"I Can't Afford To Go Back." -- AJ Channer of Fire From The Gods

AJ from Fire From The Gods talks about living with a constant pressure to live up to everyone's expectations and how he attempted to take his life instead of reaching out. He discusses how that moment in his life was a serious wake-up call to find hope and live to support his loved ones.
Jake Luhrs of August Burns Red started an online non-profit called HeartSupport to give his fans a place to talk about and overcome their struggles. His vision is to unite the scene--fans and bands alike--so that no one in the music scene has to struggle alone.
www.heartsuppor...

[@malsuohkiryuu3349]

I seriously would love to meet this man. I can relate to this and now knowing that actually explains why his music helped me through those insainly dark times that i lived in for years. Thank you AJ for being an inspiration to those lost in darkness man. Fr. Your mission hasn't been in vain.

[@obad7633]

Met him on the streets in Houston he wasn't rude per say but definitely has social anxiety issues or he was on drugs but im assuming he was just surprised I recognized him. He was stumbling on his words and wouldn't make eye contact after I caught the vibe I just said have a nice day and left him alone lol but he wasn't rude or nice just off.

[@p_joshy_p3624]

Why aren’t fire from the gods a much bigger band

[@gothgatorgoddess9441]

They're pretty much new from the rock scene and ahead of their time. I know they'll get bigger someday.

[@billywalker2119]

They’re new

[@danlindboomer4598]

They started out screaming.. now he's signing

[@steviesnowmann]

I got the oppertunity to befriend aj recently amd he is one of the MOST genuine people on planet earth. We stayed up having the most intellectual conversations in my life. He taught me so much. I can truly say i found an amazing friend out of him.

[@HeartSupport]

AJ is great, isn't he? That's awesome that you guys are friends! We hope you enjoyed the video!

[@NYPATRIOTBX]

Stevie Salazar I went to high school with AJ in the Bronx, he was always a cool dude, me an him used to cover slip knot an Alice In Chains in high school shows.

[@zichithefox4781]

AJ definitely expresses his motivation through his voice. So rarely can you "feel" someone's voice. His passion shows and dude, if you somehow see this, from the bottom of my heart...thank you. Thank for the gift of your music.

[@danlindboomer4598]

Best thing he states... he asked why, and kept asking why to everything... thats means little ones he wanted a change for the better because he knew it involved him.. he had to change he wanted change.... be real be you forget opinions of others

[@chrisfitzgerald4775]

When I was in rehab years ago I was in a music therapy class and the guy running the class asked all of us to each pick a song that speaks to us at that current moment and I picked lifeline by fire from the gods. Im forever grateful for their music.

[@risingsamael9863]

The first song I heard from you guys was 'End Transmission' and its just stuck me in the gut. I never really felt like I could fit in anywhere. Even to this day I search for a place I can call home. But even though our stories are pretty much way different, I feel some sort of connection. My dad was a drug addict even before I was born, abusive, alcoholic, womanizer...pretty much everything you dont want to be. That was my father. I moved over states to get away from that toxicity, but I got followed by poverty and depression. I ended up homeless with my family. We struggled, we fought, we almost fell apart other times. But we stayed strong as much as we could. One night at 3am, i sat in the bathroom looking at the wall...just thinking about ending it all. But I came to the revelation that I didn't want to die. I just wanted to live, but I only knew how to barely survive. Our lives aren't meant to be wasted on barely surviving. You seem like the type of guy I could make a brother from. I wish i could meet you guys.

[@aletheia2742]

rising samael that got to my heart man, I felt your words. I'm glad you're okay now

[@Gillespieme]

rising samael I feel you, brother! Stay strong.

[@AzraelPercussionNEO]

The sad reality of this life surmounds to is that we are put on this earth as a sort of test. A means of fragmenting ourselves through selfish gain and until we as human beings realize that one day we will break down the barriers to our own walls and pool our resources together and show just respect, kindness, encouragement, and goodwill for one another. If we can mend our minds as well as our hearts as a unifed whole. Your thoughts are my thoughts and my thoughts are your thoughts. Your heart is my heart and my heart is yours. Man you will be amazed at what the Sons Of Man can accomplish in a short period of time.

