Musicians who have (or may have?) Asperger's Syndrome.

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Axl Rose, Shannon Hoon, Geri Halliwell

Last edited by Snoopy on 30 May 2007, 9:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.

That's interesting. I have never thought about Gilmour having AS. I was obsessed with Floyd when I was younger. HUGELY obsessed. Especially with Barrett and Gilmour. I'm not sure what your reasonign is, but I personally don't see Gilmour as AS, after having heard/read so many interveiws of him.

But Barrett - I have flip flipped on this. One thing is clear - he was not an acid burn-out or a schizophrenic. Both of those stories are pure myth. He was never treated for or dx'd with any such psychotic conditions. The more reliable sources about his "freak out" make it sound much more like an Aspie under a lot of stress, going into autistic withdrawal and having bad neuro-reactions to the psychotropic drugs he was experimenting with (which he was not doing as excessively as often thought - again, more myths). There were tragically a lot of self-serving people around Barrett at that time that creating these wild stories for their own ends. So I'm more inclined to think he was just an Aspie who, like Aspies so often do, was vulnerable adn got exploited/screwed by seflish NTs (including his bandmates). Yet still I am hesistant to say yes he's an Aspie because I just don't know much about his younger life. He was thought of as quiet and odd, sensitive and artistic. But that may or may not point to AS. it's too general.

I don't think it would be an insult to say Barrett had AS. I personally think it is likely he had it but that, like the acid he took, does not distract from his genius as a musician and songwriter.

I hate this forum! Nobody that u have mentioned actually has AS! It's just that certain characteristics of musisicans and aspies overlap. Maybe if u changed it 2 musicians who look Aspie, than I wouldn't have a problem. But for us to say, "Oh look, I saw Kurt Cobain flap his hands once when he played guitar". He has AS. That's really not too perceptive.

I definetly think a lot of musicians have aspie traits.

I'm pretty sure Emily Robison (of the Dixie Chicks) is an aspie. It's just kind of a vibe I get from her. Interestingly enough, she's on the board of directors for some kind of organization that aims to "recover" autistic children as well as kids with ADHD through medical means. (Which is also weird since it seems like Natalie Maines, one of the other band members, has ADHD. If you watch a biography of them and hear what people say about what she was like as a child, you'll know what I mean.) Emily definetly strikes me as aspie-ish. Maybe she's aware of it and feels bad about herself. Who knows.

Wasn't it documented that Kurt Cobain had bipolar disoder?

And I seriously don't think Syd Barret had AS; I think a combination of genetics, stress, and heavy drug use caused him to develop schizophrenia.

I think Robert Fripp might have AS. He never makes eye contact during interviews and specifically asks for no flash photography during shows because the lights bother his eyes. He's clearly been obsessed with music for over 40 years. Also, he's British. People with British ancestry seem more likely to have AS, judging from the people on this site.

Me

NO JOHN FRUSCIANTE HAS NOT ASPERGERS!!

HE IS BEEN DOING DRUGS FOR SO LONG THAT HIS BRAIN HAS BEEN DAMAGED: HE WAS VERY NORMAL BEFORE!! IM RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS BIG FAN SO I KNOW WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT.

Sorry for big letters but i got like littlebit angry for comment that John has it.

And othet thoughts. I think 99% of people mentioned here has not asperger. I understand that people who has it WANT that some sucsessful people has it. It gives hope and proud. But im sorry a lot of peoplle mentioned here has not AS. That is a fact.

Jack White definately. When he ran his own buisness no one took him seriously because he filled out forms in crayon and left poetry down the side of the furniture he moved.

don't forget GnR were doing a LOT of drugs, which can also be a cause of the eccentric behaviour of the band members... Of course it could be he has it, but we're basically speculating there.



Matt Bellamy? Not a chance I think.



Apart from Craig Nicholls, Gary Numan and Syd Barrett, this was the first name to come in my mind. The lyrics of the Smiths have a huge Aspie feeling (songs like How Soon Is Now, The Boy With The Thorn In His Side, There Is A Light That... say enough if you check the lyrics) and also when listening to his interviews I recognise several aspie traits. I would not be surprised at all if got it. But again, saying he definitely has it would be incorrect without a professional backing that statement.

As for Maynard James Keenan: I would be surprised. I am a big A Perfect Circle fan and a big fan of Maynard, so it would be nice if he were a fellow aspie, but I don't think his eccentric behaviour are linked to AS.

Dito for Ian McCulloch of my beloved Echo & The Bunnymen: a few fans said he has got it but I am sceptic about it. He did come out for having OCD and several EATB songs have lyrics about that (most notably The Back Of Love has lyrics clearly relating to OCD)

There are plenty of musicians with some aspie traits but that does not make them an aspie. I think we may better stick to diagnosed musicians for the sake of keeping the topic informative rather than a speculating game.




I believe Mozart would have been diagnosed with AS if he had lived in our era.

Jack White? Really? Would be cool.

Sorry I littlebit overreact. I mean John Frusciante had ONE OR TWO treat that can caunt as asperger traits. Yes, he knew a lot about Jimi Hendrix and at 8 could play all his songs but that it, he was sosially NORMAL!! SO PLEASE PUT OUT JOHN FRUSCIANTE OF THE LIST! One trait doesn't make anybody asperger!

And sorry yes I believe that some people mentioned here have as after I red this thread. So Im taking bag my words that 99% people mentioned here not have as. But still remember that 1, 2 or even more traits doesnt make yet somebody asperger.

And yes I have asperger.


I mean nothing wrong about speculation if somebody have as but it bother me if some say IM SURE he have, without any facts. Sorry but that is just dumb.

Since my diagnosis I've played the game of trying to decide who else has got it, and musically, one name stands out above all others. Moby.

Regarding Aphex Twin as well I'm pretty confident that yes, he's an aspie too. Both he and Moby are true solo perfectionists who tinker with a vast spectrum of styles yet all of which capture their own unique sound. I think it's fair to say a lot of EDM producers will be the same - in fact, I'd say it's probably an advantage

Bjork

I don't see how Mozart would have been diagnosed with aspergers. Explain.

Beethoven however.