Ryan Shuck, the lead vocalist of indietronic band Julien-K and nu-metal band Adema, sought treatment for his mental health and alcohol abuse. Shuck, 47, announced on Saturday, May 3, through his personal Facebook and Instagram accounts, his voluntary decision to check in a rehabilitation facility.
The leader of the electro-rock project Julien-K has been battling with depression and alcohol dependence for several years. On his post, he bravely admitted that writing about his explanation "for locking myself up in rehab is not easy."
The singer/songwriter/composer wrote of his life-long struggles saying that for the past 25 years, he was "living on the edge of a knife." He was most likely referring to suicidal thoughts and realized, "my balancing act is failing." Shuck was transparent in his decision "to try to live" and shared that with his present lifestyle, it is a "path to a very bad place."
He further wrote of his bold motivation to check-in at rehab to do his part in creating a better world by addressing first his mental health and alcohol dependence. He said with a touch of hope that "I MIGHT be able to do better than I have been doing in life." He is resigned to the reality that there could be "another way of living life," and with a deeper purpose in mind, he wrote that he might be able to "do more to help the people I love." He also thought of his supportive fans who have been with him for his entire music career. Shuck was honest to concede to the fact that on his own, he cannot change his current situation, which he had proven from his past experiences.
About the difficult time caused by the coronavirus pandemic gripping the entire world, he acknowledged that what is needed now is to have "some huge inspiration and positivity to recover." The band leader aspires to become a source of inspiration and support others through his music as well as other means he can provide. He ended his post saying he will be keeping in touch with his circle of close friends and fans "as much as he is allowed."
Julien-K was created by Ryan Shuck together with his longtime musical partner, Amir Derakh, who both came from the band Orgy. Julien-K, based in Long Beach, Calif. started as a side project for electro music, and eventually, other members joined the group. Together, Julien-K has finished six albums, 17 singles and EP's, and two compilation albums. Their latest album, "Harmonic Disruptor," was recently released on April 17. The band's "Birthday Massacre" U.S. tour had been rescheduled to Sept. - Dec. 2020.
In the summer of 2019, Shuck became part of another band, Adema. He replaced Mark Chavez, the original vocalist who had been in and out of the group.
Ryan Shuck joins the list of the many musical artists who have boldly come out into the light and shared about their mental health struggles. Stars such as LeAnn Rimes and Demi Lovato have previously shared about their struggles with depression and had themselves checked in rehab for treatment.
