The other day, a post on Chiodos frontman and solo artist Craig Owen’s website said that he had almost O.D.ed on drugs and was taken to a hospital, then a nuthouse for observation. The post was quickly taken down, but Owens has now updated his blog with the details of the event, the situation surrounding it and his plans for the future. It’s kind of tl;dr but if you’re bored here it is:

So, it’s no secret that I have recently went through one of the hardest times in my life. On Sunday, July 20th, I attempted to overdose on prescribed Xanax at my home here in Michigan. Flash ahead 12 hours later, I woke up in the emergency room surrounded by my family and best friends, with an IV in my left arm, and hooked up to machines. I felt confused, angry, selfish, and completely embarrassed. After being admitted to the hospital for a couple of days, I made my way to recovery and built up enough strength and courage with the support of my loved ones enough to make it back home.

I am okay, though. Thankfully, I had no permanent physical damage to myself from this.
This isn’t something that I went through by myself. I am, by no means, alone in this. My family and close friends have been by my side each minute since the incident and, you, my fans, have been right there with me too.

I have received an incredible amount of MySpace messages, comments, emails, instant messages, text messages and voice mails supporting me through this time in my life. So many people loved me more than I ever thought and the amount of happiness that this brings to me is more than I ever could describe.

You have all shown me a new, blinding light within myself and from that ray you seem to shine on me with every one of your beautiful comments (and I read every single one of them), not to mention your undeniable support. Thanks to you, I’ve already began to return to my “normal” self- a person that I had forgotten all about.

Why did this happen?

I have been battling with manic depression, bipolar disorder, and constant anxiety attacks for years. This disease has caused me to hide in my bedroom for weeks at a time, push away the most important people in my life, and learn to hate myself even. I have tried to remain strong through the years, fighting off urges and using the undying support of my fans, friends, family, and loved ones to turn my depression into an art- a music to share with the world.

I also have been speaking with a therapist for around a year now, maybe more. This has helped me to come in touch with who I am as a human being and why I do the things that I do. Rationalizing my imperfections and trying to wear them as if they were badges of honor is something that I had learned to pride myself off of- until this incredibly selfish and stupid act I pulled.

What’s next?

I’m looking towards the future and have been blinded by the brightness of it. After taking care of myself over the past few days, and talking through this situation with my family, friends, and managers, I am committed to creating only positive actions out of the deepest and darkest low I have found myself in with this. I will not be canceling any upcoming shows, with the exception of this Sunday’s show (7/27) in Albany, NY with P.O.D and Everclear. My solo show this Saturday (7/26), WILL STILL BE HAPPENING, and will be an emotional and therapeutic experience, to say the least. With it being in Detroit, and being able to perform softly, with spoken-words, and seeing all of the people that have been by my side though this entire thing, I hope to find a new bliss within this rut I have found myself in.

I cannot wait enough to get back out onto the road with Chiodos for our just-announced headlining tour this August to October. Being in front of all of you gives me such strength and if I hadn’t been home so much for the past few months, thinking too much and allowing darkness to overcome me, who knows if this would have even had happened.

I have a long road ahead of me, no doubt, but I feel that this experience has, oddly enough, given me new strength to take control of my situation and it has shown my loved ones (and myself) the seriousness of what I’ve been struggling with too.

I will not stop playing music, writing, or opening myself up to the people that matter most to me. All we have is one another and this entire situation is nothing but a GIANT reminder that we ALL need to stay strong and hold one another up during even the hardest of times.
I love you- Craig.

This is Lauren Bernat of Miami, FL. She likes to Wii Hula Hoop in her underwear, while her dorky bf / roommate films her. And that ass is stacking FAME!!! 2 million views in 2 weeks? Damn!

