The Libertines’ John Hassall has praised younger artists who take breaks from touring for the sake of their mental health.
The bassist of the rock band opened up to Metro.es after being honored at the AIM Independent Music Awards about the importance of mental health, explaining that it is a cause close to his heart.
“I think it’s important to all of us,” he said. ‘I think mental [illness] is something that is a big problem in England and the rest of the world. It is something that will not go away on its own.
Recently, artists like Sam Fender and Arlo Parks they canceled his tours, citing his mental health.
“I think that’s very good advice, people are listening to how they feel and if they’re struggling, [then] they have to pull the [plug]and get help. I think that’s very good advice,’ John said.
The Libertines, made up of Pete Doherty, Gary Powell and Carl Barat along with John, have not-so-secretly had their ups and downs, splitting up in 2004, before reuniting, but John says they’re in a better place than ever, as working on new music.
‘It has ups and downs and sometimes it’s there and sometimes it’s not. When the band broke up, it was a difficult period, being in the band and then suddenly not being in anything. But you have to keep persevering.
“We’re actually in the best place we’ve ever been. It’s the first time we’ve been together at an awards show in about 15 years,” he added, describing the moment as “really significant.”
The Libertines first found success in the early 2000s, but ended up breaking up in 2004.
However, they reunited in 2010 for the Reading and Leeds festival and reformed the band in 2015.
They were honored at the AIM Awards with the Special Recognition Award.
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