JULY/AUGUST 2011 ISSUE MMUSICMAG.COM INDIE SCENE Teresa Jolie Teresa Matt Noveskey, Ryan Delahoussaye, Justin Furstenfeld, Jeremy Furstenfeld, Julian Mandrake BLUE OCTOBER Fueled by domestic despair, a platinum-selling band goes its own way BLUE OCTOBER LEADER JUSTIN represent only a sample of the 178 songs awareness and addiction recovery. Even Furstenfeld doesn’t just wear his heart on he was driven to write over the past three when Blue October saw platinum sales for his sleeve—on his band’s latest album, Any years. “My job is to say what you’re not its 2006 effort Foiled, thanks to hit singles Man in America, it’s visible on practically supposed to say,” he insists. “I’m never “Hate Me” and “Into the Ocean,” Furstenfeld every thread of his wardrobe. The anthemic going to edit anything.” However, the never shied away from sharing his demons. melodies and stream-of-consciousness band—which also includes violinist and “I never thought songs about suicide and lyrics document in unfl inching detail the pianist Ryan Delahoussaye, lead guitarist drug addiction could ever be hits,” he admits. unraveling of Furstenfeld’s marriage and Julian Mandrake, bassist Matt Noveskey “But people want to hear something real.” his struggle to keep his relationship with and Justin’s brother Jeremy on drums— Still, when Blue October’s sales his young daughter intact. “This was a very wasn’t so sure. “They were saying things leveled off Furstenfeld discovered that the personal thing, and I couldn’t handle it on like, ‘You’re going to ruin our career by group’s label suddenly lost its enthusiasm my own,” he says, relaxing after a long day doing this, the label’s going to drop us for for those songs. “When we sold a million of rehearsals for the group’s upcoming tour. doing this,’” he says. “Little did they know records, suddenly everybody was really “So this album was my therapeutic way of we were going to be dropped anyway.” nice and I was the best guy in the world,” he being able to deal with it.” Indeed, 2009’s Approaching Normal recalls. “Then when the next album only sold Indeed, Furstenfeld’s lyrics leave little proved to be Blue October’s last major- 200,000 copies, everybody wasn’t being to the imagination: “I’m done with holding label release. “I’m not stupid,” Furstenfeld as nice. When you’re famous, people love this in/I’m done with being a friend/I’d like declares. “I’ve been doing this for 22 you for the wrong reasons.” Now the band it all to just end,” he wails on “The Flight years. I don’t need a big label. They take answers only to itself—Any Man is being (LNK to MSP).” In “Drama Everything,” 20 percent of the touring, 20 percent released on its own Up/Down Records he’s even more blunt: “Just watch me walk of your publishing, 20 percent of the imprint. “I never wanted to be famous,” away.” “I’ve always been pretty open about merchandising. Hell, no! I’ll do it myself.” Furstenfeld says. “I never wanted to be a everything,” Furstenfeld says. “I tend to put Furstenfeld’s candor is nothing rock star or to be rich. I just wanted to tell myself out there—that way I don’t have to new—he has long been vocal about his good stories and the truth of the world over make any excuses later.” battles with bipolar disorder and drug some really fat beats and good hooks that He’s certainly not about to start now. abuse, experiences that have moved people will remember.” Furstenfeld says the 13 tracks on Any Man him to become a spokesman for suicide –Lee Zimmerman 75 M mag 13.indd 75 8/30/11 4:49:05 PM.