In a raw and revealing account, Cage the Elephant frontman Matt Shultz opens up about the harrowing five-year period of medically-induced psychosis that culminated in his dramatic arrest in New York last January.
The 41-year-old singer was apprehended by a 30-member SWAT team after hotel staff spotted him concealing firearms in the building's bathroom. "They had guns drawn," Shultz recalls. "It was very real. But I can't be upset with it. It saved my life."
The arrest marked the breaking point of a prolonged battle with severe mental health issues triggered by prescribed medications for ADHD and other conditions. Over this period, Shultz's behavior grew increasingly erratic as he battled paranoid delusions that strained his relationships with family, bandmates, and led to divorce from his wife Eva.
"I started to believe that I was uncovering some very incredible truths," Shultz explains, describing how his grip on reality began slipping in May 2020. His paranoia manifested in obsessive behaviors, including taking thousands of Polaroid photos of rooms to ensure nothing had been disturbed in his absence.
For his brother Brad, Cage the Elephant's guitarist, watching Matt's decline was heart-wrenching. "At first, some of the things seemed partially believable," Brad shares. "But there was a moment I realized, 'Oh, wow. This is really bad now.'"
The New York arrest proved to be a turning point. Following three months of hospital treatment and six months of outpatient care, Matt made a full recovery. He and Eva have since renewed their vows, and his relationship with Brad is stronger than ever.
Throughout this ordeal, Matt continued writing music. The band's latest album "Neon Pill" captures this turbulent period, with songs like the title track eerily foreshadowing his struggles before he fully understood what was happening.
"It's something that I definitely will carry for the rest of my life," Matt reflects. "But it's been great. There aren't words to really describe how amazing life is to be back to normal."
The Grammy-winning rock band is now preparing for their UK tour and will later support Oasis across American stadiums, marking a triumphant return after their darkest chapter.