The world of rock and roll has always been a realm of highs and lows, and it's not just the music that follows this rollercoaster journey. Beyond the flashing lights and the roaring crowds, the lives of rockstars often unfold as epic tales of triumph and tragedy. Why do celebrities who enjoy meteoric success in their careers face an inexplicable demise? Well, it has to do a lot with mental health. Let us quickly dive into the story of some of the biggest rockstars of our age who soared to the pinnacle of musical success, only to succumb to the demons inside their heads.

Kurt Cobain: The Grunge Icon

Kurt Cobain, a name synonymous with the grunge movement in the late 1970s, was the brooding genius behind the popular band Nirvana, which also had Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters fame as the drummer. Known for his seething lyrics and rebel persona, Cobain redefined the conventions of mainstream rock. He became the voice of a generation, influencing countless with his unique blend of alternative rock paired with grunge vocals that was novel back in his time.

Cobain had a difficult childhood, including his parents' divorce when he was just nine years old. He often suffered from depression, which eventually led to addiction. At a very early age, he started experimenting with drugs and alcohol. Despite being hailed as the voice of his generation after Nirvana's rapid rise to fame, Cobain later resented this recognition. He felt that his message and artistic vision had been misunderstood by the public.

Cobain's lyrics were his refuge, a place to channel his feelings of alienation, pain, and a longing for understanding. While his most popular hit song, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" became an anthem of rebellion, it was "You Know You're Right" that seem to have pierced a bullet through the window of his soul.

She just wants to love herself

I will move away from here

You won't be afraid of fear

No thought was put into this

I always knew to come like this

Things have never been so swell

I have never failed to fail...

The aforementioned excerpt from his song is thought to be a deeply personal and introspective piece that showcases Cobain's unique songwriting style and heartfelt pain. These emotions were a reflection of the personal struggles he grappled with, including heroin addiction, depression, and the overwhelming pressures of fame. Moreover, his life was marked by a tumultuous relationship with his wife and fellow musician Courtney Love. In April 1994, Kurt Cobain's life was cut short when he was found dead at the age of 27, a victim of self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

Kurt Cobain performing Nirvana's most popular anti-establishment anthem—Smells Like Teen Spirit

Chris Cornell: The Sonic Shaman

Widely regarded as one of the greatest rock singers of all time, Christopher John Cornell was an American singer, songwriter, and musician who gained fame as the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and primary lyricist for the rock bands Soundgarden and Audioslave. Cornell's exceptional talent and vocal prowess earned him high praise from music journalists, fan polls, and fellow musicians. His impressive record sales reflect his popularity, with over 14.8 million albums, 8.8 million digital songs, and 300 million on-demand audio streams sold in the U.S. alone. His influence extended globally, as he sold over 30 million records worldwide. In addition to his band affiliations, Cornell had a successful solo career and made notable contributions to various movie soundtracks. However, Cornell's remarkable career was shadowed by a lifelong struggle with depression.

In his song "Show Me How to Live" by Audioslave, Cornell's poignant plea – "Nail in my hand, from my creator, you gave me life, now show me how to live" – spoke volumes about his inner struggles. After battling years of depression, on May 18, 2017, eventually the world lost a musical genius when Cornell was found lifeless in his Detroit hotel room, the victim of suicide by hanging.

Chris Cornell Singing, 'Be Yourself' released in 2005 as a single from his album, Casy Historia. Cornell's emotive vocals and poignant lyrics capture the essence of self-empowerment and individuality.

Chester Bennington: The Roaring Titan

Fast forward to the new millennium, we had Chester Bennington, the charismatic frontman of Linkin Park, which has so far been the greatest rock band of the 21st century having sold over 100 million records worldwide. Chester creatively fused alternative, nu-metal, and electronic elements with lyrics that delves into the depths of the human psyche, exploring themes of pain, struggle, and redemption. His powerful and emotional lyrics, often accompanied by roaring vocals, struck a chord with millions. However, beneath that veneer of fame and success, Chester fought relentless battles with his inner demons for most of his life.

In songs like "Fighting Myself," Bennington laid bare his struggles. Originally written during the recording of "Meteora" in 2002, the song was released in March 2023 as a tribute to him.

