Alex Ebert: 'I was looking for death in drugs'

"In college, I did a lot of XTC and it really fucked up my body. I wanted to disassociate. I realised later that the reason I was looking for death, in a way, was that I really didn't know how to approach death."
Watch more video's on www.faceculture.... Video interview with American singer songwriter Alex Ebert. FaceCulture spoke to Alex about his first solo album Alexander, his father's work as a psychotherapist, his clients, childhood therapy, hitting other kids, trouble at school, becoming a clown, rap music, Run DMC, drugs, rehab, accepting death, religion, magic, Edward Sharpe, Spiderman, Jesus, proud parents and more! Alex even plays the song Let's Win live! (18/02/2011)

[@nicelady2064]

I wish we didn't have to start high school until the age of 27. that's about when I was actually interested in learning. love you Alex. peace be with you my friend ❤✌

[@Maraguzzi]

"ohhh this is what i was looking for" how i can relate to that sentence so much, cool guy and props to him for getting clean and creating beautiful music

[@PaharCuPai]

7 years clean ! I do not regret being an addict tho ... I've learned a lot . Be strong ! You've seen hell and you're still here. :)

[@yasmino413]

I know this comment is seven years old but I just wanna say congratulations! Quitting is not easy and stories and journeys like yours inspire others to quit

[@Zia01023]

Congrats!

[@Lisa-km3gt]

I keep coming back to this interview over and over again.

[@dabking8634]

Sames

[@Rossotto556]

I’ve been listening to this group for many years. The authenticity of how they came together and just they’re rapport with each other translates into they’re music.

[@jeffreypowell589]

"Alexander quitted college and began experimenting with film, music and particularly drugs." Quitted?

[@heartsky]

Quitted is quitting without vision.

[@IAmLonefrog]

Watched his "story time" at one of his live shows and I knew there was more to him. Best thing he ever could have done was quitted college.

[@PratzStrike]

You might consider staying in college, and not quitting it.

[@IAmLonefrog]

whoosh, right over da head!

[@olivialovesdesign]

Wooooooooshhhhhhhhhh

[@sirbaconshake]

The way he described his first time doing heroin was spot on. That "whoa....this is what I was looking for." It's the beginning of many good and utterly horrible "whoa's" to come.

[@corettaha7855]

Makes me glad I stayed off heroin. Hope everyone finds a way to stay off it too. God bless.

[@olivialovesdesign]

Yes! That’s the exact description of heroin.

[@seanlavelle103]

Heroin and opiates equal romantic evil. One of the worst experiences in my life. It starts so amazing and u end up wanting to be more than dead. Pure hell on earth

[@supergoobergirlable]

@@olivialovesdesign Why I will avoid it as a recreational drug if at all possible!

[@liammurphy2725]

There is still a part of me that desires that ''whoa'' moment. 40 years clean.

[@potatomato3690]

he reminds me of Jesse Pinkman

[@dalmaximus]

His all is lost soundtrack is one of the best I've heard, up there with Ennio, Hans and James. Beautiful piece of work

[@Rexroybal]

He is very handsome!;-)

[@wwaxwingcrashh]

Awesome interview, thanks for posting.

[@crowcorvinus3173]

Now I know , I found You , and I am "addicted" to your music . 35 years addicted to Opium . Now i am 53 . . . and YES, its a "Art" to die , not to live . I feel this experience in his music . I speaked with my wife, "Do you think he did drugs too ?" In many of your vids , this trippie style , fields of poppy . .. it was sure, you did . Or it was my own reflection ?! And now i see this vid , in this second . Thanks alot , Alex , stay alive , pleaSe , another User wrote , "Lead me home , happy space christ ." YOU ARE ! Thanks .

[@supergoobergirlable]

I loved ESATM zeros so much... they WERE high inducing...a transcendent experience to see them...like I tell my students- get high on life! (as I do a Lucky Charms Kick o' the Heels) its the ultimate challenge

[@thatonekid2442]

Why is the fact that he was the front man for Ima Robot always seem to be left out?

[@mercantilerecords2627]

Finally someone else knows about ImaRobot! So good of a band!

[@number1racoon]

he sounds like Ryan Gosling

[@KAHLIRENEE]

Thought the exact same thing.

[@solorisin3511]

That's crazy you say that! I heard Ryan's band the other day and thought he sounds like E.S.!

[@TuathaTuna]

Yesss and gives me a very Daniel Day Lewis feel

[@nataliamemoria464]

alex, i simply adore your work!

[@zippL0ck]

hope you're holding Out well my friend .

[@DollfaceKim]

This man rocks.

[@WalturdTheCat]

But he is high in this interview, and so is The Graces of jade. They're all on drugs and they could not tolerate each other which is why they broke up. Too much drugs as a toxic mix

[@StuartwasDrinkell]

Yeah bullying'll do that! Love you Lex!

