Justin Furstenfeld

Justin Steward Furstenfeld (born December 14, 1975) is an American musician. He is best known as the lead vocalist, guitarist, and lyricist of rock band Blue October. He is also a member of the band Harvard of the South.

Justin Furstenfeld
Furstenfeld performs at the House of Blues in Chicago
Background information
Birth nameJustin Steward Furstenfeld
Born (1975-12-14) December 14, 1975
GenresRock
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
InstrumentsVocals, guitar
Associated acts

Personal life

When not touring with his band, Furstenfeld resides in San Marcos, Texas. He is the brother of Blue October drummer Jeremy Furstenfeld. He has a daughter named Blue Reed Furstenfeld, to whom he dedicated the album Any Man in America. Blue, and Furstenfeld's relationship with her mother, are the subject matter of much of the album.[1]

On June 13, 2012, Furstenfeld proposed to his pregnant girlfriend Sarah. On July 28, 2012, they were married in a private ceremony in Wimberley, Texas. Together they have a daughter named Sayde Belle, born August 23, 2012.[2] On April 2, 2016, Furstenfeld and his wife had a son, Gunner Black.[3]

Music career

Growing up, Furstenfeld listened to hip-hop, rock, country, dance; his favorite artists included Idaho, Marvin Gaye, The Smiths, Peter Gabriel, Red House Painters, The Cure, Cocteau Twins, Bauhaus, and Pink Floyd.[4] His first musical memory was Roy Orbison's ballad, "Crying".[5]

During his high school years at Houston's prestigious High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA), he formed the band The Last Wish, which he played in from the age of 13 until 1995.[6] When performing solo, Furstenfeld uses the moniker 5591,[7] the number 5591 being his patient number when he was admitted to a mental institution following a breakup with his then-girlfriend Amanda. He tells this story in the confessionals on the Argue With a Tree DVD (found in the Special Features).

He has written over 500 songs and counts among his influences: Michael Stipe, The Cure, The Smiths, The Pixies, Peter Gabriel, Idaho, Elliott Smith, Blue Miller, George Winston, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and U2.[8]

Furstenfeld also co-wrote and performed guest vocals on the Canvas song "All About You" from their album Four Days Awake. He also sings on the song "Medusa" on Tarja Turunen's album Colours in the Dark. In 2014, he provided guest vocals on Zeale's song "Invisible Prisons", and also sang on the song "When We Were Made" on Paco Estrada's 2015 album Bedtime Stories.

In August 2008, Furstenfeld toured with Stephenie Meyer, author of the Twilight series, in a sold out four-city book/concert tour.[9]

On October 22, 2009, the Pick Up the Phone Tour was cancelled after Furstenfeld was admitted to a hospital for an extreme anxiety attack, though the band still played two November dates in Austin.[10]

Furstenfeld wrote the song "Softspot" on The Meeting Place's 2019 album Haunt.

Musical style

Furstenfeld's vocal and performance style has been likened to Peter Gabriel, Genesis and "Fish" of Marillion.

Other interests

Writing

In April 2009,[11] Furstenfeld published the book Crazy Making – The Words and Lyrics of Justin Furstenfeld, in which he goes into explicit detail about the inspiration behind each and every Blue October song to date.[12]

Painting

Furstenfeld's paintings have appeared on the covers of two Blue October albums, The Answers and History for Sale. His artwork is also featured on T-shirts and posters for the band.

Discography

Solo albums

With The Last Wish

With Blue October

With Harvard of the South

  • Miracle EP

As a featured artist

References
  1. Archived 2014-05-22 at Archive.today
  2. "Sayde Belle (@SaydeBelle)". Twitter. Retrieved 2015-12-15.
  3. Graff, Gary (2006-01-06). "Blue October Not Mental - ABC News". Abcnews.go.com. Retrieved 2015-12-15.
  4. "Cockroaches, Porn, Voices Fill Blue October Singer's Brain". MTV. 2006-10-04. Retrieved 2015-12-15.
  5. "Artists | Discover Music Artists and Bands". VH1. Retrieved 2015-12-15.
  6. Hobart, Rowland (February 19, 2005). "Well-Raised and Confused". Houston Press. Archived from the original on May 25, 2005.
  7. "Rock You like a Hurricane". Houston Press. February 19, 2005. Archived from the original on November 1, 2009.
  8. Archived July 18, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  9. Brian Jacks (2008-08-04). "'Breaking Dawn' Sells 1.3 Million Copies In One Day". MTV. Archived from the original on 2008-08-28. Retrieved 2008-09-10.
  10. "Blue October Announces the Cancelation of the Pick Up The Phone Tour 2009 Due to Lead Singer's Hospitalization". Business Wire. 2001-10-23. Retrieved 2019-02-11.
  11. Justin Furstenfeld. "CRAZY MAKING by JUSTIN FURSTENFELD — Reviews, Discussion, Bookclubs, Lists". Goodreads.com. Retrieved 2015-12-15.
  12. "Crazy Making - The Words and Lyrics of Justin Furstenfeld BOOK, 2nd Ed. *LIMITED*ON SALE* from Blue October". Store.bandwear.com. Retrieved 2015-12-15.
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