Praise and Criticism

This is a letter that someone posted on the internet about how they used to love the band Say Anything but due to Max's antics he no longer likes the band.

http://davidwpritchard.wordpress.com/2009/07/16/dear-max-an-open-letter-to-the-frontman-of-say-anything/

This is a review of one of Say Anything's albums that praises Max's creative and meaningful lyrics.

http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?reviewid=35353


I obviously disagree with the person who wrote or more or less typed the criticism of Max Bemis. In the letter he says that he has grown up and now thinks that Max acts childishly. I think that typing a hate letter on the internet is childish but that's just me. If you do not like a band then don't listen to it. Bashing a band or person because they are not the same as you is also extremely childish. All in all no one ever grows up no matter how old you are. It always boils down to you are different than me so you suck, or something along those lines. This person obviously fails to realize what good Max has done for thousands of people that listen to his lyrics.

Max's Inspiration

Max's biggest inspiration at least from a musical stand point would be the band Saves The Day.

http://wealsoran.com/music/uploaded_images/saves_the_day-797889.jpg
Saves The Day

Inspirational

Max Bemis is inspirational to me because I love the band Say Anything, and I also have an anxiety disorder and I was tested for bipolar and luckily I do not have bipolar disorder. I was in a psych ward or whatever you want to call it for one week. It wasn't a very long time but it still wasn't anything pleasant to experience. Max writes a lot of lyrics about his experiences and I can relate to a lot of them.

This is one of Max's qoutes, “There is that small chance I’ll get what I want; to be someone to relate to for anyone who is as alienated, awkward, spastic and passionate as me.” He is someone that I can relate to.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7dpxwugJug
I want to know your plans: by Say Anything

Why He Changed

I think that the pivotal moment in Max's life was when he had his first major mental breakdown. After that he was put into a mental hospital and officialy diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Learning that he was bipolar was in my opinion the pivotal moment in his life that got him to focus on handeling his disorder.

Adversity

Max Bemis did not know that he had bipolar disorder until he was out of college and recording an album with Say Anything. He suffered from anxiety during the recording process and to treat it he used marijuana heavily. His heavy use of marijuana caused him to have a mental breakdown. During his mental breakdown he wandered around the streets of New York yelling and random people. He thought that he was in a movie and everyone knew it except for him. Kind of like the movie the Truman Show.

His mental breakdown led to him being put into a mental instituation where he was officially diagnosed with manic-depressive disorder or bipolar disorder. Even after he was discharged from the mental institution his bipolar disorder and anxiety bothered him. Max was on tour with Say Anything in 2005 when they were forced to cancel the six-week headlining tour due to Max combining his bipolar medication with other drugs. At his worst Max was seeing full out paranoid delusions.

Later that year Max had another breakdown and was once again admitted to a mental institution. This caused Say Anything to cancel further tour dates.

By 2007 Say Anything went back on tour. Max was out of the hospital and Say Anything released another full-length album. Since being discharged Max has been sober and he has stopped smoking. He is still on medication to help regulate his bipolar disorder, but the fact that he has stopped doing drugs is what has helped the most with his disorder.

Success

Max Bemis has gained widespread success due to his musical talents. He is the main singer for the band Say Anything and he also sings in the band Two Tongues. Say Anything has released three full-length albums, and Two Tongues has released one full-length album.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7rYZjv3wNg
Alive with the Glory of Love by Say Anything

http://blogs.westword.com/backbeat/w4-1.jpg
Max Bemis

Biography: Max Bemis

Max Bemis was born on April 6, 1984. He is the lead singer for the band Say Anything, and he also sings in the band Two Tongues.
He took piano lessons when he was a young boy and he was raised in a strict Jewish environment. He was born in New York but his family moved to Los Angeles, California shortly after.
He is an only child.