Empathy For The Devil (Message Heard)

From the Wham Rap to Careless Whisper, Club Tropicana and Faith… Wham! and George Michael’s discographies represent some of the best pop music to come out of the 1980s, the 1990’s and beyond. George’s iconic look and sound influenced the world and won him fans in their millions. But behind the stylish, cool exterior was a man battling with inner struggles. The social constructs of the time, the death of a partner and parent, the difficulty in separating George Michael the artist from Georgios ‘Yog’ Panayiotou the man – all contributed to George’s often troubled state of mind. These factors would haunt him throughout his life, exacerbating his substance use and perhaps bringing an end to his precious life too soon.

Samantha Parker tells us his story from the joint space of a George Michael superfan and mental health practitioner. From discovering him in her teens to mourning his death in adulthood, she discusses how despite winning so many devoted fans around the world, early life events and relationships combined with fame and media scrutiny to create an inner fragility that few people saw. As George himself said “sometimes the clothes do not make the man.” 

This week’s ‘One for the Road’ chosen by Sam is super-producer Rick Rubin’s seminal book, ‘The Creative Act: A Way of Being’, which explores what creativity means, and how anyone can achieve success as an artist through their relationship to the world. You can buy a copy here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-creative-act/rick-rubin/9781838858636 

Content Warnings: drugs, addiction and rehab; homophobia, HIV and AIDs; mental health, childhood trauma, postpartum depression, xenophobia, and police entrapment. 

IMPORTANT: Alcohol withdrawal happens once an individual is physically dependent/chemically addicted and can be fatal and should only be attempted with medical guidance/assistance. The most serious form of withdrawal is called delirium tremens, or DTs. People with severe withdrawal symptoms or DTs should always have a drink if they need it while professional help is sought. If in doubt, call 999.

If you or someone you know has been affected by the themes in this episode, there are some useful organisations on Attune’s website that can be of help: www.we-are-attune.com/podcast 

Attune, as a dedicated provider of mental health and well-being services, is committed to delivering holistic support and resources. With its team of skilled professionals, Attune excels in recognising and responding to the intricate needs of people and teams in talent-based industries.

You can learn more about Attune through our website: https://www.we-are-attune.com/

Follow Attune on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/we_are_attune/#

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@weareattune 

and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/we-are-attune/ 

Empathy For The Devil is produced by Message Heard

Listen to more Message Heard shows through our website: https://messageheard.com/Follow Message Heard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/messageheard/mycompany/ and Twitter: https://x.com/messageheard?lang=en-GB 

Produced by - Harry Stott

Executive Producer - Sandra Ferrari

Edited by - Blu Posner and Ethan Judd

Production Coordinator - Lizzie Hartree 

Empathy for the Devil is Coming Soon! 

Empathy For The Devil is a brand new podcast from Attune and Message Heard that discusses music and mental health by delving into the lives of artists and performers who, despite their unique talents, left us far too soon⁠⁠. Each episode is a journey into one iconic musician, using their life story as a lens to understand them as individuals beyond societal judgments, unravelling their personal stories with empathy and understanding⁠⁠.

From George Michael to Whitney Houston, we’ll tell you what happened, but more importantly, why it happened. Our three co-hosts Samantha Parker, Matt Thomas and Chula Gudawardener explore their lives from varied angles – family trauma, addiction, societal expectations, the influence of fame⁠ – to discover more about the underlying factors that shaped them, and the universality of mental health struggles.

Join us every week from Thursday July 11th as we bring empathy to the misunderstood, the misjudged, or even the demonised⁠. Empathy for the devil…

Attune, as a dedicated provider of mental health and well-being services, is committed to delivering holistic support and resources. With its team of skilled professionals, Attune excels in recognising and responding to the intricate needs of people and teams in talent-based industries.

You can learn more about Attune through our website: https://www.we-are-attune.com/

Follow Attune on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/we_are_attune/#

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@weareattune 

and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/we-are-attune/ 

Empathy For The Devil is produced by Message Heard

Listen to more Message Heard shows through our website: https://messageheard.com/

Follow Message Heard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/messageheard/mycompany/

and Twitter: https://x.com/messageheard?lang=en-GB 

Brian Jones was a founding member of The Rolling Stones. Not only that, he originally brought the band together and was instrumental in forging their unique sound. But these days, he is probably remembered more for his erratic behaviour, drug use, and death than for his vision and talent. 

