Conor Oberst, the acclaimed singer-songwriter and frontman of the indie rock band Bright Eyes, has recently drawn concern after appearing intoxicated on stage during several performances and making alarming statements. During a concert on September 15 in Cleveland, Ohio, the 44-year-old musician addressed the audience while slurring his speech, stating:
“Alright, Sorry, the sound of my voice is so f**ked up… I’m gonna take care of it… probably not, I’m gonna kill myself, so…”
Following this, when a bandmate attempted to engage with him quietly, Oberst clarified, “Apparently, I’m not supposed to say that on stage… a.k.a I’m not going to kill myself.” He even halted the performance at one point to inform both his band members and the audience that he had forgotten part of the song’s lyrics.
A fan captured his on-stage comments, which have since sparked worry amongst his supporters. A Reddit user, @TheJediCounsel, shared the now-viral footage in a discussion thread on the r/emo subreddit.
“I think Conor is one of the artists who I’ve felt like has been showing worrying signs for like the entirety I’ve known about Bright Eyes,” the user mentioned.
Many joined the discourse on the social media platform X, expressing their hope that the “Souled Out”artist receives the necessary support.
“Just watched the video of Conor Oberst from Sunday and my heart broke. It reminded me of Alice in Chains Unplugged where you knew that Layne was on his last legs just by looking at him. Heartbreaking to see, I hope he is getting help but I also feel like it’s past that point,” one user wrote.
“Conor Oberst isn’t going to live within the next 5 years, man. Get him off tour, get him the help he needs. It’s become astoundingly clear that the drinking is slowly killing him and we as fans can’t tolerate that any longer,” another commented.
Others expressed support for the Omaha, Nebraska native, suggesting that Conor Oberst may also be dealing with mental health challenges alongside his struggles with alcohol.
“It is very sad to hear that Conor Oberst is suffering badly from alcoholism. I saw Bright Eyes at Coachella 2005, back when I was obsessed with his songwriting. Seeking help for mental health struggles is a life-saving choice. I hope Oberst seeks help someday,” wrote an individual.
“I hope Conor Oberst gets help. No one in a vulnerable state should be encouraged to be on stage. Shame on his entire team,” another person opined.
Additional comments echoed the need for immediate assistance for Conor Oberst.
“It’s so hard to watch, I really hope someone steps in if he can’t help himself,” a netizen expressed.
“This makes me so sad. His music has meant so much to me but seeing people clearly suffering is just awful. Like you, I hope he gets the help he needs,”another user stated.
“That was brutal, man. I wonder if it would be better for Conor to cancel the rest of the tour and focus on himself,” a fan suggested.
As of now, Conor Oberst has yet to address the situation amidst the circulation of the video and growing concerns from fans.
Bright Eyes Cancels Upcoming Shows Due to Conor Oberst’s Vocal Issues
On September 18, Bright Eyes announced via their Instagram account that they would be canceling their upcoming concerts due to frontman Conor Oberst’s vocal difficulties.
“We’re heartbroken to announce that our upcoming record release shows have been canceled. The warm-up shows we played earlier this week resulted in Conor losing his voice and, on the advice of doctors, we’ve made the difficult but sensible decision to prioritize rest and recuperation for the remainder of the month,”the band stated.
The canceled shows included dates in New York, Chicago, and Omaha, originally set for September 19, 21, and 22, respectively.
“We’re working hard to reschedule these dates and will keep you updated as soon as we have more info. In the meantime, refunds will be available at the point of purchase… Thank you for your understanding, love, and support. Can’t wait to see you all soon,” the caption concluded.
Despite the concert cancellations, Bright Eyes confirmed that their new album, Five Dice, All Threes, will still be released on Friday, September 20. The band previously announced a North American tour to promote this latest album from September 2024 through April 2025.
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