Excerpt from the song, Fighting Myself:

I didn't want you to think I'm worn out so easily

I wish I'd held it in so you never knew what built up inside of me

Now I don't know how it overflows, spilled out unwillingly

But now everything that I learned to hate came out for you to see

I don't want you to promise you can change everything and make it better

'Cause you can bet I'm gonna end up ruining it forever

And every time you think you got everything put back together

I end up making more regrets, making more regrets

Falling from grace, I watch it all come apart

Knowing I could've changed it all from the start

Fighting myself, I always lose

Fighting myself, I always lose...

Evidently, the lyrics speak of inner conflict and the relentless turmoil of battling his personal obstacles. It highlights the internal conflict that many people face while trying to find their place in the world.

In a candid interview with the Los Angeles radio station, Chester Bennington spoke of his daily struggles, revealing the relentless patterns of self-destructive thoughts that plagued his mind. He was quoted saying, ”I don't know if anybody out there can relate but like I have a hard time with life sometimes sometimes it's great but a lot of times for me it's really hard and um and no matter how I'm feeling like I always find myself like struggling with certain patterns of behave I find myself like stuck in like in like the same thing that keeps repeating over and over again and I'm just like how do I end up how am I in this I know that for me when I'm inside myself when I'm in my own head it gets this place right here this this the skull between my ears that is a bad neighborhood and I am I should not be in there alone I'm in that like I get I my whole life gets thrown off like if I'm in there like I don't say nice things to myself like there's another Chester in there that's like wants to take me down.”

On July 20, 2017, his family vacation was cut short when he returned home to fulfill band-related commitments. The following morning, he was discovered lifeless in his home, a poignant reminder of his last moments with his beloved family. Like Chris Cornell, Bennington's death was a result of suicide by hanging.

Chester singing "Breaking the Habit" a popular song by Linkin Park, released in 2003 as part of their album "Minutes to Midnight". The song is also known for its heavy guitar riffs, emotional vocals, and thought-provoking lyrics.

Chester’s death in 2017, eerily close to his dear friend Chris Cornell's, was a stark reminder of the demons of the mind that even the most successful people on this planet grapple with. Given the way the lives of these rockstars unfolded dramatically, there is not a mote of doubt that the human mind remains the most mysterious and dark labyrinth on this plane of existence. Often than not, a smiling face can be a mask concealing a multitude of battles within the mind's hidden chambers. Here it is important to understand the fact that demons that haunt the human psyche spare no one, regardless of wealth, fame, or influence.

Listening to your inner voice, a concept often romanticized and revered by self-help buffs, can indeed be a double-edged sword. While it holds the potential to guide you towards profound insights and decisions, it can also lead you down a treacherous path if you fail to distinguish between the whispers of enlightenment and the seductive murmurs of darkness within your minds.

Know that your mind sometimes can be a battleground where the forces of hope and despair engage in ceaseless combat, preventing you from transcending to the higher realms of consciousness. The real danger arises when no one's around and your inner voice opens a Pandora's box of carnal desires, unchecked impulses, and self-destructive tendencies. To overcome this, you need to learn to discern your inner voice and guide it towards transcendence by silencing the destructive whispers and embracing the thoughts that uplift, inspire, and heal the wounds of your soul. However, in the age of social media where personal lives of people are often subjected to pubic parade & scrutiny, finding such moments of solitude for introspection can be challenging. True happiness can be completely elusive, therefore, it is important to take a step back and reflect on life and experiences that connect you to real people in your lives.

Moreover, in order to confront these inner demons, you must consciously dissect the patterns that give rise to such torment. You must realize that the fear residing in your minds is often an illusion, a specter of your own creation triggered by karmic manifestations of your soul.

Sometimes astrology, a scientific telescope to your soul, can help you comprehend the karmic manifestations of your current existence here on earth. In astrology, the concept of north node of the moon, akin to the head of a demon, is believed to influence mental health either adversely or positively. Understanding your own astrological influences can guide you in unraveling the knots that bind your minds with ease.

So if you find yourself battling demons inside your head, understand that you are not alone. Feel free to use the birth chart below to find the placement of your north node in this lifetime and talk to experts about how you can minimise the adverse effects of north mode placements and free your mind.

Always remember that your inner voice is your intelligence. Therefore, do not waste a second of this precious lifetime in letting your intelligence work against you, rather expand your consciousness to allow the inner voices to act as a true compass that will will help you navigate through the intricacies of your mind, towards your destiny of finding inner peace within the deepest crevices of your soul.