In our first episode, Matt Thomas takes the lead to tell us Brian’s story with the sensitivity of a modern mental wellbeing perspective.

From his difficult childhood to friction with bandmates and management, troubled relationships, issues with fame and identity, to his escalating substance use and out of control behaviour, his story is retold not as a rock’n roll casualty, but as someone who was in desperate need of help that simply wasn’t available. 

This first episode opens up a Pandora's box of themes which we’ll discuss again and again across the series. 

Each week, we’ll also be bringing you ‘One for the Road’ - a suggestion from that week’s host of a book, film, or anything else that relates to the topic of discussion. This week, Matt has chosen Brian Jones: ‘The Making Of The Rolling Stones’ Paul Trynka - you can buy a copy through the link: 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brian-Jones-Making-Rolling-Stones/dp/0147516455 

Content Warnings: drugs, addiction, mental health, childhood trauma, adoption, racism, misogyny, domestic abuse, drug overdose and drowning. 

IMPORTANT: Alcohol withdrawal happens once an individual is physically     dependent/chemically addicted and can be fatal and should only be attempted with medical guidance/assistance. The most serious form of withdrawal is called delirium tremens, or DTs. People with severe withdrawal symptoms or DTs should always have a drink if they need it while professional help is sought. If in doubt call 999.

If you or someone you know has been affected by the themes in this episode, there are some useful organisations on Attune’s website that can be of help: www.we-are-attune.com/podcast

Attune, as a dedicated provider of mental health and well-being services, is committed to delivering holistic support and resources. With its team of skilled professionals, Attune excels in recognising and responding to the intricate needs of people and teams in talent-based industries. 

Follow Attune on  https://linktr.ee/weareattune

Empathy For The Devil is produced by Message Heard

Listen to more Message Heard shows through our website: https://messageheard.com/

Follow Message Heard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/messageheard/mycompany/

and Twitter: https://x.com/messageheard?lang=en-GB 

This is a Message Heard Production

Produced by - Harry Stott

Executive Producer - Sandra Ferrari

Edited by - Blu Posner and Ethan Judd

Production Coordinator - Lizzie Hartree 

Kurt Cobain was one of the most powerful and influential musicians, songwriters and performers of his generation, who’s lasting legacy still permeates the sounds and attitudes of artists from all genres today. As the lead singer of Nirvana, he fronted their own brand of groundbreaking emotion-laden, guitar-heavy music into the mainstream, defining a new genre with a scream of such naked vulnerability and authenticity that it tore through the listener, perhaps reflecting the trapped feelings of a generation. The scream of a butterfly. 

But this came at a cost. As well as sharing his pain through music, Kurt Cobain lived it. Was this simply a life of magazine cover, paint by numbers, rock’n roll excess? Or the tragic story of someone with an enormous talent for expressing their pain, desperately trying to paint it in any way he could?

This week, Chula Goonerwardene takes the lead for the first time to talk about one of his favourite ever musicians – from a band who inspired him to become a drummer in the 1990s. But far from discussing the same tired, cliched ‘tortured artist’ myths that now surround Cobain after his death in 1994, Chula helps us to examine his story through a modern and empathetic mental health lens. This is a moving discussion that looks at Cobain’s life and in doing so identifies some truly universal themes. 

This week’s ‘One for the Road’ is the hit Netflix show ‘Baby Reindeer’ – it captured the world’s attention when it came out this year, and is a truly honest and provocative drama that among many other things, looks at the relationship between trauma and substance misuse in a visceral and deeply uncomfortable way. Not for the faint hearted. You can watch it through the link here: https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/81219887 

Content Warnings: substance use, addiction, rehab, overdose, suicide, childhood trauma, domestic abuse, religious indoctrination, trauma bonding.

IMPORTANT: Alcohol withdrawal happens once an individual is physically     dependent/chemically addicted and can be fatal and should only be attempted with medical guidance/assistance. The most serious form of withdrawal is called delirium tremens, or DTs. People with severe withdrawal symptoms or DTs should always have a drink if they need it while professional help is sought. If in doubt, call 999.

If you or someone you know has been affected by the themes in this episode, there are some useful organisations on Attune’s website that can be of help: www.we-are-attune.com/podcast 

Attune, as a dedicated provider of mental health and well-being services, is committed to delivering holistic support and resources. With its team of skilled professionals, Attune excels in recognising and responding to the intricate needs of people and teams in talent-based industries.