[@chrisfaizon1156]

He's very interesting

[@guideme1503]

Love his music, him

[@theforestero]

IF i did drugs i would be looking for death in them, too. i was just thinking about this yesterday.must be something in the wavestream

[@veramilicevic4001]

He looks like Jesus hahah :D I love this guy!

[@TutorialesDescargaPC]

jajaja es lo que yo pienso

[@zut25]

How do you know how jesus looked like? Did you know him?

[@Stantheman848]

Jesus was an arab. He doesn't look like an arab.

[@henrycodm896]

​@@Stantheman848 He kinda does though

[@staphinfection]

CONGRATS ON YOUR GLOBE!! Good luck at the oscars!

[@michealhuff2299]

At least he got off of dope while he had his youth. I didn’t stop until after 20 years of using

[@WordUnheard]

It's one year since your comment. How are you doing today? Great, I trust and hope.

[@hodariap528]

A sensual man ❤️

[@Nanciefy]

Congrats, keep going! :)

[@success2k]

Quitted?

[@jonathansnell-callanen2881]

success2k the creator of this video quitted college too

[@bbdndlsd5674]

@@jonathansnell-callanen2881 😂 brilliant

[@PIPELINE0]

With 3 years went into therapy? Bad childhood? Rich parents? ...but good interview and excellent music.

[@sarahlovesdonuts9601]

Goes to show that we are all looking for a community, belonging, despite or because of our environment. We, in general I think, have this need. We express it and realize it differently or the same depending upon the circumstances in which we find ourselves.

[@crowcorvinus3173]

"This is was i was looking for " . YES, i know !

[@H_Oscarsson]

Well, I'm no expert on drugs, but I'm pretty sure that it's ecstasy and not XTC. XTC is rally and a band from England.

[@BobV97]

Henric Oscarsson Calling Generaaaals and Majoooooors...

[@sarahlovesdonuts9601]

”Dear God, I am sorry to disturb you, but I feel like I should be heard loud and clear”...i don't remember what comes next, but remember....”no saints, no sinners, no devil, Orson Wells, no holy crown, dear God.” this is probably way off of the lyrics, but these words constantly orbitted my brain for six months when I was 15.

[@planetarynm]

Alex has a new song he's featured on, it's called "Save Me" by Ashtar Command. Pretty cool stuff.

[@jonathanoverall8304]

Alexander "quitted" college... nice

[@dagifelner9298]

I can identify with him a lot. I am diagnosed with "asbergers". Probably he would, too. But honestly, what should that even be?

[@laIuuna]

Holy moly me oh my

[@eduardocesarfdasilvaeduard7420]

jade Ive never loved one like you

[@apolitikmusic]

Exactly. Or third or fourth.

[@billybarrett3364]

he is high right here

[@samiserhan6296]

quit*

[@JWHfilms]

3:19 " Alexander quitted college," that made me laugh out loud

[@fargojiffy2165]

whats the song at the beginning?

[@DevinShawTV]

Home (:

[@hockeycarini]

"alexander quitted college" and obviously whoever made this video "quitted" grammar school

[@slybuster]

You wrote that 7 years ago but "quitted" is grammatically correct. For the record, that same sentence is missing an Oxford comma.

[@WakeRunSleep]

Pie in the sky, it seems.

[@aidsmangaming8602]

it was all about; fuck.

[@iCoffees]

My sides.

[@clarabellen]

IMA Robot!!

[@nileshnathwani7820]

The new Bob Marley

[@PsychadelicElephant]

he still uses but not as heavy chemical drugs, hes into not so heavy psychadelic drugs, thats how he got to his "rebirth"

[@BlissWylde]

@petrakmart

[@doradodorado2806]

Jesse pinkmann becomes a musician xD

[@kuronojogador1470]

Jesse?

[@trendy904]

Keep in mind weed is all you need !

[@christiansanders1]

Says he got sober. I buy it, but based on his mannerisms and speaking in this video, he doesn't seem the part haha.

[@blipco5]

I can see he lives in a great neighborhood judging by the window treatments.

[@seattlesoundisgrunge]

Judging by all the glasses stacked on the right, I'd say the interview is in a bar.

[@blipco5]

D Roberts... Yes, probably. The woman who sang with him has a phenomenal voice. I always wonder what happened to her.

[@supergoobergirlable]

Thats Beverly Hills these days

[@bigbenjiman]

Proves you can't stereotype. Thought he was a druggy ever since I discovered Ed Sharpe but he wasn't. He was reborn, coming up from below

[@crashuhoh]

wait 3:19 "quitted"?!

[@diegomendiola2244]

lol yeah, wtf is that? i thought they were trying to say DXM or something

[@markosarajlic3038]

description kills me..."i did a lot of XTC"

[@robynbridgeman5980]

According to the video, he 'quitted college'. Haha.

[@wes6374]

Boo hooooo........

[@ScottMakesMovies92]

...and I'm a Mormon

[@sntemp]

Quitted?