To watch something with a little more substance, check out and subscribe to our YouTube channel. Just yesterday, we filmed some silly shit where I get squirted by Ranch dressing. On the real though, we have some good video interviews…

Hatebreed, Thrice, Fall of Troy, Getting a Tattoo with Ed Harcourt, Paramore, Paramore, and more Paramore, Eisley, The Used live, As I Lay Dying, The Color Fred, MxPx live, Armor For Sleep, The Cool Kids live at SXSW, The English Beat live, Chiodos live, Tilly & The Wall, Me Drunk as Eff, Pierce The Veil live, The Audition

As if Against Me!, All That Remains, Anberlin, Angels and Airwaves, As I Lay Dying, Bouncing Souls, Cobra Starship, Every Time I Die, From First to Last, GBH, Gym Class Heroes, Jack’s Mannequin, Motion City Soundtrack, Norma Jean, Paramore, Pennywise, Reel Big Fish, Relient K, Rise Against, Say Anything, Story of the Year, Street Dogs, The Academy Is…, The All-American Rejects, The Bronx, The Dillinger Escape Plan and The Vandals weren’t enough, it was announced today that Matisyahu and Chiodos will both be joining the mainstage of the 2008 Warped Tour for a limited number of dates:

The VANS WARPED TOUR 2008 Presented By AT&T has announced two new additions for a portion of this summer’s trek. Matisyahu will join the tour for the July 9 (Atlanta), July 10 (Orlando), July 11 (Tampa) and the July 13 (Jacksonville) shows. Also look for Chiodos to perform a one-night-only show on July 18 in Detroit at Comerica Park.

“I’m really glad this opportunity came up with Matisyahu,” notes tour founder Kevin Lyman. “He’s an artist I’ve always felt would be an amazing addition to the line up, so I’m excited to have him finally join us for a bit. It’s always great to have a band like Chiodos–who’s been a part of the Warped family since the beginning of their careers–want to come back after all their success to spend a day with us.”

If you dig Chiodos but don’t live in Detroit fret not, you can check out a couple dope videos of the band live from this year’s SXSW festival on the Synthesis YouTube page, along with more than a couple interviews and rap sessions with various members of the band. We’re here for you, man.

I just got off the phone with Fred Mascherino of The Color Fred (and formerly of Taking Back Sunday). No shit, Fred has to be one of the nicest people in melodic post-punk pop-rock (or whatever you want to call it. You tell me.). Actually, maybe I’ll ask him what I should call it (besides damn good) when Synthesis meets up with him for an interview at Ryan’s. We’ll also be filming some of his live show at the Senator Theater (look to www.youtube.com/synthesismagazine in the next couple of days for the goods). The Color Fred is currently on tour with Chiodos, MxPx and Protest The Hero.

Here’s a video of the recording session of The Color Fred’s debut album, “Bend To Break,” courtesy of Equal Vision records.

Tour Dates after the Jump:
(more…)

I remember my first South by Southwest experience pretty well, considering the whole kid in a candy store / free music, free booze thing that happens in Austin TX every March. But the one thing I remember most was how much my feet hurt after the second day, and how happy I was when I visited the Riot Act Media party and found out that they were giving away free shoes. Saucony Jazz sneakers. I had brought nice-looking, but ill-fitting kicks with me, and once slipping into a pair of comfy shoes I was good to go for the rest of the week. It was like walking on the wings of sponge-angels. I podcasted something to that effect on the Synthesis radio site. In fact, since 2006, I’ve bought nothing but Sauconies (How’s that for good marketing, yo? You’re welcome for the free plug, thanks for the free shoes). Having saved my feet in 2006, David Lewis will forever be a saint to me.

This year, however, I failed to make it to a party featuring free shoes, and right now my brown Saucony Jazz sneakers, going on 6 months old, are in flattened shambles. It’s true, as outlined in my astute friend’s blog, musicismyboyfriend, there’s pretty much nowhere to sit at SXSW for more than a minute. You’re on the go from venue to venue to venue the entire time because, honestly, there’s just too much to see and so little time to see it. Sure, there are rickshaws (known in these parts as pedicabs), and I did use one after Chiodos‘ set on Friday night since La Zona Rosa is kind of a long walk from the main drag on 6th street. Otherwise I was on foot, and as of Sunday I’ve been developing the gnarliest athletes’ foot you’ve ever seen. If it gets any more personality I may have to give it a name. Updates as they come. In the meantime, Check out Video Matt being a drunk ass on a rickshaw. Hilarity! Snoochy Boochies!

Chiodos performing “Bulls Make Money, Bears Make Money, Pigs Get Slaughtered” Live at the La Zona Rosa at South By Southwest 2008 in Austin: