. It’s a big hurdle for insecure people, many of which are drawn to the attention of ‘fame’ in the first place.
— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) September 4, 2018
This is a sadly accurate observation in my experience. Society in general right now is at a crossroads with mental health issues, and there’s unfortunately still a tentative feeling towards open discussion of it.
— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) September 4, 2018
Grass is always greener. I wouldn’t trade my work for a 9-5, but it brings unique challenges that would probably not make sense had you not had to contend with them. I am very happy, but it’s a constant type of strange internal battle that often threatens to ‘take you’
— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) September 4, 2018
I often do brother
— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) September 4, 2018
I’m around great people and I am in a position now to architect my destiny. I am taking my time making sure my next steps are sure.
— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) September 4, 2018
You should.
— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) September 4, 2018
It is. Many musicians struggle with it, but not because they don’t want to be there for the people who care for the work so much, but just because it disallows recuperation after the flights. If you can’t retreat, people tend to internalize the stress or turn to things to blot it
— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) September 4, 2018
There’s no blame I don’t think. It’s not like musicians should be pitied, but I believe the realities of what it’s doing to some folks will slowly change the expectations on the road from those who steer the ship. Martyrs at this point are just common, not sexy.
— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) September 4, 2018
That’s why as artists, we need to emotionally protect ourselves and be proactive (if at all possible) with setting boundaries. It’s ultimately up to us if we love our work to do so.
— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) September 4, 2018
Yeah I see that too. The level that his band and others in his league work at (which is higher than I) requires being seen everywhere in the world and grinding it out 24-7. You can work till you die and you won’t scratch the surface of the people who would like to see you.
— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) September 4, 2018
I do understand what you’re saying though and I hope you get a chance to experience what you desire from music. Good luck brother.
— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) September 4, 2018
That’s all it is really. Dude needs a break.
— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) September 4, 2018
We all need music. It’s good that it is coming to light because it allows a dialogue that artists can potentially restructure their priorities through. If people we rely on for music end up self destructing due to lack of understanding, we all lose.
— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) September 4, 2018
It’s a brilliant job, but the realities of the schedules and craziness of the attention is only now kind of coming out without as much of the ‘get a real job..’ rhetoric. Every job has ups and downs but music has not really been viewed as bizzare as it actually is until recently.
— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) September 4, 2018
I do it because I am almost biologically compelled to create music and have worked long enough to eke out a niche for myself to do so. It’s absurd how fortunate I am to have this reality, however the amount of musicians dying isn’t a result of a proliferation of ‘wimps’ in music.
— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) September 4, 2018
This is true
— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) September 4, 2018
But understand that if we choose to do it, it’s because we care to. We always have the option not to. The point is not playing the martyr role once it becomes too much I guess.
— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) September 4, 2018
Yes sometimes, but it’s a choice. I really just hope in moving forward that the bands we all enjoy don’t get pushed past the point that they can handle-the music will suffer. I know people in bigger bands that kind of emotionally spiral due to the bubble they find themselves in.
— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) September 4, 2018
Yes. Though I thank my lucky stars every day that the people who support what I do have kept my head above water in an unlikely climate. Thats why I tend to step back when it gets too much on a personal level, I can’t allow the craziness to ruin the balance that makes it all work
— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) September 4, 2018
Keep in mind I’m not necessarily talking about myself here. I have made changes in my world to protect my ability to create. But some bands out there we both like are on a treadmill that it’s likely they won’t be able to come off of for a long time.
— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) September 4, 2018
That’s a healthy viewpoint I think.
— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) September 4, 2018
I understand that, yeah. Though as a fan, I understand the expectations as well. The problem in my eyes is that often artists get seen as ‘more than just people’ after years in the public eye, when they clearly are just like everyone else.
— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) September 4, 2018
I can understand that, for sure, but it’s absolutely human, there’s people who excel at things in all walks of life – doctors, athletes, welding, whatever… it’s good to remember that a skill doesn’t make people immune from the normal trials of life.
— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) September 4, 2018
[via Ultimate Guitar]