[@realskata16]

Hopefully you are doing much better nowadays!!

[@jdparker3]

I first learned of Fire From The Gods in Huntsville, AL in 2019. It was a week after my birthday, and decided to go to a concert and saw Five Finger Death Punch so close and so soon. Along with Bad Wolves AND Three Days Grace, I knew it'd be great. Knew there was no way someone opening for those legends wouldn't be great. And I've been hooked since then on them. Discovered Heart Support recently, and when I've got a weekend with no plans, I've been binging the song reactions. Wanted to check out some older videos, and see an interview with AJ?? IMMEDIATE watch. Awesome dude, and truly deserves the best in life.

[@AzraelPercussionNEO]

AJ I have risen and I have fallen and once again I will rise

[@HEATH3NRacing]

Hey AJ and FFTG, I wanna start off by saying "Lifeline" has gotten me through these last couple months along with my support group (Mom, Brothers, Grandma, Dad, and Sister), quality over quantity I should say. The line, "It took some time, but I woke up and opened my eyes. Screaming wake up, and open your eyes" is what ive repeated in my head and said out loud time after time. I don't want to bore you guys with the details, but I what I will say is that depression and anxiety go hand in hand. It is a package deal, and is absolutely terrifying if you're an extroverted person like myself. You are correct, there is hope, and sometimes HOPE is all we have to get us through. For those struggling please reach out to me, please tell me your story, I am here to help. Thanks guys and thank you AJ!

[@Tastetherojo]

His music and lyrics give me encouragement to do stuff and actually be something. I wish they still made music.

[@matttirado7661]

The reason why everyone likes AJ is because AJ has genuine interest in people and you can feel that when talking with him:)

[@jdksloan]

Stay alive for all your fans. Your style is EXACTLY what metal needs, break the boundaries between the styles! You guys are absolutely incredible! Love from South Africa, ps please come visit ;)

[@TVForFree7063]

Absolutely awesome singer and person

[@africanminingafricanmining1789]

This man's voice is something else.....WOW 😍😍

[@Disturbed420420]

Love you AJ, were here for you, stay here for us

[@buzzy2587]

what a beautiful and honest interview! if more people could come to this realization in life they would also grow! keep up the good work!!!!

[@owengraziano7288]

I’m going through a lot of this shit right now.... knowing that someone I already respected the hell out of got through it is incredibly inspiring to me.

[@frankdeutscher7334]

Best interview and kind spoken words i have heared for ages.....AJ.....you´re the man!!!!

[@kylehegedus5498]

Stay strong, AJ!!!! Keep fighting the good fight!!!! 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘

[@versatyle182]

This dude and the rest of the band s going to make it big

[@StrattonSmith]

I know there's all of this controversy about how this band surprisingly, for no apparent reason, kicked out their old singer (Eric July, who is currently the vocalist of his wonderful band BackWordz), and then they immediately replaced him with someone (AJ Channer) who fit his exact style...even down to Eric's beard and vocal style...and then acted as though nothing happened. But **all of that aside**, this is an important video for many to see..such as the others on HeartSupport..and you can tell that this guy is a pretty genuine dude. Rock on.

[@natashamcD]

Venomborn Gaming Eric July has expressed very clearly why he left. Look it up.

[@Farquad14]

AJ and FFTG are better.

[@iEarlMac]

I think that's how Eric views it, but there's always a reason. It's clear the group shared conflicted visions which is why they separated. However, this is basically a new group altogether considering there is only two original members with 3 new additions. Eric and AJ are both black dudes with beards but I don't see how that's copying ones style. Both are talented but let's be real here, they don't sound nothing alike. Eric mainly does screams and great raps but AJ has a great voice, raw gritty yet clean vocals. No disrespect to Eric but he just doesn't have the vocal range AJ does. That's just clear as day man, nonetheless, I agree with your ending sentiment.

