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Austin Carlile

by Bailey from San Diego

Carlile's Aspire & Create Photoshoot (factory1977.com)
Carlile's Aspire & Create Photoshoot (factory1977.com)

"The well-laid plans of mice and men often falter" (Steinbeck), but the plans of 25-year-old metalcore vocalist Austin Carlile, formerly of Attack Attack!, have brought peace to himself and his fans. Headbanging, screaming, and stage dives might not seem like a source of salvation, but to half a million fans of Carlile's current project Of Mice & Men, these escapes have meant the difference between happiness and depression, even life and death. Austin Carlile has triumphed through high school bullying, the loss of his mother, and major open-heart surgery with a "30-40% chance of failure" (Carlile qtd. In "The PV Q&A."). Through his music, Carlile shares his optimism and hope, and Of Mice & Men's official pages are flooded with fans thanking Carlile for helping them through depression, self-harm, and hopelessness. Austin Carlile serves as a hero because he shares hope through his music, relates to and encourages his fans through their struggles, and stays optimistic despite personal losses.

Austin's heart surgery, 2010 (blanklove.tumblr.com)
Austin's heart surgery, 2010 (blanklove.tumblr.com)

Even through family loss, death-defying medical risks, and harsh criticism, Carlile has chosen not to let his weaknesses defeat him, rather sharing his sense of hope through his music. In Of Mice & Men's song "Those in Glass Houses" Carlile says, "You can have the whole wide world; the best part was always in our hands." Carlile seeks to encourage his fans to go out and do something beautiful for the world. Instead of letting the hatred in the world enter his heart, Carlile helps himself and his fans to see the "pretty things in the dirty business" (Sleeping with Sirens) of the world. Despite the uncertainty of medical risks and miracles, he stays strong. "My heart was out of my chest on ice for two hours-I was being pumped full of somebody else's blood. I woke up with more tubes in me than Neo in The Matrix in that first scene where he's reborn" (Carlile qtd. in "The PV Q&A."). Austin's personality is humorous even in his darkest moments. For him, laughter is his only medicine. His strength to go on is amplified when one considers the pain Carlile has persevered. Austin Carlile shows that hope can exist through optimism in the darkest of times.

Instead of letting the adoration of 500,000 fans and praise from press get into his head, Austin Carlile has always maintained a close personal connection with his fans, either face-to-face or through Of Mice & Men's music. "I have such a connection with our fans because they're doing the same thing I am. They're taking out their aggression and they're having a good time and banging their head" (Carlile qtd. in "The PV Q&A."). Austin has always thought of his stage persona as being his method of leaving his rage and spite behind, and replacing it with joy and excitement. During Of Mice & Men's headlining act at SOMA San Diego on January 19th, 2013, Carlile held up a fan letter and declared to the audience, "This is the only reason we perform." In an interview with Musicians Opposed to Bullying, Carlile said, "[High school and middle school] years are some of the worst that I've ever experienced when I was in school. Now that I look back on them, I say, "why was I so upset?'" Carlile is a great role model due to his ability to rise to glory through adversity. He teaches his largely teenage fanbase that sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will never hurt you, and the words of music can heal you. Because he never let struggles of growing up defeat him, Carlile has gained the respect of teens who are troubled just as he was.

Thousands of fans of Of Mice & Men have struggled with depression, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts. Carlile believes every one of his fans is worthy of a life of happiness, and shares this dream through his music. Even through personal loss and risk, he remains optimistic and encourages others to do the same. "'How can you smile with your lips wrapped around a loaded gun?' Don't speak that way, 'cause I won't allow you. You're too young to live this way" (Of Mice & Men. "The Great Hendowski"). Carlile wrote "The Great Hendowski" about his encounters with a homeless man who had lost hope in life, and how Carlile spread the salvation and hope of Christianity with him. Austin Carlile is a strong believer in the Christian faith, and his lyrical work with Attack Attack! focused strongly on religion and its ability to provide hope. "I'm finding out, the only thing left to lose is time. With all these doubts, the worst part's behind me" (Of Mice & Men. "Ben Threw"). The pain in our lives always peaks out, and Carlile has fought through his pain to find the joy in his life and seeks to share that happiness with others through his music.

Austin with band mascot Squidgy (tumblr.com)
Austin with band mascot Squidgy (tumblr.com)

Of Mice & Men's official pages are flooded with the praise of fans, expressing how their music has made a positive difference in their lives. Carlile treats every fan like his only fan, getting to know each one personally and assisting them through their problems. Not even the uncertainty of medical risks nor the difficulty of family loss have been able to defeat him. Triumphing through pain and risk has led Carlile to have strength abounding, which he shares with his fans and friends. In our lives, we can decide to be humble or arrogant, defeatist or achieving, a man or a mouse. Austin Carlile continues to inspire each of his fans, friends, and even critics of Of Mice & Men to live strong.

Page created on 5/31/2013 12:00:00 AM

Last edited 5/31/2013 12:00:00 AM

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