Blog Post Written by Edward Espinoza, Class of 2026
“This season, we pause to give thanks for our incredible students here at UIC.” Dr. Deborah Mendez, Collective Thoughts Editor
We´re all familiar with the fact that being a rockstar is a synonym for party, deprivation, excess and many other outrageous activities. Sex, drugs, and rock & roll has been the standard classification of an unbridled lifestyle that most musicians have accomplished through the years in order to maintain a status within the media and the audiences. But this behavior is getting into a more complicated place when it comes to explaining the reasons for premature deaths in the industry.
Being a musician, besides the personal satisfaction of playing, composing and being creative with others, contains a lot of emotions and uncertainty when it comes to understanding the behavioral aspect before performing live, doing an interview or simply being the focus of the media environment on a daily basis. Some people in the industry are extroverted and like to be the center of attention, while others are shy, introverted and quiet, with a natural tendency and commitment with the music and the audience.
Taylor Hawkins, an amazing drummer with an unbeatable talent and a powerful connection with the people was touring with his band (Foo Fighters) in 2022 as a part of their South American tour. They’ve played in Chile, Argentina and Colombia, but before playing in the last country and going to stage, he started to feel sick and experienced a lot of chest pain. He called 911 from his hotel room asking for help, but when the paramedics arrived it was too late. He was pronounced dead at the age of 50 years, on March 25th of 2022. He was suffering with insecurities, depression, personal deficiencies and stage fright, which he can only control by taking different types of medications, including antidepressants. The toxicological report states that more than ten different types of drugs were found in his body. He was the drummer for the Foo Fighters for almost 26 years and now he’s gone.
Mental issues can affect us all without even knowing how to manage or behave in specific situations. He was having a mental disorder by not being emotionally stable and not being able to show how he really felt while playing live or being in a crowded place. He sadly chose the path of drug use, even though he wasn’t a drug addict, that was the only thing that kept him away from his fears and insecurities. He had a beautiful family, an amazing band, and influenced a lot of drummers (including me), but this wasn’t enough for him in order to feel complete and blissful.
Being mentally and emotionally stable is more important than being the center of attention and this is why we need to encourage ourselves to maintain a solid awareness and relationship with our emotions and feelings without being affected of what other people think or by the media glorification for being a rockstar that could attract more people, money, readers and viewers all over the world. It’s important to feel good on the inside so we can share our emotions in a more healthy way and with a positive perspective when it comes to doing what we love.
Collective Thoughts is a blog published once a semester by our UIC students, and features fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and art submitted by our undergraduate students. Our mission is to provide a plat-form to showcase the unique voice of the developing and emerging writer and to foster the love of writing.