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00s rockstar broke up with wife to protect her from psychosis ‘nightmare’-Kitty Chrisp-Entertainment – Metro
‘I believed that she was in danger.’
Matt Shultz has described his years living in a constant state of panic (Picture: Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images)
Cage The Elephant’s Matt Shultz has detailed his ‘nightmarish’ psychosis ordeal, which led to him breaking up with his wife Eva.
The frontman, 40 – who founded Cage The Elephant with brother Brad Shultz – has revealed his ADHD medication triggered a psychotic breakdown in 2020 that would go on for a number of years.
In a candid interview, Matt described the years he experienced ‘a state of hypervigilance, paranoia and sadly delusions’ as a living nightmare.
‘Psychosis is very powerful. In a sense your mind is hijacked,’ he told CBS Mornings, adding: ‘It was a nightmarish life. It was a state of panic 24/7.’
The rocker – who is set to appear as Oasis’ support act for some of their North American tour – explained: ‘I believed that I was being chased by “they” – whoever “they” were – for 4 or 5 years.’
Brother Brad added: ‘It was constant worry. There was nothing I could do in a sense other than be there for him.’
Matt says he would not be here if it wasn’t for Eva – who he renewed his vows with after recovering (Picture: Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Sony)
He was arrested in January 2023 for possession of loaded firearms – an incident which he described as the best thing that could have happened (Picture: PG/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
Cigarette Daydreams frontman Matt showed a photo album with some of the 20,000 polaroid pictures of his ‘perfectly placed belongings’ he took while he was ill.
‘I believed that [wife Eva] was in danger being close to me so if I distanced myself from her she would be safe,’ Matt added, explaining his split from his wife during this time.
His illness came to a head in 2023, when Matt was arrested in New York City for possession of loaded firearms.
Matt confirmed there were ‘weapons drawn’ in the Bowery Hotel in lower Manhattan when he was confronted by the police, and said the moment saved his life.
‘It turned out to be the best thing that could have happened,’ reflected Matt, who was immediately hospitalised on his arrest.
As the effects of the ADHD medication wore off in hospital, the No Rest For The Wicked singer started to see clearer.
‘I thought, how could I let this happen to me?’ said Matt, who is still to this day ‘working on’ self-forgiveness for his ordeal.
On his recovery, Matt and his wife got back together and renewed their vows in New York, which he said ‘felt amazing’ and was ‘one of the greatest experiences in my life’.
His brother Brad said he was constantly worried about Matt (Picture: Erika Goldring/Getty Images)
He added: ‘Without my wife Eva I would 100% not be here.’
Cage The Elephant’s new album Neon Pill is largely shaped by Matt’s psychosis nightmare, with their single of the same name’s music video seeing him in a hospital bed and running in a dark corridor, as random people look in mirrors and see themselves without eyes.
The lyrics go: ‘It’s a hit and run, oh no / double-crossed by a neon pill / like a loaded gun, my love / I lost control of the wheel.’
Matt – who also paints to capture his emotional state through art – along with his brother Brad, formed Cage The Elephant in 2006.
They started playing music together in a ‘tiny bedroom’ of their grandmother’s trailer park, where they lived when their parents divorced, and Matt found his first drum kit in a dumpster.
What is psychosis?
Psychosis happens when people lose some contact with reality.
This might involve seeing or hearing things that other people cannot see or hear (hallucinations) and believing things that are not actually true (delusions). It may also involve confused (disordered) thinking and speaking.
You should see a GP immediately if you’re experiencing symptoms of psychosis.
If you’re concerned about someone you know, you could contact a GP for them.
If you think the person’s symptoms are severe enough to require urgent treatment and could be placing them at possible risk, you can:
take them to the nearest A&E, if they agree
call their GP or local out-of-hours GP
call 999 and ask for an ambulance
A number of mental health helplines are also available that can offer expert advice.
What causes psychosis?
Conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and severe depression can cause psychosis, though it can also be triggered by a traumatic experience, stress, drug misuse, alcohol misuse, the side effects of prescribed medicine, a physical condition (such as a brain tumour or dementia), a head injury or childbirth.
Treatment includes antipsychotic medication, talking therapies, or social support where necessary.
The other band members include Nick Bockrath, Matthan Minster, Daniel Tichenor and Jared Champion, as well as former member Lincoln Parish.
Cage The Elephant enjoyed success on the rock charts with their first, self-titled album in 2008, and their next – Thank You, Happy Birthday, went on to bring them mainstream popularity.
The band has won two Grammy awards for best rock album, first in 2017 for fourth album Tell Me I’m Pretty, and again in 2020 for fifth album Social Cues.
They were also nominated for a Grammy in 2016, as third album Melophobia was considered for Best Alternative Music Album.
Their first nomination came in 2011 at the MTV Video Music Awards, when their track Shake Me Down was nominated for Best Rock Video.
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