Health Psychology Commons^™

How Does Music Connect The Artist And Fans?, Jacob Garringer

Ray Browne Conference on Cultural and Critical Studies

This paper discusses the connection that subcultures and fan-bases of certain musical acts feel with their favorite artists on an emotional and psychological level. Analyzing the lyrical content of rock artists Kurt Cobain, Layne Staley, Chris Cornell, and Chester Bennington, all of which suffered from depression and/or addiction and eventually committed suicide, this paper aims to look at how the lyrics of their songs connect their experiences in real life to their fans who may be suffering the same illnesses, and how they could be seen as a cry for help.