You can learn more about Attune through our website: https://www.we-are-attune.com/

Follow Attune on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/we_are_attune/#

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@weareattune 

and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/we-are-attune/ 

Empathy For The Devil is produced by Message Heard

Listen to more Message Heard shows through our website: https://messageheard.com/Follow Message Heard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/messageheard/mycompany/ and Twitter: https://x.com/messageheard?lang=en-GB 

This is a Message Heard Production

Produced by - Harry Stott

Executive Producer - Sandra Ferrari

Edited by - Blu Posner and Ethan Judd

Production Coordinator - Lizzie Hartree 

Empathy For The Devil is back for a new season, bringing you the stories of six iconic musicians who left us too soon and faced unforgiving judgement, blame and even derision both during their career and long after their passing.

As three music industry veterans turned mental health professionals, Sam, Matt and Chula unpack these tragic tales with empathy and understanding, drawing on their unique professional and lived experiences. While this podcast may be about artists who have been and gone, their challenges remain all too current, still affecting individuals in the industry today.

So join our three hosts once again as we delve into the turbulent lives of Amy Winehouse, Sid Vicious and many more, as they discuss not only what happened, but why it happened - and how things might have been different with more considered support, empathy and care.

Attune, as a dedicated provider of mental health and well-being services, is committed to delivering holistic support and resources. With its team of skilled professionals, Attune excels in recognising and responding to the intricate needs of people and teams in talent-based industries.

You can learn more about Attune through our website: https://www.we-are-attune.com/

Follow Attune on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/we_are_attune/#

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/ @weareattune 

and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/we-are-attune/ 

Empathy For The Devil is produced by Message Heard.

Listen to more Message Heard shows through our website: https://messageheard.com/

Follow Message Heard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/messageheard/mycompany/

Twitter: https://x.com/messageheard?lang=en-GB 

____________

Empathy For The Devil Season 2 is brought to you in partnership with London Records. 

Check out their podcast ‘Hit That Perfect Beat - The London Records Story’, a deep dive into the legendary label behind some of the most iconic hits of the last 50 years, featuring illuminating interviews with artists such as Bananarama, Allsaints and many more.

We are kicking off Empathy For The Devil Season 2 with perhaps our most requested artist - Amy Winehouse. A once-in-a-generation talent, Amy burst onto the scene in the mid-2000’s with an inimitable soulful voice and deeply emotive lyrics. She shone brightly then flamed out right in front of our eyes, receiving an appalling lack of empathy as she became consumed by her addictions. 

Her story is a tragic tale of a would-be jazz club singer who found herself thrust into the machine industry, coming of age under the weight of fame and in the unforgiving public eye. 

Matt Thomas - Creative Lead and Co-Founder of Attune - guides us through the first episode of the season, and examines the harsh criticism and cruel mockery (often laced with thinly veiled misogyny) which Amy endured right when she needed help the most. Taking a kind and compassionate approach, he unpacks the modern tragedy of a unique talent taken far too soon, remembering just how fortunate we were to hear that extraordinary voice.

This week’s ‘One For The Road’ is the podcast ‘A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs’, written and presented by Andrew Hickey. It’s a brilliantly researched, eye-opening look at the history of rock from the swing era to the end of the millennium. Find it on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

Content Warnings: substance use, addiction, alcoholism, alcohol poisoning, depression, eating disorders, bulimia.

IMPORTANT: Alcohol withdrawal happens once an individual is physically dependent/chemically addicted and can be fatal and should only be attempted with medical guidance/assistance. The most serious form of withdrawal is called delirium tremens, or DTs. People with severe withdrawal symptoms or DTs should always have a drink if they need it while professional help is sought. If in doubt, call 999.

If you or someone you know has been affected by the themes in this episode, there are some useful organisations on Attune’s website that can be of help: www.we-are-attune.com/podcast 

Attune, as a dedicated provider of mental health and well-being services, is committed to delivering holistic support and resources. With its team of skilled professionals, Attune excels in recognising and responding to the intricate needs of people and teams in talent-based industries.