[@kingsizeblues616]

I know this is almost irrelevant, but its kind of not so I thought I'd add it. If it was a white dude that looked like the other white dude, no one would say anything, as this happens often in this musical scene, and indeed, nobody says anything because it doesn't matter and no one even thought about that, but when its a black guy people try to draw ridiculous, desperate conclusions like, he is copying him because he has a beard and is the same skin colour. As was said. No, he's just a black guy with facial hair.. Come on..

[@owengraziano7288]

bard icus So true!

[@hanparker8002]

Seriously one of the best bands out, the musicianship and deep meaning of the lyrics, I can’t wait until Aftershock, seeing them with Tool🤘

[@MEMDesigns2023]

I lived basically the same life right behind this guy and I feel the pain.

[@velhinho_91]

God damn, i believe AJ is the coolest guy i never met! I can relate to what he said there, and hurts, but there is hope for sure!

[@josephdominic919]

Bro your story is just like mine! Grew up with single mom, two sisters and a HUGE amount of pressure. Still learning to deal with things but My son saved my life.

[@omarrodriguez8938]

Amen my man

[@scottriley937]

You can feel the emotion in the song "Lifeline".

[@amariliscatclaw142]

Lifeline is the song i trully feel!

[@Ehwoke]

AJ has an unusual accent, a mix of british and american?

[@tylerbaron4909]

i thinks hes south African

[@jakers1001]

He's lived in a lot of places growing but mainly here in the UK and New York as well as Ghana, why his accent is weird haha, it sounds like a mixture of an English and American accent to me.

[@Urface93095]

I think he was born in New York and moved to Europe as a child.

[@Veerushka]

I'm so glad you commented on this. I was so confused by this because I was waiting for him to start speaking with a British accent because I kept hearing hints of it, but then he continued with what sounds like an American accent to me. I thought I was just imagining this and getting confused because English is not my native language, but then I saw your comment. Haha!

[@KIMetal]

He is of Jamaican heritage and was born in NYC, but spent part of his childhood in England and was educated in Ghana during his formative years. He has a Brooklyn/British/Jamaican accent and it switches a lot.

[@gera9576]

Congratulations man,your música is awesome Salute you from Argentina

[@carrotspell]

magic voice! very cool man!

[@joeymendez1481]

AJ’s my boy! Got to hang out with the entire FFTG crew on their kickoff Arena tour with Five Finger Death Punch in Vegas.👊🏼👊🏼👊🏼

[@jhowever9126]

Very relatable. Thank you A.J. for sharing.

[@obad7633]

Met him on the streets in Houston he wasn't rude per say but definitely has social anxiety issues or he was on drugs but im assuming he was just surprised I recognized him. He was stumbling on his words and wouldn't make eye contact after I caught the vibe I just said have a nice day and left him alone lol but he wasn't rude or nice just off.

[@KJBtheMosFett]

literally there.....right now

[@candimatuszak9631]

Aj I waited on you today

[@candimatuszak9631]

My son has bad muchroom and killed himself then his dad was dying too

[@candimatuszak9631]

I believe your band came in his dad sent proems

[@candimatuszak9631]

I think yours band came to me to give you his words

[@scottlally8374]

It would be cool if fire of the gods did a song with skillet that would be cool.

[@isaiahalcaraz8351]

dope interview

[@paulrichardson7308]

Wow this sounds like my story! We are more alike then we know :)

[@Mastertromos]

Screw the 2 people who disliked this lol

[@BrotherDave80]

John 3:3-5 might help

[@Myfartslinger]

Great band, but, Sevendust did it first.

[@soulrebel4life]

B B. Wrong living colour was one of the first black metal bands

[@brandonteel6539]

Uh...Jimi Hendrix?

[@VinAnrba]

Killswitch engage

[@SteveAyanami]

Black Death and Sound Barrier. You're welcome.