5 Famous Albums Written by Musicians Who Were Battling Mental Health

The notion that one has to be in a terrible mental state to create a good album isn’t exactly the healthiest. While these five famously good albums were written by musicians who were dealing with drug addiction or poor mental health, misfortune and even tragedy followed the release of many of them. If anything, these records are a reminder that good art isn’t worth the risk of destroying yourself; no form of success is worth it.

1. ‘Visions’ by Grimes

Visions was released in 2012 and was a major breakthrough for synth-pop artist Grimes. The singles “Oblivion” and “Genesis” have seen a number of resurgences through the years (particularly on TikTok), proving that the album was ahead of its time.

Grimes has been frank about her mental state while recording Visions. According to the producer herself, she lacked stability in her life and was running behind on delivering an album by a due date set by her manager at the time. She proceeded to record the album “at a psychotic pace”, refusing to sleep or eat for a total of nine days. She also used amphetamines in order to finish the album on time. While Grimes has said that the experience was “equally enjoyable and tortuous”, we can’t imagine that creative process working well long-term.

2. ‘In Utero’ by Nirvana

Unfortunately, this is a story that grunge fans and Nirvana diehards know all too well. While recording Nirvana’s final 1993 album In Utero, Kurt Cobain was at his worst in terms of mental health and drug addiction. The album was a commercial success, but the recording and touring process was far from healthy. While touring in promotion of the album, Cobain overdosed in Rome, Italy. The tour was canceled and Cobain took his life several months later, marking the end of the band and a life loved by many.

3. ‘Rumours’ by Fleetwood Mac

While the release of Rumours in 1977 wasn’t followed by any sort of serious tragedy, the recording process was famously unhealthy. The band was rife with personal problems, egregious drug use, and romantic (and toxic) love affairs. Combined, those factors almost made Fleetwood Mac implode from the inside. Luckily, that didn’t happen. Rumours went on to be their biggest success, though the majority of those romantic relationships did not make it to the other side.

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4. ‘Black To Black’ by Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse left us far too soon at only 27 years old. All we have left of the incredibly talented English singer are her albums, particularly her final album Back To Black. 

The album was written about Winehouse’s explosive relationship with her ex-boyfriend (and soon-to-be husband at the time) Blake Fielder-Civil. The album explores a number of themes, from grief to infidelity to heartbreak to trauma. It also explored drug addiction, namely through the hit single “Rehab”. Winehouse endured heavy drug and alcohol use before and after the release of that album, and many believe that the success of that release coupled with poor mental health played a part in her death in 2011.

5. ‘Dirt’ by Alice In Chains

Dirt put Alice In Chains on the grunge map in 1992. It became the band’s highest-selling album very quickly, but the subject matter of the album reflected the poor mental state and drug addiction suffered by their lead singer and songwriter, Layne Staley. 

Staley recorded the album after checking out of rehab and almost immediately relapsing. Several other members of the band also battled alcohol addiction at the time Dirt was being recorded. Unfortunately, there is no happy ending to this story. Several of the band members passed away from drug overdoses in later years.

Photo by Michael Ochs Archives

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