Over 300 Million people today live with some form of mental illness or clinical depression, and in far too many cases this ends with suicide. Musicians, and artists of every discipline, deal with a tremendous amount of uncertainty in life as a direct result of their choice in life to pursue what makes them happy. Add to this a pandemic, social distancing, canceled tours, shows, and venues closing, and we have a serious potential disaster in the making. Gus Rios and Mika Fineo have teamed up to start a conversation, to offer insight and support, and we are behind them 100%. If you or someone you know is suffering from depression, please see the list of resources at the bottom of this article, and have faith that taking that first step for help is the right thing to do.
From Gus Rios: I have known Mika Fineo (ex: Filter) since he was 14yrs old, he’s like a little brother to me.
Unfortunately, as we grew older, depression and anxiety became a real struggle for both of us and still is. The fact that we both chose to live a life chasing our dreams and deal with the added pressure of uncertainty (the music industry), made this experience even more intense. I mean, the music industry crushes most dreams, and that was before this whole pandemic. Things have gotten pretty dire in 2020 but we need to remember that WE ARE NOT ALONE.
I asked Mika to appear on an episode of The Gus and SethMetal Show, which has been keeping me from going totally dark! I knew it would help him tremendously. Then we thought “let’s try and help someone else” so we decided to dedicate the episode to Mental Health Awareness and talk about our personal struggles. The hope is that if we can reach and help even ONE person realize they are not alone, then the really uncomfortable conversation we are about to have in public will have been worth it.
Musicians are riddled with Mental Health Issues and we’re just not talking about it enough! So, let’s change that!
We will also be playing some killer Filter tunes LIVE! Please tune in at 5 PM EST on July 3rd and share. You just may help save someone you love.
From Mike Fineo: I think it’s been almost 25 years since I first met Gus, and like he said… he has always been a big brother to me.
As a young kid growing up in the South Florida music scene (well at least whatever we had of one) I always looked up to Gus! I actually met Gus when he was working at the local drum shop between his gigs. Though I could rarely ever afford to purchase any gear back then, I would still call up Gus at the store and ask thousands of questions on drums, music, endorsements, touring, etc. I would literally drive him insane… all while he was at work! Hell, I would even beg my pops to drop me off at the store while he ran errands because I knew Gus would hang with me. As I was so young and broke back then, Gus never really made any money off of me while he worked there, but he never gave me the cold shoulder, he believed in my talent, and always gave me the time. Gus would soon become a mentor to me as a young player and a key component in the development of who I would become as a musician. Later on, in my musical journey, I was able to land my very first endorsements all because of Gus.
Fast forward to today, I’m sure everyone now knows most of Gus and I’s musical success… the countless tours, the albums, the list of credits. Through it all, we both continue to experience massive highs within it at times, yet the highs always come accompanied by incredible lows soon after, and this is all too common within this “fugazi” of a profession and lifestyle. Tie this all in with the ever-evolving challenges we face within today’s music industry, fused among the common struggles of daily life (and scars from our youth), and powerful agitators manifest and begin to attack the mental state.
Like so many, I have fought the good fight within my own dark battles with depression and anxiety for years. It was only until I started openly expressing my struggles with it to others that I would begin to see a loving community of fellow “misfits” start to build around me. I was taken back by the commonality of it all with my peers, yet shaken by how deadly a “silent struggle” within it could become. I experienced the loss of so many of my close friends… all of whom kept quiet about their secret battle.
Given the circumstances of today, we now see more and more loss because of broken states of mental health. We are in a current crisis where people are being forced to slow down, awakening all the demons we’ve shoved under the rug over the years by keeping busy and distracted through work, art, businesses, family, substances… you name it – anything to keep the demons at bay. So when Gus asked me to be on the show (which I gotta say how proud I am of him for having the courage and strength to do something like this) I said: “hey, you and I both deal with ‘the darkness’ on the daily… so why don’t we get the balls to integrate mental health awareness into an episode or two?” Maybe we can craft a conversation for friends and fans to join in with their struggles alongside us, while we also share the joys of the musical arts.” And there it began… the next Gus and SethMetal Show episode!
I’m really looking forward to getting together with these dudes and rippin’ through a couple of episodes with you all. OH YEAH, I’ll also be dusting off my old FILTER chops on a few songs (which I don’t think I’ve played a lick of since I left the group). That should be fun… and interesting. 🙂
Gus Rios is currently the drummer of Gruesome, on Relapse Records, and has played/recorded/toured with bands like Malevolent Creation, Create A Kill, Upon Infliction, and others.
In addition to being a member of Filter, Mika Fineo has both toured and tracked for Karmin, Elliott Yamin (American Idol), Puddle of Mudd, and many more. Mika studied with virtuoso drummers Chris Coleman, Dave Elitch, and The University of Miami’s Steve Rucker (also of The BeeGees).
Free Hotline Numbers
If your depression has caused you to lose a job, drop out of school, lose touch with family or friends, or if you’ve noticed changes in your sleep and appetite that have not improved, contact one of these free resources to learn more about treating your depression.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
SAMHSA’s behavioral health treatment services locator is an easy and anonymous way to locate treatment facilities and other resources, such as support groups and counselors, to treat and manage depression.
- National Hopeline Network: 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)
If your depression is leading to suicidal thoughts, call the National Hopeline to connect with a depression treatment center in your area. The Hopeline also offers a live chat feature for those who don’t want to (or are unable to) call and can dispatch emergency crews to your location if necessary.
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
This national hotline is another valuable resource for people whose depression has escalated to suicidal or other harmful thoughts. Their network of crisis centers provide emotional support and guidance to people in distress and are also available via a chat service and a special hotline number for the hearing impaired: 1-800-799-4889.
- National Youth Crisis Hotline: 1-800-448-4663
This resource provides brief interventions for youth who are dealing with pregnancy, sexual abuse, child abuse, depression, and suicidal thoughts. They also provide referrals to local counseling, treatment centers, and shelters.
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