Jimmy Constable, who was a member of the pop band 911, said record companies should offer artists psychological support at the height of their fame and also afterwards
Liam Payne should have been provided a life-saving piece of help during his music career, a former 90s boyband star has said.
Days after the former One Direction star’s funeral, Jimmy Constable, who was a member of the pop band 911, spoke about the pressures boyband members can feel at the beginning of their careers – and called on record companies to provide psychological support to artists. Liam tragically died after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and was laid to rest in Buckinghamshire this week.
The 31-year-old singer had opened up about his mental health struggles and admitted he to alcohol and drugs to cope at the height of 1D’s dizzying fame. Now, 53-year-old Jimmy said 911 had a total of three weeks off in six years and experienced “full-on pressure” as they spent the entire time living in hotels.
He told The Sun: “The job sheet comes through your door every day and there is no time to do anything else apart from what you’re concentrating on. Your record company obviously wants you to be full-on, 100 per cent, no time off. ‘This is what you do. This is your schedule,’ then it’s literally, ‘Right, back into your hotel room and you can’t come out because it’s too crazy downstairs.”
In the wake of Liam’s death, Jimmy said record companies should give stars access to a psychologist to support their mental health and avoid similar tragedies from happening. He said: “Record companies should provide a psychologist to all their signings, or somebody that the artists can go to and say, ‘Well, I’ve had this experience in the music business. I’ve really enjoyed it. I’ve been given everything on a plate. Now they’ve taken it away from me. What do I do?'”
And the psychological support shouldn’t end there, but continue even in the following years, Jimmy said. He added: “They should still be there for years to come, to help them through the process of getting back to normality.”
Jimmy and his co-stars Lee Brennan and Spike Dawbarn scored ten successive UK top 10 singles from 1995 to 1999. The band sold 10 million singles and six million albums worldwide and had high-level security while touring at the height of their fame.
After Liam died, his fans launched a petition calling for new laws to protect musicians’ mental health. The campaign is calling for government intervention to ensure the mental wellbeing of performers. This includes regular mental health check-ups, designated rest periods and ongoing support throughout their careers.
The petition, which has now reached more than 150,000 signatures, reads: “This petition has a profound place in my heart. From watching Liam and the boys on x-factor to becoming a Directioner, I really feel as a fandom, we grew up together. Not only does their music deeply resonate with me, but I am part of an incredible online family. My weekly lives provide a safe space for us, where we laugh, we sing, we cry. The boys mean everything to us and Liam’s passing has left us heartbroken.
“In 2021 Liam advocated for a support system to be put in place for young artists’ going through the industry. He spoke about his own struggles and the need for there to be care in place to safeguard artists’ mental health. Ultimately, I am angry and saddened that the industry has let him down. I found myself needing to channel my emotions into something productive and this is where I am. He wanted this and I promised him in my heart I would do it. This is for him, for the boys. This is just the beginning, we will fight for their justice and we will never give up.
“The entertainment industry, acclaimed for its glamour and stardom, is equally infamous for the enormous pressure it exerts on the mental health of artists. Resultant issues such as stress, anxiety, depression, substance misuse and even suicide are alarmingly high. According to research, performers are 2-3 times more likely to suffer from these issues compared to the general population.”
It adds: “In recent news of Liam Payne’s tragic death as many others, the entertainment industry needs to be held accountable and be responsible to the welfare of their artists. We seek to implore lawmakers to create legislation safeguarding the mental health of artists within the industry.
“Such a law would necessitate regular mental health check-ups, adequate rest periods, and the presence of mental health professionals on-set, including any ongoing support during their career. It will ensure a healthier, safer, and more conducive working environment for artists to cultivate their talents reducing psychological distress. This would also include early interventions to protect and minimise before it’s too late. Furthermore, the increasing rate of musicians who die before the age of 35, is concerning. We need to act now!
“The artist’s role is invaluable not just in the world of entertainment but also in society. Let us ensure their protection and wellbeing. Your signature could be a lifeline for these talented individuals, contributing to a larger movement of mental health awareness and care in industries worldwide. Please, sign the petition.”
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