Spring 2023

Greetings friends and happy change of season!

It's been a busy few months here and we want to bring you up to speed quickly. Firstly, our third annual Music Mixer is THIS weekend - Sunday, April 16th at Ant Hall in Hamtramck. These events have been growing and improving, and we're proud to be joined this time by Guitar HiFi, The Phoenix, Girls Rock Detroit and Songs From The Trail, with food from Dos Locos and live music performances! Scroll down for more info, and please join us if you can

Passenger has joined forces with the Detroit City Football Club to provide Naloxone/Narcan and community mental health resources from Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network, Families Against Narcotics and more, at each weekend home game this season. DCFC is a true Detroit grassroots organization where music and singalongs are a big part of each match, and we are excited to be a part of their festivities. In a serendipitous twist, Iggy Pop (author of the song that provided our namesake) is a shareholder and voice for the DCFC

Chris sat down with MI Healthy Mind last month to discuss recovery, family, and twenty years in the music industry. A big thanks to Michael, Cori, Nancy, Millie and Bub for having us on to discuss the unique challenges that creatives on the road face in recovery! Check out the episode HERE

Please be on the lookout next month, as we begin a new series discussing recovery and music, from the viewpoint of professionals in recovery. This series will focus on healthy practices and getting started in music for young people, and our first episode will feature friend and ally Joanne Croxford. Joanne helped create the Passenger Tuesday 12 Step meetings three years ago, is an LGBTQ diversity specialist in the industry, and has worked with Robbie Williams, Duran Duran and many more. 

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services held an RCO Forum (Recovery Community Organizations) with the folks at Faces & Voices of Recovery this month, and Michigan was recognized as a "State of innovation" for RCOs, with Passenger getting a nod by senior coordinator Marianna Reid. 

Finally, "Touring and Mental Health: The Music Industry Manual" is out NOW! This book is years in the making, and arrives via the Music Industry Therapist Collective and Omnibus Press - publishers of music-based books for five decades. We were honored to speak with creator/editor and psychotherapist Tamsin Embleton about Passenger and the rigors of touring in recovery during the creation of the book, which includes personal recollections from Nile Rodgers (CHIC), Charles Thompson (Pixies) and many, many more. This Manual will help musicians and those working in live music to identify, process and manage the physical and psychological difficulties that can occur on the road or as a result of touring.From the editor:Covering topics including: emotional intelligence, depression, trauma, crisis management, anger and conflict, stress, addiction (substance & process; sex & porn), eating disorders, anxiety (performance; flight; general), group dynamics, mindset, exercise, physical health (hearing; vocal; sexual; general), optimal performance, dealing with the media, diversity and inclusion, romantic relationships, nutrition, sleep science, breathwork, meditation, duty of care, mental capacity, psychological safety and post-tour recovery, Touring and Mental Health – The Music Industry Manual is written by health and performing arts medicine professionals to provide robust clinical advice, cutting edge research, practical strategies and valuable resources.

Passenger is always advocating for music and recovery in our community, and we greatly appreciate any contributions to help keep our wheels in motion! If you are able, please consider a donation here.

Spring Mixer April 16th, 1-5pm

Look for us at the DCFC/Keyworth Stadium home games!

Next Month: Discussion with Joanne Croxford