You can learn more about Attune through our website: https://www.we-are-attune.com/

Follow Attune on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/we_are_attune/#

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@weareattune 

and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/we-are-attune/ 

Empathy For The Devil is produced by Message Heard

Listen to more Message Heard shows through our website: https://messageheard.com/Follow Message Heard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/messageheard/mycompany/ and Twitter: https://x.com/messageheard?lang=en-GB 

This is a Message Heard Production.

Producer and Editor - Emma Werner

Senior Producer - Harry Stott

Executive Producer - Sandra Ferrari

Videographer - Ethan Judd

Audio and Mix Engineer - Lizzie Andrews

Production Coordinator - Kirsty McLean

Filmed at ID Studios

__________________

Empathy For The Devil Season 2 is brought to you in partnership with London Records. 

Check out their podcast ‘Hit That Perfect Beat - The London Records Story’, a deep dive into the legendary label behind some of the most iconic hits of the last 50 years, featuring illuminating interviews with artists such as Bananarama, Allsaints and many more.

Episode Description: Dive deep into the life of Whitney Houston, exploring the woman behind 'The Voice' through a compassionate, modern mental health lens. From overnight sensation to troubled icon, we uncover the complex journey of a pop legend.

Join host Chula Goonewardene and the team as they sensitively explore Whitney Houston's triumphs and tribulations. We examine her story with empathy, offering a fresh perspective on celebrity mental health and addiction.

This week’s ‘One for the Road’ is M. Scott Peck ‘The Road Less Travelled’, a best selling book by one of the world’s leading psychiatrists. In it, Peck suggests ways in which facing our difficulties - and suffering through the changes - can enable us to reach a higher level of self-understanding. You can buy a copy here: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/9781846046391?a_aid=prh 

Also, check out Whitney’s incredible and iconic rendition of ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ as mentioned in the show here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAYKTMQl7MQ 

Content Warnings: childhood trauma, including child sexual abuse, racism and colourism, homophobia, codependency, domestic violence, and of course her drug addiction, eventual overdose and drowning. 

IMPORTANT: Alcohol withdrawal happens once an individual is physically     dependent/chemically addicted and can be fatal and should only be attempted with medical guidance/assistance. The most serious form of withdrawal is called delirium tremens, or DTs. People with severe withdrawal symptoms or DTs should always have a drink if they need it while professional help is sought. If in doubt, call 999.

If you or someone you know has been affected by the themes in this episode, there are some useful organisations on Attune’s website that can be of help: www.we-are-attune.com/podcast 

Attune, as a dedicated provider of mental health and well-being services, is committed to delivering holistic support and resources. With its team of skilled professionals, Attune excels in recognising and responding to the intricate needs of people and teams in talent-based industries.

You can learn more about Attune through our website: https://www.we-are-attune.com/

Follow Attune on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/we_are_attune/#

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@weareattune 

and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/we-are-attune/ 

Empathy For The Devil is produced by Message Heard

Listen to more Message Heard shows through our website: https://messageheard.com/Follow Message Heard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/messageheard/mycompany/ and Twitter: https://x.com/messageheard?lang=en-GB 

This is a Message Heard ProductionProduced by - Emma Crampton

Executive Producer - Sandra Ferrari Edited by - Blu Posner and Ethan Judd Production Coordinator - Lizzie Hartree 

Karen Carpenter’s sound was decade-defining – the sound of the 70’s. The beat she created as drummer and lead singer of The Carpenters takes you back to that era in every track. With a voice that Burt Bacharach described as "clean, clear, like a flag flying over the song," Karen was a female icon in a male-dominated music world and quickly soared to the dizzying heights of fame, literally at the top of the world.

But the pressures of her success and the complicated family dynamics in her band took their toll, exacerbating the anorexia which would eventually take her life at just 32.

This week, Samantha Parker takes the lead again to tell Karen’s story, looking beyond the smiling photos and honey infused sound, to explore an inner life dominated by a desperately misunderstood illness. We’ll discover how Karen found her voice, hear about The Carpenters’ meteoric rise to fame, but also explore the incredible toll that such a rise can have on young musicians, and women in particular.

This week’s ‘One for the Road’ is a clip of Karen playing drums and singing ‘Dancing in the Street’. An iconic performance which cemented Karen’s place as one of seventies’ s most incredible drummers and singers, this is one of the best entrance’s to Karen and the Carpenters’ music. You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PAy6Ab3CcQ)

Content Warnings: mental health, eating disorders, her hospitalisation for anorexia, childhood trauma, and themes of emotional neglect.

IMPORTANT: Alcohol withdrawal happens once an individual is physically     dependent/chemically addicted and can be fatal and should only be attempted with medical guidance/assistance. The most serious form of withdrawal is called delirium tremens, or DTs. People with severe withdrawal symptoms or DTs should always have a drink if they need it while professional help is sought. If in doubt, call 999.

If you or someone you know has been affected by an eating disorder, here are some organisations you or they can speak with to get help: 

Beating Eating Disorders: https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/get-information-and-support/ 

Eating Disorder Hope: https://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/treatment-for-eating-disorders/international/united-kingdom/u-k-eating-disorder-organizations-charities

For other useful organisations which can help with any other themes we touch on, see Attune’s website here: www.we-are-attune.com/podcast 

Attune, as a dedicated provider of mental health and well-being services, is committed to delivering holistic support and resources. With its team of skilled professionals, Attune excels in recognising and responding to the intricate needs of people and teams in talent-based industries.

You can learn more about Attune through our website: https://www.we-are-attune.com/

Follow Attune on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/we_are_attune/#

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@weareattune 

and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/we-are-attune/ 

Empathy For The Devil is produced by Message Heard

Listen to more Message Heard shows through our website: https://messageheard.com/Follow Message Heard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/messageheard/mycompany/ and Twitter: https://x.com/messageheard?lang=en-GB 

This is a Message Heard Production

Produced by - Emma Crampton

Executive Producer - Sandra Ferrari

Edited by - Blu Posner and Ethan Judd

Production Coordinator - Lizzie Hartree 

During his short career, Lil Peep quickly became the voice of Gen Z. After pioneering the grunge-laden emo-rap genre that blew up on Soundcloud in the mid 2010s, he was selling out venues from the US to Russia – all without ever having released any music. He wore his emotions not just on his sleeve but on his face, and his powerful lyrics  told the story of a young man struggling with mental health issues and substance addiction which took his life in 2017.

In our final episode of the first season of Empathy for the Devil, Matt Thomas returns to tell us the story of a musician working in a different time to our other episodes, but whose story still resonates profoundly with the themes we’ve been discussing. From childhood trauma to anxiety and addiction, to the identity issues of a character who just wanted to be ‘Everybody’s Everything’, Lil Peep’s story rounds off our season in a tragic tale of an artist whose unique style was lost too soon.

This week’s ‘One for the Road’ is Barbara Kingsolver’s award winning novel, ‘Demon Copperhead’. A reworking of Dickens’ classic ‘David Copperfield’, this book explores the life of the eponymous protagonist, a young orphan growing up in the US Appalachians during the opioid crisis, and is a profoundly moving story of a left behind America and the effects that prescription drugs have had on the region. You can buy a copy here: https://www.faber.co.uk/product/9780571376483-demon-copperhead/ 

Content Warnings: substance use, mental health, childhood trauma, and his death by drug overdose. We also discuss bullying, the experience of homelessness, and the psychological impacts of witnessing 9/11. 

IMPORTANT: Alcohol withdrawal happens once an individual is physically     dependent/chemically addicted and can be fatal and should only be attempted with medical guidance/assistance. The most serious form of withdrawal is called delirium tremens, or DTs. People with severe withdrawal symptoms or DTs should always have a drink if they need it while professional help is sought. If in doubt, call 999.

If you or someone you know has been affected by the themes in this episode, there are some useful organisations on Attune’s website that can be of help: www.we-are-attune.com/podcast 

Attune, as a dedicated provider of mental health and well-being services, is committed to delivering holistic support and resources. With its team of skilled professionals, Attune excels in recognising and responding to the intricate needs of people and teams in talent-based industries.

You can learn more about Attune through our website: https://www.we-are-attune.com/

Follow Attune on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/we_are_attune/#

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@weareattune 

and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/we-are-attune/ 

Empathy For The Devil is produced by Message Heard

Listen to more Message Heard shows through our website: https://messageheard.com/

Follow Message Heard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/messageheard/mycompany/ and Twitter: https://x.com/messageheard?lang=en-GB 

This is a Message Heard Production

Produced by - Harry Stott

Executive Producer - Sandra Ferrari

Edited by - Blu Posner and Ethan Judd

Production Coordinator - Lizzie Hartree